Visit Nicaragua
Start in Granada among brightly painted colonial streets, then head for volcano country. Nicaragua combines Pacific beaches, huge freshwater lakes, active volcanoes and historic cities within distances that make a multi-stop trip practical. Ometepe rises from Lake Nicaragua around two volcanic cones, León gives you churches and revolutionary history, and places such as Laguna de Apoyo or the Pacific coast add swimming, surfing and slower days between more active excursions. The country’s heritage is spread well beyond its best-known cities. Nicaragua has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Ruins of León Viejo and León Cathedral. León Viejo preserves the layout of one of the earliest Spanish colonial settlements in the Americas, while the cathedral represents a later strand of the country’s architectural history. Give yourself at least a week, and preferably ten days or more, if you want to combine Granada, León, Ometepe and some coast or volcano time without constantly moving. Check current UK travel advice before fixing the route, especially because some areas and outdoor activities require more care, and several volcanoes remain active. British travellers also need to meet current passport and entry rules. Add Nicaragua to your list and build the trip around a few strong contrasts rather than trying to cover the whole country at once.