A self-drive loop through colonial Granada, Ometepe’s volcanoes and the surf south — then a walkable finish in Panama City
Two countries, two speeds. First a self-drive loop through Nicaragua — pick up the car in Managua and string together the colonial streets of Granada, the twin volcanoes of Ometepe Island, the sunsets of San Juan del Sur and the surf at Popoyo. Then hop to Panama City and do it all on foot. The first map is the drivable Nicaragua route; the second pins the walkable Panama City highlights.
Base in the old town and do Panama City on foot — Casco Viejo, the waterfront and the Canal are all close.
| Day | Where | Plan | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 Feb | In transit → Granada | Fly Kelowna→Panama City→Managua (WJ208/2266; COPA CM106); rent car; drive to Granada | Hotel La Pólvora |
| 4–5 Feb | Granada | Old town on foot; Las Isletas boat; day trip to Masaya Volcano & Laguna de Apoyo | Hotel La Pólvora |
| 6–7 Feb | Ometepe Island | Car ferry from San Jorge; Ojo de Agua, San Ramón Waterfall, Punta Jesús María sunset | Airbnb Lake House |
| 8–9 Feb | San Juan del Sur | Cristo de la Misericordia viewpoint; Playa Maderas surf & sunset; waterfront | Black Pearl Inn |
| 10–12 Feb | Popoyo | Surf the Popoyo breaks; natural tide pools; yoga & sunsets | 99 Surf Lodge |
| 13 Feb | → Panama City | Drive to Managua; fly to Panama City (COPA CM105); evening in Casco Viejo | Hotel El Panamá |
| 14–15 Feb | Panama City | Casco Viejo walking; Panama Canal (Miraflores); Amador Causeway; Biomuseo; Ancon Hill | Hotel El Panamá |
| 16 Feb | Fly home | Panama City → Kelowna (WS2267/129) | — |
Base at Hotel La Pólvora and explore one of the Americas’ oldest cities on foot: the yellow Cathedral and Parque Central, the café-lined Calle La Calzada, and the bell-tower sunset view from Iglesia La Merced. Must-see day trips: a boat tour of Las Isletas (365 islets on Lake Nicaragua), the glowing lava lake of Masaya Volcano after dark, a swim in the Laguna de Apoyo crater lake, and the cloud forest of Mombacho Volcano.
Take the car ferry from San Jorge to the hourglass-shaped island in Lake Nicaragua (Airbnb lake house). Must-sees: the spring-fed pools of Ojo de Agua, the San Ramón Waterfall, the Charco Verde reserve, the sunset sandbar at Punta Jesús María, and — for the fit — a hike on Concepción or Maderas volcano.
A laid-back bay town (Black Pearl Inn). Must-sees: the hilltop Cristo de la Misericordia statue for the best view over the bay, sunset surf at Playa Maderas, the buzzing waterfront at golden hour, and — in season — turtle nesting at La Flor wildlife refuge.
End the Nicaragua leg at the surf village of Popoyo (99 Surf Lodge). Must-sees: the consistent Popoyo and Outer Reef breaks, mellow beach breaks for beginners, the natural Popoyo tide pools at low tide, and slow sunset-and-yoga evenings.
Fly to Panama City (Hotel El Panamá) and go walkable: the restored colonial quarter of Casco Viejo — Plaza de la Independencia, the golden altar of San José, rooftop bars — plus the Panama Canal at the Miraflores locks, the Amador Causeway, the Frank Gehry Biomuseo, the city-view hike up Ancon Hill, and ceviche at the Cinta Costera fish market.
We turn routes like this into a full day-by-day planner — flights, hotels, tours and maps in one file. Grab the downloadable Nicaragua · Panama itinerary or have us build a custom version for your dates.
