Surrounded by beautiful lush tropical forest, Laguna de Apoyo is one of the best day trips you can take from Granada. If you have a day to spare and are looking for a peaceful place to relax, whether on your own or with family, Laguna de Apoyo is hard to beat.
When I was planning my visit to Laguna de Apoyo, I struggled to find useful information on how to get there and what to expect. After improvising my own trip and figuring things out along the way, I decided to compile everything I learned and share it with you here.
In this guide, you'll find everything you need to plan your visit to Laguna de Apoyo, including how to get there from Granada, Managua, and León, the best hostels and beach clubs to spend your day, day pass prices, where to stay overnight, and all the tips I learned from my own experience.
Where is Laguna de Apoyo?
Laguna de Apoyo is a volcanic crater lake located between Granada and Masaya, about 30 minutes from Granada and around 1 hour from Managua, Nicaragua's capital. If you're staying in Granada, Laguna de Apoyo is close enough to be visited as either a day trip or an overnight getaway if you'd like to spend more time relaxing by the lake.
How to Get to Laguna de Apoyo?
From Granada
By Shuttle: The easiest way to visit Laguna de Apoyo is by taking the daily shuttle operated by Oasis Hostel to Coco Bay Hostel. The shuttle departs Granada at 10 AM and returns from the lake at 4:30 PM. The round-trip fare is 14 USD, and you can reserve a seat via WhatsApp.
This is the option I went with, and I had a great experience. I reserved my spot via WhatsApp the day before, arrived at Oasis Hostel in Granada around 9:45 AM, boarded the shuttle at 10 AM, and arrived at the lake by 10:30 AM. Easy peasy!
If you're traveling solo or as a couple, I think this is the best way to visit. You'll likely meet other travelers on the shuttle, so you can either spend the day hanging out with them or enjoy the lake at your own pace.
By Scooter or Rental Car: If you've rented a scooter or car in Granada, you can drive to Laguna de Apoyo in around 30 minutes. The road is fully paved, although some sections are quite steep as you descend into the volcanic crater, so take extra care if you're riding a motorbike.
The biggest advantage of having your own vehicle is the flexibility to explore at your own pace, visit different lakeside hostels and beach clubs, and stay for as long as you'd like.
For car rentals, you can go with reputable companies like AVIS or Budget, or rent from a local rental agency. Expect to pay around 45 USD per day for a standard sedan.
If you're renting a motorbike, I highly recommend Ava's Moto. Their bikes are well-maintained and cost around 15 USD per day.
By Taxi: Taxis are also available in Granada and are a convenient option, especially if you're traveling as a group. I'm not sure how much it would be, but be sure to agree on the fare before departing. This option gives you the flexibility to leave whenever you'd like. When you're ready to return, you can either use your hostel or beach club's shuttle service, if available, or ask the staff to call a taxi back to Granada for you.
By Bus: Technically, you can also take a public bus toward Catarina or Masaya from the Granada Bus Terminal and get off at this intersection.
From there, you'll need to continue to the lake by taxi or on foot. Unfortunately, taxis are hard to find along this stretch of road, and walking the remaining 4 km to the lakeside hostels and beach clubs takes around 1 hour. While this is the cheapest way to get there, I don't recommend it unless you're traveling on a very tight budget.
From Managua
By Rental Car: If you're coming directly from Managua, renting a car is by far the easiest way to reach Laguna de Apoyo. The drive takes around 1 hour via the Masaya Highway, and you can make either a day trip or an overnight stay out of it. Expect to pay around 50 USD per day for a standard sedan. You can pick up a rental car at the airport upon arrival or browse rental options here before your trip.
By Taxi or Private Transfer: You can also arrange a taxi or private transfer directly from Managua or the airport to Laguna de Apoyo. While this is the most convenient option, it is also the most expensive, so I generally don't recommend it unless you're traveling in a group and can split the cost.
By Shared Shuttle: My recommendation is to take a shared shuttle from Managua to Granada, spend a few nights exploring the city, and then visit Laguna de Apoyo as either a day trip or an overnight getaway. Granada is a wonderful city and definitely worth spending at least 3 - 4 nights there.
You can book a shared shuttle from Managua to Granada here. The journey takes around 1 hour and costs approximately 25 USD per person. Once you're in Granada, simply catch the daily shuttle from Oasis Hostel to Laguna de Apoyo, which departs at 10 AM and costs 14 USD round trip.
From León
By Shared Shuttle: If you're coming from León, I recommend taking the shared shuttle operated by Gekko Trail Explorer to Granada first. The journey takes around 5 hours and costs approximately 20 USD per person.
Spend a few nights exploring Granada before visiting Laguna de Apoyo as a day trip using the daily shuttle from Oasis Hostel, which departs at 10 AM and returns at 4:30 PM. The round-trip fare is 14 USD, making this by far the easiest and most convenient way to visit the lake from Granada.
By Rental Car: Driving from León takes approximately 4 - 5 hours, depending on traffic as you will have to go through the capital city and the traffic can be rather hectic at times. It should cost about 45 USD / day for a regular sedan car and you can rent a car from here.
Which Hostel or Beach Club Is Best at Laguna de Apoyo?
I highly recommend Coco Bay Hostel, where you can swim, kayak, relax in hammocks, enjoy the lake, and have lunch without needing to go anywhere else.
I never found the hostel crowded during my visit. At its busiest, there were only around 10 people, usually in the late afternoon when the weather was cooler. For most of the day, there were only four or five people around. It's not a party hostel, but more of a peaceful retreat, which was exactly what I was looking for. If you're after a quiet place to unwind by the lake, I think you'll love Coco Bay Hostel.
Another excellent option is Paradiso Hostel & Restaurante, which has a similar laid-back atmosphere but is a little more lively. It also offers day passes with access to kayaks, swimming areas, and other facilities. I found the beach here to be wider and more open, while the one at Coco Bay Hostel feels a little more secluded and intimate. Both are great choices, so it really comes down to the type of atmosphere you're looking for.
Entrance Fees & Day Passes
Most access to the lake is through hostels and beach clubs that offer day passes. At Coco Bay Hostel, a day pass costs around 7 USD per person and includes unlimited use of kayaks, free coffee and tea, sunbeds, hammocks, and access to all of the hostel's facilities.
They also have a restaurant where you can enjoy lunch for around 290 NIO (8 USD). Despite being advertised as a buffet, it's more of a cafeteria-style setup where you choose one meat and the staff serve your meal for you. The food was decent, but the "buffet" description is a bit misleading and could definitely be improved.
The same goes for Paradiso Hostel & Restaurante. Their day pass also costs around 7 USD, while meals at the restaurant generally range between 10–15 USD. If you plan on spending the entire day by the lake, I think the day pass is well worth the price. That said, if you're traveling on a budget, you can always pack your own lunch to save a bit of money instead of eating at the hostel's restaurant.
Things to Do at Laguna de Apoyo
1. Swim in the Crystal-Clear Water
The main reason people come to Laguna de Apoyo is to swim in its incredibly clear and refreshing water. Since the lake sits inside an ancient volcanic crater and is surrounded by forest, the water stays pleasantly cool throughout the day, which is perfect as it can get pretty hot here during the day.
2. Kayak or Paddleboard Across the Lake
Many hostels and beach clubs around the lake offer kayaks and paddleboards as part of their day passes. If lying on sun beds all day isn't your thing, you can grab one of the kayaks and paddleboards to go explore the lake. You can paddle across the calm water while enjoying views of the surrounding volcanic landscape, get up close to some places that are not accessible on foot, and observe all the wildlife that thrives around the crater lake.
3. Relax by the Lake
For many of you who have been traveling for a while, the best activity you can do at Laguna de Apoyo is simply doing nothing. Find a hammock, grab a cold drink, read a book, or relax on a sunbed while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. That's exactly what I did at Coco Bay Hostel in between swimming and jumping into the water 😉.
4. Spot Wildlife Around the Forest
Because Laguna de Apoyo is surrounded by protected tropical forest, there is plenty of wildlife waiting for you to see around the area. Keep an ear out for the loud calls of howler monkeys in the trees, and you may also spot various birds and other animals while relaxing by the shore.
5. Spend the Night by the Lake
If you have extra time, consider staying overnight instead of just visiting for the day. Once the day-trippers leave, the lake becomes even quieter, and you'll have the peaceful surroundings almost entirely to yourself. Waking up in the morning surrounded by forest and calm water, then going for an early swim before everyone arrives, is an incredibly liberating experience. There's just no experience quite like this! If you're interested in staying overnight by the lake, you can reserve a room at Coco Bay Hostel here
Best Way to Visit: My Verdict
After visiting Laguna de Apoyo myself, I think the best way to experience it is as a day trip from Granada using the Oasis Hostel shuttle to Coco Bay Hostel. It's affordable, hassle-free, and lets you spend a full day at the lake without worrying about transportation or parking. As a bonus, the shuttle is a great way to meet other travelers if you're visiting Nicaragua solo.
I also think Coco Bay Hostel offers one of the best day-pass experiences around the lake. For just 7 USD, you get access to kayaks, hammocks, sunbeds, free coffee and tea, and a peaceful lakeside setting that never felt overcrowded during my visit. I especially loved how secluded its beach felt compared to others.
If you have an extra day in your itinerary, I'd definitely recommend spending the night by the lake as well. The atmosphere becomes even more peaceful once all the day-trippers leave. If you're interested in staying overnight by the lake, you can reserve a room at Coco Bay Hostel here.
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