Granada - Culture

Granada port on Lake Nicaragua, is an important commercial center in Nicaragua. From Granada, merchants ship sugar, coffee, cacao, alcohol, hides, cotton, and indigo to the Pacific Coast.

Located less than an hour by car from Managua, and just over one hour from the Costa Rica border, Granada is one of the most beautiful cities in Central America. Countless historical buildings share the city's cobblestone streets with elegant homes and tranquil parks, and that urban elegance is complemented by nearby natural attractions. The route across the lake and down the San Juan River connects Granada with the Atlantic Ocean, which led the city to become one of the region's most important ports. Products from a large part of Central America were shipped to Spain via Granada, and likewise, shipments of Spanish goods were unloaded there for transport to other Central American cities.

Granada is a wonderful city to explore on foot, though because of the torrid climate, it's best to do most of your strolling in the early morning and late afternoon. The cobblestone streets and neo-classic facades of such monuments as the Hospital San Juan de Dios, Casa Pellas and the Casa de la Cultura give one the impression that the city's clocks stopped ticking a century ago. The horse drawn carriages that serve as taxis lend to this illusion, and a ride in one of those carriages is an essential part of any visit to Granada. A few miles south of those restaurants is Puerto Asese, a small port where you can hire a boat for a trip on the lake. Las Isletas, a coastal nature reserve that consists of more that 356 islands, is the most popular destination for excursions on the lake

Granada is Nicaragua’s third largest city and the centre of commerce on Lake Nicaragua. Located in a rich agricultural region, Granada has been the stronghold of Nicaragua’s landed aristocracy; manufactures include furniture, soap, and clothing.

Natural attractions near Granada include the Laguna de Apoyo, an ancient crater lake to the west of town that is now a popular swimming hole, and the forested upper slopes of Mombacho Volcano, a massive mountain to the south of the city. An easier volcano to the visit is Volcan Masaya, an active peak that lies within a National Park of the same name, located on the highway to Managua. Volcan Masaya National Park can easily be visited on a day trip from Granada, and in addition to the smoking craters there are nature trails and a restaurant. The spectacular Isla de Ometepe, a large island to the south of Isla Zapatera that is dominated by two volcanoes, can also be visited on a day trip, though it is far enough away that you may want to overnight there.