Visiting Laguna de Apoyo: Nicaragua's Deepest Volcano Lake
23,000 years ago in what would later become western Nicaragua, a large lake began to form in the caldera of an extinct volcano. Today, that lake is known as Laguna de Apoyo, and it has become one of the most-visited tourist sites in the country – for good reason!
Why Should You Visit Laguna de Apoyo?
The Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is now one of 78 protected areas in Nicaragua and encompasses the large crater lake and the forests surrounding it. However, despite its reputation, we were unsure whether a “lake day” would really be worth it for us, given we would soon be spending our time by the ocean in San Juan del Sur. Amid our uncertainty, what we discovered at the lake was a serene landscape far different from what we’d soon find on Nicaragua’s coast.
Notably the clearest lake in Nicaragua (and reportedly all of Central America) the water of Apoyo is heated by volcanic vents far beneath the surface. This means the water maintains a temperature of roughly 80F year-round, making it the perfect place for a relaxing swim, as opposed to the big-wave scene of SJDS. On top of this, the rising hills of the crater around you filled with lush trees and animal sounds make you feel like you’ve found a hidden oasis in the middle of the jungle.
What to Expect
Whether you’re just visiting for the day or extending your stay at one of the lakefront hostels (like Hostel Paradiso), there are an abundance of activities to keep you busy at Laguna de Apoyo.
Swimming: Given that the lake is heated, it remains at comfortable swimming temperatures year-round. We spent the majority of our time there either basking in the sun on Hostel Paradiso’s floating pier or swimming with inner tubes that were free to use.
Kayaking and Paddle boards: You won’t find any motorized boats at Apoyo, but what you will find is plenty of kayakers and paddle boarders making their way around the shores of the lake. Hostel Paradiso also offered these free of charge.
Animal Watching: If you’re a fan of birdwatching, Nicaragua is a great place to be. The country is home to 788 bird species, many of which reside near Apoyo and some of the eco-lodges in the area offer birding tours. On top of that, you’ll likely spot horses along the shoreline.
Diving: Laguna de Apoyo is Nicaragua's deepest crater lake at 200m and companies like Volcano Divers and Freediving Nicaragua offer everything from introductory lessons to diving certification courses if you have the money and time to stay in the area.
Getting to Laguna de Apoyo
There are quite a few ways to get to Apoyo if you’re coming from Granada. Your first option would be to hop on either the Granada - Masaya bus or the Granada - Managua bus and let the driver know you’d like to be let off at the lake.
Option number two would be to take a taxi which should take about 30 minutes. There are plenty of drivers to go around as this is a common tourist route, so it should be pretty easy to find a ride back to the city.
Third, if you’re up for a hike that includes plenty of uphill climbs, you could always walk to the lake. This should take roughly an hour and a half from Granada, but note that you’ll have to go much further around the lake to get to most of the hostels and beach hangouts.
Finally, the option we opted for during our stay: a shuttle. We know - we’re over here talking about “budget travel” and we chose the most expensive means of getting there? But, hear us out. While there are a few free-access beaches along the lake, if you’re planning to visit any of the beach clubs you’ll need to pay an entrance fee. As of 2024, a day pass at Hostel Paradiso costs $7 USD. Through our hostel in Granada we were able to book a day trip for $14 a person that included entrance into the hostel, use of all amenities, and a shuttle to and from. To us, it just made the most sense.
Our day trip to Laguna de Apoyo began with a 10am pickup from Hostel Oasis in downtown Granada. From there, we drove 25 minutes before getting our first peek at the lake and making a brief stop at a mirador. We then arrived at Hostel Paradiso at 10:40am and were off to enjoy everything the lake had to offer until our pickup around 3:45!
What to Bring
If you're like us and are simply planning to enjoy your day on the beach, you really don't need to bring a whole lot with you! Really, all you should need is:
Normal Beach Attire: Swimsuit, sunglasses, sandals – you know the drill....
Money: To get you to and from, to pay entry into the hostels, and to purchase lunch and drinks wherever you end up. Note: the meals at Hostel Paradiso ended up being a bit pricey (around $10) so be prepared for that.
And A LOT of Sunscreen: We're not usually the type to burn very easily, and we reapplied every hour or so, but there's something about the Nicaraguan sun that left us both burnt by the time we left.
Is a Day Trip Enough Time?
If we’re being completely honest, we felt that our day trip to Apoyo was the perfect amount of time. However, if we hadn’t been planning to spend the majority of our time in Nicaragua along the coast, we likely would have booked a night or two at one of the hostels along the lake.
That being said, while the prices of these hostels range similar to those in Granada, the area is much more remote and you’ll likely spend a lot more on food and transportation by having to eat at the hostel or get a ride into the city for the necessities.
Regardless, whether you’re coming to Laguna de Apoyo for a simple day of relaxation or are planning to make the most of all this crater lake has to offer with kayaking or even freediving, we highly doubt you’ll be disappointed!
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