Trip Planning
We'd suggest spending a few nights in León as most of the celebration will happen here. These are our suggestions for accommodation and activities:
This is where we'll hold the wedding reception, so we'd encourage everyone to stay here. It was the site of the former San Francisco Convent and is now a hotel, five minutes from the cathedral, with an outdoor pool, garden courtyard and restaurant. These are the prices they will be offering in February 2027 for our wedding guests:
| Room | Our guests' rate / night |
|---|---|
| Premiere | C$3,158 single · C$5,356 double≈ US$86 · US$146 |
| Executive | C$2,884 single · C$4,944 double≈ US$79 · US$135 |
| Mini Suite1–2 guests | C$5,218≈ US$142 |
| Family Roomup to 4 guests | C$6,592≈ US$180 |
Per room, per night, in Nicaraguan córdobas (C$) — US dollars shown are approximate (currently C$36.7 to US$1). Breakfast and 15% tax included. Single = 1 guest, double = 2 guests sharing. Book directly with the hotel and mention the Mitchell & Waagstein wedding.
Depending on how many people are coming, Lisbeth's family can also open up rooms at Hotel Cacique Adiact, a warm, family-run place with a big pool, gym, garden and restaurant, some rooms with kitchenettes.
If you would rather stay somewhere else, here are two other options we'd recommend in León, both very central:
An little colonial-style hotel, only eight rooms, a short walk from the cathedral. Outdoor pool, garden, terrace and breakfast included.
A more intimate boutique hotel in the heart of León. They only have 3 rooms so they book fast!
Everything here is in or near León — Nicaragua's old colonial capital, with churches, revolutionary murals and volcanoes you can climb. Worth a day or two either side of the wedding.
The Basílica Catedral de la Asunción dominates the central plaza. You can climb to the rooftop for around $5 USD and the views are really lovely. We personally like going right before sunset but the morning is also great for pictures! Note they will ask you to take your shoes off.
León's art museum, set in restored colonial houses a few steps from the hotel where we'll be having the wedding reception. It is one of the most important collections in Central America, running from European old masters to Latin American modern art.
León Viejo, the original city, founded in 1524 and abandoned after earthquakes and the eruptions of Momotombo, which looms right behind it. The excavated ruins sit by Lake Xolotlán about an hour from town. It is one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to the ruins can be combined with a climb up Momotombo but it's not something we have tried ourselves. Keep in mind that they might not be able to do the tour in English!
Nicaragua brands itself as the land of lakes and volcanoes, and several of them can be reached from León: Cerro Negro mentioned below is one of the most visited ones but there is also Telica where you might be able to see glowing lava in its crater at dusk, El Hoyo, Cosigüina (where you can now drive most up the climb), and San Cristóbal, Nicaragua's highest volcano. We are happy to recommend some tour operators if needed!
This is one of the most popular activities in León. You can hike up the black slopes of Cerro Negro volcano (which is still active) and sledge back down on a board. You can do this as a private tour but the group tours by Big Foot Hostal where you are driven to the volcano in an old school bus with drinks and partying are also a fun and cheaper alternative. We personally prefer going in the morning to avoid the heat but afternoon tours have the advantage that you can view the sunset from the foot of the volcano with a beer in hand.
If we have ever hosted you for dinner or a party you will surely know Ron Flor de Caña. They offer tours in their distillery in Chichigalpa, which is a 20 minute drive from León — tastings included.
León's nearest beach, about 20 minutes away, and where we're marrying. There are a few surf schools and local restaurants, the vibe is very relaxed but beware of the currents.
Here are a handful of our favourite places in León — for dinner, a coffee, or a drink to round off the night.
Nicaragua is a beef country, so unless you're vegetarian make sure you try the steak! Otherwise you can expect a lot of gallo pinto (rice and beans), fried plantains (sweet or savory) with fried cheese, chicken with jalapeño sauce and if you're near the coast a lot of fresh fish. Flor de Caña is the national rum and Toña and Victoria the local beers.
February is in the dry season so it will be warm and sunny, around 28–32°C, with no rain expected in León. Bring light clothes, swimwear, sun cream and a hat.
The local currency is the córdoba, though US dollars are widely accepted and the exchange rate is fixed by the government. It's always a good idea to carry cash; cards work in towns and resorts, less so in rural areas.
A few words in Spanish will get you a long way. English is spoken in most hotels and tourist spots but usually at a basic level.
Power is 120V with US-style two-pin sockets, so UK and European guests need an adapter. A local SIM or eSIM is cheap if you want data.
Nicaragua is one of the safer countries in Central America, with a violent-crime rate below the regional average. The usual travel sense applies.
Visitors from the UK, EU, Canada and US don't need a visa. On arrival in Managua you pay a US$10 tourist card fee in cash — that's it, nothing else to do to be let into the country. For the rest of countries you will need to apply for a visa online — the instructions can be found here.
If you have a layover in countries with high risk of yellow fever such as Panama or Colombia and you stop off there for a visit, you'll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate to be let into Nicaragua. If you don't leave the airport during your layover this should not be required. These rules don't apply for people over 60, lactating women, pregnant women children under the age of one.
There is a lot to do in Nicaragua, so if you want to make the best out of your trip these are the places we'd point you to.
This is a laid-back fishing village and beach break a short drive from León — the closest surf to the city and an easy first or last stop. It's very low-key and there isn't much apart from a few surf lodges and a few places to eat but it's great for couples if you want to stay near León and do some surfing or just enjoy the beach. We usually stay at Alive Beach House and have food at Los Niños del Mar and a local lady's "comedor".
One of the best surf destinations in the country, on the southern Pacific coast — a cluster of beaches with consistent reef and beach breaks for all levels, plus a famous outer reef for the more experienced. There are plenty of surf camps and lodges, and a growing scene of cafés and beach bars.
The south's liveliest beach town — it's a horseshoe bay lined with bars and restaurants, sunsets from the giant Christ statue above the water, and great surf at nearby beaches. Busier and more backpacker-friendly, it's great for partying and going with a big group of friends. The beach at San Juan bay isn't great, but we recommend staying there as your base and then taking a shuttle or taxi to beaches nearby like Maderas, Marsella, Majagual, Remanso, etc. If you go to Maderas make sure to try Espejo and J's Kitchen for lunch or dinner.
The Emerald Coast (Costa Esmeralda) is a beautiful stretch of Pacific coastline around Tola, with a string of quiet golden beaches such as Playa Gigante, Playa Colorado, Playa Hermosa and Playa Manzanillo. These beaches tend to be more quiet and exclusive and here you will find two main luxury resorts, Mukul and Rancho Santana.
León and Granada are Nicaragua's two colonial cities and old rivals. León, where we're marrying, is the revolutionary university city and Granada is quieter and more polished. In Granada, you can wander around the city, tour around the islets either by boat or SUP boards, or take a trip to Volcan Mombacho where you can choose among different hiking routes or do ziplining. It's worth spending one or two nights here and there are some great restaurants such as NM Granada, Garden Cafe, El Garaje and El Zaguán.
This is one of the most magical places in Nicaragua with two volcanoes rising from a freshwater lake. You can hike up the volcanos (not an easy climb), hike to a waterfall, kayak around the mangroves, swim in the Ojo de Agua springs, or just scooter round the island. The only thing you should be warned about is that the ferry to the island can be difficult to book and even so you will need to show up an hour early. Text us if you need help organising the trip or if you need recommendations for hotels or restaurants!
Nicaragua sits on a chain of volcanoes and there are plenty to explore beyond Cerro Negro and Telica. The easiest is Volcán Masaya, between Managua and Granada, where you can drive almost to the crater rim and look down into a glowing lava lake — especially dramatic after dark. For hikes, Mombacho near Granada is a cloud-forest crater with gentle trails (a truck takes you most of the way up); El Hoyo and Momotombo near León are tougher full-day climbs with huge views; and San Cristóbal, the country's highest, is a serious trek. Further out, Cosigüina in the far northwest rewards you with a crater lake. Most can be arranged as guided day trips.
A crater lake near Granada with warm, clear water for swimming and kayaking. There are a few resorts where you can stay and it is a great place to relax for a night or two.
Only discovered in 2004, it's a dramatic gorge in the far north, where the Río Coco has carved a narrow canyon through some of the oldest rock in Central America. With a local guide you hike in and then swim, wade and float down the river between sheer walls, with optional cliff-jumps and a short boat ride at the end. It's a long way north near the Honduran border, so it works best as a day trip from Estelí or an overnight from León.
A cloud-forest coffee estate and eco-lodge in the cool highlands near Matagalpa, founded generations ago by German settlers. Misty hiking trails, a working coffee farm to tour, howler monkeys and hundreds of birds, and cosy chalets dotted around a little lake. A complete change of scene and climate from the coast — bring a jumper.
These are Nicaragua's beautiful and secluded caribbean islands. You can either fly there from Managua or drive across the country and take a boat to the islands. If you want a bit of luxury Yemaya Reef Hotel is probably the only proper resort, otherwise there are a few guesthouses and hotels like Arenas Beach Hotel or La Princesa de la Isla.
There are no direct flights to Nicaragua from Europe — routes connect through a US gateway (Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Newark) or a Latin American hub (Panama City, San Salvador, Bogotá).
Keep in mind: mid-February overlaps UK and European school half-terms and the US Presidents' Day weekend (Mon 15 Feb 2027), so seats fill up and prices climb — book early! Rough round-trip economy fares for mid-February:
Usually one stop. JFK/EWR → Miami → MGA (American), or Newark → Houston → MGA (United).
American · MIAUnited · IAHAvianca · SALCopa · PTY
LHR → Miami → MGA (BA + American), or LHR → Houston → MGA (United).
BA + AmericanUnited · IAHAviancaCopa
CDG → Miami → MGA, CDG → Houston → MGA, or via Madrid then a US/Latin hub.
AviancaAmerican · MIAUnited · IAHIberia · MAD
If you fly through Houston or Miami you will only need one layover. Alternatively you can fly through Panama or Costa Rica but you will need to stop by Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt.
KLM/SAS + AmericanUnited · IAHAviancaCopa · PTY
Managua (MGA) is the arrival airport for everyone. In terms of tourism Managua isn't the most interesting place so we would recommend you to book a transfer straight to León or somewhere else depending on whether you're taking a longer holiday.
| From MGA to… | Drive time | Private transfer for 1-2 people (one way) |
|---|---|---|
| León | ~1h45–2h | $80–120 |
| Las Peñitas (beach) | ~2h | $100–130 |
| Tola / Emerald Coast & San Juan del Sur | ~2h–2h40 | $80–120 |
| El Tránsito / Popoyo (surf) | ~1h15–2h | $85–120 |
| Rivas / San Jorge (Ometepe ferry) | ~2h–2h30 | $75–130 (or $45 shared van) |