Howdy all! This will be my final ‘proper’ blog for 2025. I was going to hold it over until next year but it seemed to make more sense to pop it in here and finish off my vlogs from Nicaragua and indeed Central America.

On Graham and my last day in Nicaragua we decided to do something a bit ‘chill’ as the kids say today (sorry, I’m a goose, I know!) and that was visit the Laguna de Apoyo. This lagoon is a lake inside the crater of an extinct volcano. How extinct, I can’t be sure because, well, the water is warm and that’s because I believe of fissures somewhere entering the lake. Having said that, it’s not super warm or anything.

Again we used the driver from the hotel to drop us off and pick us up from Granada. It’s an interesting drive because you go up the outside of the crater and then down inside. A little that is, there’s a big lake there too so you know, they don’t drive in that. There is a bus to Masaya, a nearby city and apparently you can walk from there but honestly driver or taxi is the best way. We paid $15USD each for the transport and it included pick up too.

He asked us how long we wanted to stay there and we went agreed on four hours I think it was. Graham said later he was concerned on that score that it would be too long, but actually it turned out to be a good amount of time and even another hour or two would have been fine.

We were dropped off at a sort of resort, although I think they cater for backpackers too. So you could stay at ‘Paradiso’, but you can also come and enjoy the lake for a few hours. 260 Cordoba ($7USD) for the weekday and 330 Cordoba ($9.50USD) for the weekend or public holiday. We checked in and got a card and that was our identity whilst we were there. At the end they would tally up the entrance plus anything else we paid – for kayak hire or food and drink for example, and we were to pay the bill before leaving.

There are a few places to chill on the property and a few table tennis tables as well as a decent sized bar and restaurant. After a short game of table tennis we descended to the lake’s edge, found ourselves a couple of reclining deck chairs and chilled, took a little sun and enjoyed the location for what it was. I gather that all lake access is via the resorts, there are many others and I presume Paradiso was in some way connected to our hotel.

After a little bit it was time to test the water out. The ‘beach’ was a bit hard on the feet with jagged rocks and shells rather than sand and this continued into the water. Some parts were better/worse than others and it was trial and error to work out where to go. The kayaks were sitting by the beach but neither of us had any interest in them, so swimming it was.

The water was warm without being super warm, and it was murky so underwater shots weren’t up to much. There was a platform out in the water maybe 10-15 metres from the shore and I jumped off it a few times, but mainly just enjoyed the water and relaxing near it. I’ve been to a few beaches and lakes in my life, but I must admit, this was pretty unique.

We ended up eating at the restaurant and I had a burger. The food was okay without being special in anyway. It wasn’t cheap but it was reasonably priced considering they are somewhat isolated from the nearby cities. It’s certainly a very nice place to eat and drink and spend time. When we were there it was not busy, a few people but I imagine in high season it’s rocking. And as much as I was berated for choosing the hottest time of year to visit Nicaragua we did avoid huge groups of youngsters rocking and drinking to the max.

Then it was back to the hotel to pack and prepare for our flights the next day. But that will be for another blog, and that will be next year once I see through the silly season! Thanks for following this trip! Take care wherever you are in the world and… May the Journey Never End!