|
From your vacation rental - Casa Gallo - there are many things to Do & See while visiting Granada:
- Stroll the town, and especially the Central Park.
- Drive or taxi to Masaya Volcano, where you will park right on the edge of the crater. 25 minutes one way
- Visit the New Artisan's Market in Masaya. 20 minutes one way
- Lunch at the Mirador restaurants, Catarina, overlooking Lake Apoyo and Granada and Lake Nicaragua. Shop in the village of Catarina. 20 minutes one way
- Visit San Juan del Oriente, a village of ceramics, near Catarina. We like the cooperativa there, higher prices but excellent quality. 20 minutes one way.
- Visit Masatepe, and the roadside furniture shops and factories - rattan, wicker, wood furniture. 20 minutes one way.
- Visit the San Simeon Lodge (you can make reservations at Casa San Francisco) for a day trip or overnight, or the Norome Resort , both at at waters edge at Lake Apoyo. Restaurants, swim in the crystal clear waters. Also a pleasant overnight. 20 minutes one way.
- Cruise the Isletas at Granada, 350 islands where homes are being built, the islands created 20,000 years ago when nearby Mombacho Volcano blew its top. Have lunch at Hotel Isleta La Ceiba. 10 minutes to the docks. Another option is to see the islands by kayak.
- Ascend nearby Mombacho Volcano in an old Russian truck, to magnficent viewpoints of Granada and Lake Nicaragua. Hiking trails.
- Take a canopy tour on Volcan Mombacho.
- From Granada, visit Managua (one hour), the Pacific Beaches. The five star Montelimar (all-inclusive) (one hour) for a day trip or overnight; or the charming beachtown of San Juan del Sur (1:30). Travel to the delightful mountain coffee plantation of Selva Negra (3 hours)for an overnight. - Daytrip to Ometepe Island can be arranged through Oro Travel, though it is a long day. Better yet, have them arrange an overnight. Also, a day trip can be arranged to the spiritual island of Zapatera, where the large stone figures on display at Convento San Francisco came from.
There is more to do, of course, these are some suggestions.
.
|
It may be that your time is short in Granada, and a vacation rental such as Casa Gallo does not suit your itinerary. In that case, here are some recommendations for other paces to stay as well as places to eat: Places to Stay:
The best located are the Colonial Hotel, just off the Central Park, and Hotel Alhambra, on the Central Park and the new Hotel Colon, also on the west side of the park as is the Alhambra. Hotel Colonial rooms are charming and comfortable, central outdoor pool and bar; a cozy place. Alhambra has been remodeled, boasts a great view of the Central Park across the street from its veranda. The Hotel Gran Francia is just off the Parque Central, very nice. A new boutique hotel well located near the Convento San Francisco is Casa San Francisco (505-552-8235) Four blocks from the Central Park is the La Bohemia, managed by part-owner Lucy Bartlett. No restaurant or bar, but good reports, heavily discounted rates this first year of operation. Places to eat:
1. The Zaguan, behind the Cathedral, for charcoal grilled steak, chicken, has been popular in recent years, but service and food quality has slipped.
2. Mediterraneo. A couple of blocks towards the Lake (east) from the Gran Francia. Great food, ambiance in a courtyard setting, seafood, paella, varied menu. Perhaps a bit pricier, but this is relative, would be cheap in the States. Has been in operation for a number of years. Try the chocolate crepe for dessert.
3. The Archangel Restaurant at the Gran Francia Hotel. (On the southeast corner of the Park. Most expensive in Granada, but this is relative, would not be expensive in the States. Good food in air conditioned comfort. Have a drink upstairs on the balcony and watch the action at that corner of the Central Park.
4. Doña Conchi's.(at the corner of the block that Mediterraneo is on, towards the Lake) Like Mediterraneo, v. good food, varied menu, very charming and romantic place to take your loved one. Sangria a specialty. Lots of nooks to sit in. More expensive.
5. Try the charming Tercer Ojo and their crepes; nightly specials; great wine selection, cappucino, etc., at this little cafe run by Glenda and Marco. Italian oriented, library area, comfy seating, and Bhudda very much a presence in this intriguing venue. Relatively new deli next door.
6. Breakfast - Nica Buffet, Edward is the proprietor. Banana pancakes, omelets, etc., cheap, funky, fun. One block south of sw corner of Central Park, then around the corner to mid-block. Kathy's Waffle House across from the Convento San Francisco. Good and inexpensive. Try the pecan waffles or Sandy's Special, a bowl of fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola. Draws even the Managua crowd on Sunday's.
7. Casa San Francisco, charming & good food. Reasonable prices. New chef.
8. Cafe Dec Arte has closed, but this venue still becomes Pasta Pasta in the evening (5:00 - 10:00 p.m.), offering a wide selection of pasta dishes in a charming setting. Open Monday's when many of the restaurants are closed.
9. Pizza: Telepizza and Don Luca (wood oven). Both recommended. I like the house salad that Telepizza offers. Deep dish or thin. Telepizza is 1/2 block towards the lake from the Central Park. Don Luca is towards the Lake from the Park on Calzada. Monna Lisa across the street not quite as far. Don Luca specializes in thin crust pizza. Have good reports on Monna Lisa's pizza.
10. Nuestra Casa. Excellent "down home" food, ribs, shrimp, steaks, even veal! Reasonable. Meals prepared by the owner, Three-Fingers Jimmy, who also plays the guitar and sings on occasion. West of the Park three blocks.
11. The Roadhouse. USDA meat, great hamburgers, air cond. On La Calzada towards the lake from the Park.
12. Coffee Shops: All relatively new. Next to the Colonial Hotel, the Euro Cafe. Lawrence & Thelma Ginsburg proprietors. Panini Sandwiches, any type of coffee based drink you would want, gelato in wonderful natural fruit flavors, and pastries. Try their Mocha Frappé. Still there is the Maverick Reading Room and Coffee Lounge (midway between the north end of the Park and Bancentro), coffee is always hot, there are goodies available, and comfortable seating to meet the constantly changing of customers who stop in for a chat. The Maverick also serves smoothies in various fruit flavors. Cheap.
13. Famous for its whole fried fish is Las Colinas. Swept dirt floor, huge, yet last time I was there Presidential candidate's wife and a group of Managua ladies eating there. South part of Granada, you will need a taxi, and then restaurant will get you a taxi back to city center. You must try this.
14. Rostipollo. O.K., so it's a chain. Air conditioned comfort, good service, spit bbq chicken dishes, inexpensive, comfortable, and the food is good. North end of the Park close to Tres Mundos. I like the carrot juice-orange juice combo, and chalupa.You may have eaten at one of these in San José.
15. Across the park from Rosti Pollo, the new Tip Top, a fried chicken chain you will see in C.A. and Nicaragua. This is inexpensive, a quicker meal than the more formal restaurants. I'm glad to see the variety.
16. Garden Café. New entrant, with great sandwiches and soups, seating around the garden in this old colonial home one block south of the Central Park on Libertad.
17. Café Chavalos, two blocks towards the lake from Kathy's Waffle House and Tercer Ojo. This restaurant, recently re-opened in a new venue, is worth the trip for an evening meal, currently F-M. Here young men , many with prior drug habits, are taught to cook and serve meals, Good food, great ambiance. 18. The Alhambra Hotel has not been known for its restaurant food, but very recently has improved dramatically, good yet reasonable menu, service very good, and of course the wonderful view of the park as you dine and drink. There are quite a few other places to eat, 10 restaurants have opened in the past few months, several on La Calzada from the Central Park towards the lake. Most have outside seating as well as inside tables.
|
