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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. If you are staying at Casa Gallo, you
can pack lightly with all your other travel possessions remaining at Casa Gallo. Jose of Casa Gallo will spend that
night that you are away, at the house, so all items will be secure.
There is more to do, of course,
these are some suggestions. Enjoy your Nicaragua vacation!
Kayak tours of the isletas - starts at about $25 for
2 1/2 hours Masaya National Park-Masya Artisans' Market-Catarina-San Juan del Oriente- starts at $25 depending on number
in group Mombacho Cloud Forest & Canopy tour-starts at $50 1 Day Ometepe-Oro Travel quotes $82.50 (Granada-San
Jorge-Ferry-Ometepe-Ferry-San Jorge-Granada) This is doable, return about 6:30 p.m. Granada. Check Oro Travel and Tierra
Tours for pricing for a specific group size on any of these tours. Horseback tours are offered by Janice Gallagher of
GPS, with some beautiful rides out of their higher elevation finca at Diriomo, 20 minutes from Granada. For more information,
go to the www.gpsnicaragua.com website.
Airport and other transport
If you are a single passenger,
you may have to pay the double rate, $32 with Paxeos (www.paxeos.com) (desk in luggage area of MGA) or $45 with Oro Travel (information@orotravel.com). Pricing depends on group size, so be sure to check with each. In every case, Oro Travel will deposit you or
pick you up at the place you are staying. Both are reputable. Casa Gallo has used Oro Travel for airport
pick-up/departure and tours for a number of years. Costa Rica Vacation Rental. If you are
interested in extending your trip to Costa Rica, we can whole heartedly recommend Casa de Serenidad at Playa Flamingo on the
northwest Pacifc Coast of Costa Rica. The Casa has four stunning ocean front apartments, and is secluded on the Flamingo
Peninsula. Our friends Don and Babe Hopkins own and manage these apartment rentals. For more info, check out www.casadeserenidadcostarica.com Playa Flamingo is 150 road miles from Granada. Tica bus or Nica bus will take you from Granada to Liberia, Costa
Rica, and from there you can rent a car or take a taxi to Playa Flamingo, which is an hour from Liberia. One option
for travel is to fly into Managua, and after your stay at Casa Gallo, and trip to Playa Flamingo, fly out of Liberia.
American, Continental, and Delta serve both airports.
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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. Nevertheless, with a 3 day minimum, if you put a pencil and paper to
the numbers, you may find Casa Gallo a better value than a hotel ($150 per night), plus a great deal more amenities,
not to mention the incomparable experience of lodging in a historic old home in the oldest city of the Americas. 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 that became Pasta Pasta has also 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. Closed
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 - closed. 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.
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