Chinandega and Volcán San Cristóbal

Northern Pacific Coast is a region along the Pacific coast in western Nicaragua.

Cities

• 🌍 Leon - a colonial city and the intellectual center of Nicaragua
• 🌍 Chinandega - a commercial and agricultural center
• 🌍 Corinto - a port city
• 🌍 El Viejo

Other destinations

• 🌍 Las Peñitas & Poneloya - two Pacific beach towns near León.
• 🌍 Leon Viejo - an UNESCO world heritage site.
• 🌍 Volcan Cosigüina - which in 1835 had the third largest volcanic eruption in recorded history.
• 🌍 Jiquilillo beach.
• 🌍 San Jacinto hot springs.

Understand

The Northern Pacific Coast of Nicaragua consists of the departments of Chinandega and León with an approximate population of 865,000 (2020). Along the Pacific coast, there are many beaches and estuaries. A chain of active volcanoes, the Cordillera de los Marrabios, cuts through the region.

The two major cities are León and Chinandega, Nicaragua's second and fourth largest cities respectively. León, a colonial city founded in 1524, is the country's intellectual center with the oldest and largest cathedral, the oldest university and many museums. Chinandega is a commercial and agricultural hub. Corinto has Nicaragua's biggest port.

The region is a major agricultural producer. Important crops include sugar cane, rice, soy, corn, beans, bananas, peanuts and sesame seeds. There are fishing villages, shrimp farms and salt producers along the coast.

Talk

Spanish

Get in

Bus between Chinandega and El Guasaule on the border to Honduras.

• Internationally by air through Managua Airport or by land from Honduras.
• From Managua by bus, car or taxi.
• From the Northern Highlands by bus or car.
• From Honduras via the border crossing at Guasaule.
• From El Salvador by boat from La Union to Potosí.

Get around

Bus from León to Malpaisillo, El Sauce and Achuapa.

There are frequent buses between León, Chinandega, Corinto, El Viejo and all other major towns in the region. From León there are frequent buses to Poneloya and Las Peñitas, and from Chinandega to Corinto, but other beaches are harder to reach.

See

León cathedral

• The colonial city of León, founded in 1524.
• Cathedral of León, the largest in Central America.
• Ortiz-Gurdián Art Museum in León.
• Sutiava, the indigenous neighborhood in León.
• Chorotega Nicarao Archeological Museum in Chinandega.

Do

Volcano surfing down Cerro Negro.

• Hike up Volcan Cosigüina or one of the many other volcanoes.
• Surf down Volcan Cerro Negro.
• Swim or surf the Pacific beaches in Poneloya, Las Peñitas or Jiquilillo.
• Kayak in the Juan Venado or Padre Ramos Nature Reserves.
• Enjoy the hot springs in San Jacinto.

Drink

Temperatures can rise well above 35°C (100°F) during the dry season (December - April), so make sure to stay hydrated. Although some say that tab-water in León is safe, stick to bottled water.

Stay safe

Pacific coast currents can be very strong and dangerous even for trained swimmers in their best health. Don't go too far out, stay on official beaches, don't go too far out and follow any warning signs. Weaker swimmers may prefer to enjoy the estuaries with their calmer waters.

Go next

• Northern Highlands for cooler temperatures.
• Southern Pacific Coast for more beaches and surfing.
• Honduras