Laguna de Apoyo
Laguna de Apoyo
4.5
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4.5
996 reviews
Excellent
661
Very good
258
Average
65
Poor
6
Terrible
6
BEMA4EVER
Miami, FL112 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
Closest place to paradise. The lagoon was amazing, surroundings unbelievable, the people around the area very friendly. We really got in touch with the nature doing kayak, swimming, having breakfast in the early morning watching the sunrise was an unforgettable experience.
Written 30 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miyali Gil
Miami, FL19 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We went to spend the day at Laguna de Apoyo with our family, we had a very good time and fun. The food were amazing and the service outstanding.
Great location to visit as they have kayaks, paddle boards available to rent. Highly recommend it!!
Great location to visit as they have kayaks, paddle boards available to rent. Highly recommend it!!
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brix510
San Jose, CA958 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
This place is pretty incredible and you can start your trip to Laguna de Apoyo from different areas, but i started mine from the small town of Diria, particularly from the El Boquete access point. The trail is not too long, perhaps 1-1.5 km but the grade is quite steep on the way back up. Walking it was not easy but also not horrible - but it will make your legs tired and you will sweat. I saw and heard a bunch of howler monkeys and it made the experience even more memorable. I went in Feb 2024 and i was surprised at how warm the water was when i swam in there. There's not much to look at but its refreshing especially after hiking around Apoyo.
Written 21 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ERIC W
Knoxville, TN4,420 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Laguna de Apoyo is a must see when in Nicaragua. You have great views of the the Lagoon from Catarina or you can buy a day pass at one of the many resorts located down on the waters edge. Super clean and clear water and now motorized boats allowed
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh A
Polzeath, UK45 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Myself and boyfriend took the shuttle here from our hostel in Granada. Maybe 40min drive there I think. Was quite a nice little place, little beach and nice water to swim in and kayak on. Make sure you go on a sunny day. Would be super boring there if it was cloudy
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desirée C
New York City, NY43 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
This is a very beautiful place to take picture. The spot I visited was very rocky and so you will need water shoes or feet like the Flintstones. The water felt great though and the black sand was beautiful.
Written 24 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Goal100Countries
Cheltenham, UK598 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
The Laguna is a really beautiful spot in which to relax and escape the city. The nearby bars and restaurants offers scenic views of the lake that are set up to ensure maximum relaxation. The laguna is very large and has somewhat warm waters that make it perfect for swimming. It also has some of the clearest waters of any lakes/lagunas in central america.
Written 3 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevyn T
19 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
we were staying at paradico hostal which is a beautiful nice hostal on christmas day we spent 3 days there. like most of the hostals and hotels in the area it gives free kayaks.
WEAR A LIFE JACKET. we had a guy out near the dock only like 40 feet from shore with his brother kayaking grown as kids in there 20s he was apparently swimming and all of a sudden panicked probably breathed in some water and started to drown. he let out a cry his brother called out and 20 people rushed to his aid.
Sadlly no one got there in time and he sunk too fast every one rushed to get goggles and get out to try and find him but the lake being like a valcanic crater gets deep and dark too fast no one was able to get him in time.
20-30 min later the police showed up then about a hr the firs crew 3 nicas who swam for a bit looking for him.( we had 20+ Europeans with goggle and strong swimmers already try and Nicaraguans arnt the strongest swimmers.)
sadly due to the day it was really hard to get a hold of any diving gear so finally 8 hrs later a few navy divers around and 30 min later retrieved the body.
it was a big damper for everyone's Christmas and a absolute tragedy for the el Salvadorian family that was there on there holiday and lost there son.
WEAR A LIFE JACKET. we had a guy out near the dock only like 40 feet from shore with his brother kayaking grown as kids in there 20s he was apparently swimming and all of a sudden panicked probably breathed in some water and started to drown. he let out a cry his brother called out and 20 people rushed to his aid.
Sadlly no one got there in time and he sunk too fast every one rushed to get goggles and get out to try and find him but the lake being like a valcanic crater gets deep and dark too fast no one was able to get him in time.
20-30 min later the police showed up then about a hr the firs crew 3 nicas who swam for a bit looking for him.( we had 20+ Europeans with goggle and strong swimmers already try and Nicaraguans arnt the strongest swimmers.)
sadly due to the day it was really hard to get a hold of any diving gear so finally 8 hrs later a few navy divers around and 30 min later retrieved the body.
it was a big damper for everyone's Christmas and a absolute tragedy for the el Salvadorian family that was there on there holiday and lost there son.
Written 1 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Largojimmy
Clearwater, FL3 contributions
Dec 2014 • Friends
Best place to enjoy a real fish dinner. The folks are friendly and nobody is in a rush. The beer is cold and the view is the best. Bring some "water" shoes as the shoreline has a lot of small smooth rocks . No worries if you just wade right in. The water is perfect and worth the effort. I hope this place never changes! Lots of different places to eat.
Written 15 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg C
San Diego, CA8 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
I run a hotel/surf camp in Nicaragua and I love Laguna Apoyo! If you arrive after 4pm you won't have to pay the $2 entry fee…if you arrive before, heck, it's only $2! When you get to the bottom of the hill (volcano crater) you have two options, left or right. If you go right, I suggest you stay on the road until it ends at a public beach. It's about 2 miles to get there and on a good day you don't need a 4x4, but it's recommend. If you go right, I suggest going until the road ends at "La Abuela". This is a hotel/restaurant wedged alongside the lake and it's amazing. Good service, cute cabins, breathtaking scenery…it's very enchanting. There are a lot of other establishments at Laguna Apoyo, but I've fallen in love with "La Abuela" and having been here dozens of times I continually go left until the road ends at La Abuela…in fact I'm sitting on my deck in front of room #1 and was so inspired I had to leave my reviews immediately!
Written 13 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your post. what touring company did you use
Written 28 July 2019
I booked 2 tours with a small company just 1 block from the cathedral on the street with all the bars and restaurants. Not sure of the name but maybe Mohamid Tours. They were very nice and bargaining made it really good value. Sorry my memory for names not the best but easy to find.
Written 30 July 2019
Is there just one resort that Miranda B could be referring to and if so, what's its name? Thank you.
Written 23 January 2017
There are several resorts on the laguna and a few in walking distance. I stayed at Casa Marimba. The ones on the lakefront property will be much more expensive . I would look at all options and amenities before making a choice.
Written 23 January 2017
what is the town of esteli like is it a safe town and how far is it to the closest border ?Hondorus
Written 30 August 2016
The main thing in Estelli is of course the fabulous cigars. I just got back inside from enjoying one each with a bud, we brought our limits back. Lol. It's nice enough area too, and we didn't have a lot of time there, but our perception was that if you want a town in the mountains Matagalpa was far more interesting and Jinotega was our favorite place to just chill in Nica that didn't involve a beach. Lol. But Nica is an amazingly diverse country, one you could easily spend months exploring imo
Written 31 August 2016
conceptsbycaron
Monterey, California
I live in California, and am thinking of retiring to this region of Nicaragua. Any advice for a long term place to stay for a month or so as I look at options.
I am a 60++ year old female traveling by myself- and possibily my dog is customs/animal requirements allow for this.
Don't be afraid to offer ideas and suggestions-I will be on a limited budget.
Thank you!
Written 21 August 2015
Get a cheap hotel and then search for a local house for rent with the local people.
If you're planning to retire here I imagine that at least you speak Spanish fluently right ? So just walk around the small shops and sure enough they will put you in contact with the right places .
Written 23 August 2015
Bonjour, nous partons au Nicaragua pour 5 semaines en novembre et nous comptons voyager en transports locaux et ne pas louer de voiture. Pensez-vous que cette façon de voyager au Nicaragua est bonne? Comment-avez vous voyagé? L'hébergement est-il abordable?
En vous remerciant.
Eric et Corinne,
Antibes
Written 10 May 2015
Does anybody know of a good diving company who does tours at Laguna de Apoyo?
Written 4 February 2015
I recently dived there. Jeffrey McCrary is a scientist working with the Estacion Biologica. Jeffrey has been conducting a study of the fish in the lake. We dove just at the beginning of the breeding season. There are at least 100 pairs of fish nesting, most of them with tiny fry. Several species of fish have been discovered by them. By diving with them, you help them collect data to promote their protection. You can see photos of the fish and the lake at 8882-3992.
In response to some of the other people here, the lake is about as clear as the Pacific Ocean, but without currents and dangers. The visibility on my dive was about four meters in some parts, eight meters in others. A dive cost 35 dollars.
Written 29 January 2017
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