Fully updated following our return visit in 2022

If you're spending even just a few days in Granada, chances are you'll want to check out Laguna de Apoyo.

We actually think you'd be silly not to factor in at least a day trip to this crater lake - especially if the forecast is blue skies and sunshine - as it's the ideal place to chill out in a gorgeous natural setting. With kayaking, swimming, deckchairs, nature hikes, diving, a smattering of beach clubs and excellent accommodation options by the shore, it's also becoming increasingly popular to spend a night or two there.

Hostels in Granada have caught on to this, and many offer shuttle services to and from the lake, or day trip tours including return transport and entry to a beach club. Whilst this may be the more convenient option, there is always a cheaper, more enjoyable way to do it if you make your way there independently!

This is our guide on how to travel to Laguna de Apoyo from Granada, with an overview on the three main options. If you can't be bothered with any of the below routes, a one-way taxi costs around $15-20 USD or the tour costs around $14 per person!

Read Later | Our Guide to Laguna de Apoyo

Take The Bus Managua or Masaya bus from granada

The majority of you will set off from Granada as Apoyo is one of the most popular day trip destinations from the colonial city.

There are however no direct buses or routes from Granada with public transport!

The quickest and most convenient bus from Grandada to Laguna de Apoyo is therefore the regular Granada - Managua UCA services, which are either small colectivo type minivans or small buses, departing from the little station / car park hidden away just off the Parque Central de Granada - find it here on Google Maps.

(there's no single bus station in Granada, but rather several departure points for certain directions of travel / routes - we’ve shared a handy overview of them in this post).

These all say 'express', but they aren’t and will pick up along the road to maximise the number of passengers. The fare is 10 córdoba per person with departures are roughly every 15 minutes, depending on how many passengers they've got (i.e. if already full, they'll just go). We planned to get the 10.15 am one, but just as we finished our coffees in a nearby cafe at 10.05 am, the bus was slowly circling the Parque Central and picked us up!

It's best to get on at the station though, and gives you a better chance of getting a seat.

Ask for ‘la entrada de Laguna Apoyo’, and it's a 15-20 minute journey to the drop-off point at the side of the highway (Google Maps); the driver or ayudante will hopefully give you a shout, but note that this is NOT the entrance to the lake...you’ve got a way to go yet!

Cross over, and you will see a clearly sign-posted road leading up a hill; from there you have four options...

Note that you can also take any Granada to Masaya bus, as they travel the same highway.

Duration | Approx 30 minutes

Price | 10 - 20 córdoba, dependent upon the whims of the ayudante!

Option A | Walk To The Lake

If you've set off early enough and it's not too hot, this is a lovely way to spend the morning (we did it on our first visit to Apoyo as we'd missed the connecting bus).

The 90-minute walk involves quite a bit of uphill, takes you through small villages, gives you time to take in the views of the lake from up high.

Simply follow the road, and then follow the signs posted for various lodgings by the lake. If you get really shattered, have a go at hitch-hiking - it's not unusual in Nicaragua and someone will usually stop for you.

Time | 1.5 hours

Cost | Free!

Option B | Take Another Bus

This requires a little more organisation or luck, as you need to co-ordinate the departure from Granada with the much less frequent, quite sporadic buses which come off the highway and head up the hill.

It's up to you how willing you are to wait around, and you can always jump in on of the waiting taxi if it's taking too long.

The Masaya-Laguna Bus

This will take you right down to the shore and all the beach clubs / accommodation, so is the best option.

Departs Masaya at roughly 10.30am and 3.10pm (not on Sundays), so for most of you it's the morning bus you need to aim for.

Fare is 10 córdoba, travel time from the highway turnoff is about 30 minutes.

Valle la Laguna Bus

A more regular service, passing by every hour or so, but it only takes you as far as the drop-off point (heres) in the villages of Valle la Laguna up on the crater rim. From there, you can take a taxi down to the shore of Laguna de Apoyo, hitch, or just do the very easy and enjoyable 2.5 km / 35-minute walk down down to the water and all the beach clubs / accommodation (we did and spied two howler monkeys).

This is ideal for those who don't mind a walk, but don't fancy the initial uphill from the highway turnoff.

The fare is C$10, and the journey takes about 20 minutes along dusty roads and through small communities. Unfortunately, we don't know the schedule, but we caught this bus at 10.30 am.

Time | 30 minutes

Price | Approximately C$10

Alternatively, instead of taking the bus from Granada to the highway turnoff, instead go all the way on an early morning service from Granada to Masaya (30-40 minutes) . From there, you can catch the Masaya-Laguna bus at 10.30 am! However, we recommend arriving in Masaya before 10 am due to the exact departure time being a bit unpredictable.

Read Later | 13 Wonderful Things To Do In Granada

Option C | Take A Taxi

Depending on the time of day, there will usually be plenty of cabs waiting at the highway turnoff / entrance. This is the most convenient option as they'll take you right down to the water, without any need to walk the last stretch from Valle de Laguna, and can save you a lot of time if you left later than hoped from Granada.

The prices quoted can vary considerably however, with 130 cords being the best we were offered in 2022 (the bus literally turned in after this though, so we hopped on that instead).

Don't necessarily believe the taxi driver if he says there's no bus today either...

Time | 20 minutes

Price | 130 córdoba, so only really a viable 'budget-option' if there are few of you sharing.

The Journey Back To Granada

We've listed the options below on the assumption that you don't want to walk back up the hill to Valle la Laguna!

A taxi for around $15 USD is the most convenient option, and will drop you off right outside your accommodation in Granada. Your beach club / accommodation will happily call their guy for you, and he'll collect you there.

This is a good option if you end up enjoying your day at the lake so much that you lose track of time, want to stick around for sunset, or have a few too many drinks.

The next best option is to jump on the three daily buses from Laguna de Apoyo to Masaya (7.30am/11.30am/4.30pm), which you can take up the hill and to the main road where you can simply hail the next collectivo passing by or hop in a very good value taxi if they peep at you.

Lastly, if on a budget, you could just pay for the taxi to take you to the turn-off and catch a passing colectivo back to Granada.

WHERE TO STAY IN LAGUNA DE APOYO

Although we opted to just visit for a day trip, there's plenty here to keep you occupied for a couple.

Laguna Beach Club | A popular choice for day-trippers (this is where we hung out), Laguna has cabana style room, a guest kitchen, on-site restaurant and bar and free use of SUP/kayaks - and it's lakeside. Dorms from $10. Click here to check availability and prices.

Paradiso Hostel| Probably the most popular spot in town for backpackers, Paradiso has an excellent lakeside location, large dorms, excellent staff and a good restaurant. They also do Spanish lessons if you wanted to hang around a while longer. Check availability and prices on Booking.com and Hostelworld.

Hotel SelvAzul | Open air cabanas, pool overlooking the lake and excellent breakfast, Hotel SelvAzul is an excellent choice for a couple. No kitchen, but a really good quality restaurant and all rooms come with a mountain-view balcony. Click here to check availability and prices.