What are the best places in Nicaragua to live and retire?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
Most people want to retire at the beach. The beaches of Nicaragua are fantastic and range from wide and sandy to rocky cliffs and bluffs. There are both Nicaraguan beach towns and North American standard gated communities to choose from at the beach. Three of the communities have an operational golf course, operational being the key. Granada, a 500-year-old colonial city, has the largest single collection of expat retirees in Nicaragua.
Most people want to retire at the beach. The beaches of Nicaragua are fantastic and range from wide and sandy to rocky cliffs and bluffs. There are both Nicaraguan beach towns and North American standard gated communities to choose from at the beach. Three of the communities have an operational golf course, operational being the key. Granada, a 500-year-old colonial city, has the largest single collection of expat retirees in Nicaragua.
Posted January 19, 2014
Sendy Tijerino
In my opinion, the best place in Nicaragua 
to live is the northern area of the country, specifically in Matagalpa, which is one of the most mountainous departments in Nicaragua. The picture to the right is of a trail in Matagalpa.
to live is the northern area of the country, specifically in Matagalpa, which is one of the most mountainous departments in Nicaragua. The picture to the right is of a trail in Matagalpa. If you like to be in touch with nature, a temperate cool and warm climate and homey and rustic design, this is the perfect place for you.
In Matagalpa you will find rural communities and many attractions such as...
In Matagalpa you will find rural communities and many attractions such as... In my opinion, the best place in Nicaragua to live is the northern area of the country, specifically in Matagalpa, which is one of the most mountainous departments in Nicaragua. The picture to the right is of a trail in Matagalpa.
to live is the northern area of the country, specifically in Matagalpa, which is one of the most mountainous departments in Nicaragua. The picture to the right is of a trail in Matagalpa. If you like to be in touch with nature, a temperate cool and warm climate and homey and rustic design, this is the perfect place for you.
In Matagalpa you will find rural communities and many attractions such as lakes, rivers and waterfalls and obviously the coffee this area is famous for. This department is known for its excellent and quality coffee, which is cultivated and exported to other countries all over the world.
In Matagalpa you will find rural communities and many attractions such as lakes, rivers and waterfalls and obviously the coffee this area is famous for. This department is known for its excellent and quality coffee, which is cultivated and exported to other countries all over the world. When you are in Matagalpa you probably will feel a peacefulness and tranquility that other countries and cities don’t have.
Posted July 2, 2014
Lucy Valenti - Liv Nicaragua
Where would be the best place for you to live.jpg)
in Nicaragua depends on your interests. For example, you have people who love living among nature, while others are more social and would like to live more in the middle of a community.
So, depending on that type of interest, I would say Granada is a lovely place for those who want to be more involved with community and are more social, because Granada is a city and it is close to many other places. Also, Granada is...
in Nicaragua depends on your interests. For example, you have people who love living among nature, while others are more social and would like to live more in the middle of a community.So, depending on that type of interest, I would say Granada is a lovely place for those who want to be more involved with community and are more social, because Granada is a city and it is close to many other places. Also, Granada is...
Where would be the best place for you to live in Nicaragua depends on your interests. For example, you have people who love living among nature, while others are more social and would like to live more in the middle of a community.
So, depending on that type of interest, I would say Granada is a lovely place for those who want to be more involved with community and are more social, because Granada is a city and it is close to many other places. Also, Granada is a colonial city, with lots of cultural activities and historical interest.
If you are mainly a person who loves to be around nature, I would say that the Southern part of Nicaragua like San Juan del Sur and the Tolla area are wonderful places for expats.
in Nicaragua depends on your interests. For example, you have people who love living among nature, while others are more social and would like to live more in the middle of a community.So, depending on that type of interest, I would say Granada is a lovely place for those who want to be more involved with community and are more social, because Granada is a city and it is close to many other places. Also, Granada is a colonial city, with lots of cultural activities and historical interest.
If you are mainly a person who loves to be around nature, I would say that the Southern part of Nicaragua like San Juan del Sur and the Tolla area are wonderful places for expats.
Posted July 9, 2014
Juan Carlos Espinosa - Hacienda Puerta del Cielo Ecolodge & Spa
For the best places to live and retire in Nicaragua, I would stay away from the central areas of the capital, Managua. 
There are 5.5 million people who live in Nicaragua and almost 3 million live in the Managua, so it’s very congested.
There are lots of expats living on the Pacific beaches in Nicaragua, to the south, by the boarder with Costa Rica, in the areas of Tolla and San Juan del Sur. And also there are a lot of expats living in more towards the...
There are 5.5 million people who live in Nicaragua and almost 3 million live in the Managua, so it’s very congested. There are lots of expats living on the Pacific beaches in Nicaragua, to the south, by the boarder with Costa Rica, in the areas of Tolla and San Juan del Sur. And also there are a lot of expats living in more towards the...
For the best places to live and retire in Nicaragua, I would stay away from the central areas of the capital, Managua. There are 5.5 million people who live in Nicaragua and almost 3 million live in the Managua, so it’s very congested.
There are lots of expats living on the Pacific beaches in Nicaragua, to the south, by the boarder with Costa Rica, in the areas of Tolla and San Juan del Sur. And also there are a lot of expats living in more towards the center of the country towards the Pacific side in Granada and Leon, which are the colonial cities.
Managua itself is in a valley, almost at sea level, next to Lake Managua. Mountains surround Managua in the countryside. Near Managua’s surroundings (not the central part of the city), its very nice, especially up in the mountains, where there are many neighborhoods south of Managua.
In Meseta de Los Pueblos (“Plateau towns”), which is south of Managua, there are a bunch of little towns that are high in the mountains that are very pretty. As the name implies, these towns are on a plateau in the mountains, in a mostly flat area. The towns in Nicaragua that are up in the mountains are cooler (even though they’re just around 800 to 1,000 feet above sea level), less congested, and you’re close to everything. It’s nice and cool most of the year and there’s always a nice breeze.
There are 5.5 million people who live in Nicaragua and almost 3 million live in the Managua, so it’s very congested. There are lots of expats living on the Pacific beaches in Nicaragua, to the south, by the boarder with Costa Rica, in the areas of Tolla and San Juan del Sur. And also there are a lot of expats living in more towards the center of the country towards the Pacific side in Granada and Leon, which are the colonial cities.
Managua itself is in a valley, almost at sea level, next to Lake Managua. Mountains surround Managua in the countryside. Near Managua’s surroundings (not the central part of the city), its very nice, especially up in the mountains, where there are many neighborhoods south of Managua.
In Meseta de Los Pueblos (“Plateau towns”), which is south of Managua, there are a bunch of little towns that are high in the mountains that are very pretty. As the name implies, these towns are on a plateau in the mountains, in a mostly flat area. The towns in Nicaragua that are up in the mountains are cooler (even though they’re just around 800 to 1,000 feet above sea level), less congested, and you’re close to everything. It’s nice and cool most of the year and there’s always a nice breeze.
The picture is of Masaya Lagoon, by Hacienda Puerta Del Cielo Eco-Spa near Masatepe, Nicaragua.
Posted August 6, 2014
David Smith - Farmland Assets
I would say that for most of your retirees,
the best places in Nicaragua to live would be on the west coast and around the Granada - Laguna Apoyo areas, because you have better infrastructure; everything is within close proximity. From Granada, Nicaragua, you’re within an hour and a half to the ocean, you’re a half hour to forty minutes to a major hospital in Managua, which is something that older retirees need to consider—accessibility to emergency medical...
the best places in Nicaragua to live would be on the west coast and around the Granada - Laguna Apoyo areas, because you have better infrastructure; everything is within close proximity. From Granada, Nicaragua, you’re within an hour and a half to the ocean, you’re a half hour to forty minutes to a major hospital in Managua, which is something that older retirees need to consider—accessibility to emergency medical... I would say that for most of your retirees, the best places in Nicaragua to live would be on the west coast and around the Granada - Laguna Apoyo areas, because you have better infrastructure; everything is within close proximity. From Granada, Nicaragua, you’re within an hour and a half to the ocean, you’re a half hour to forty minutes to a major hospital in Managua, which is something that older retirees need to consider—accessibility to emergency medical care. These are really important issues with our clients, and we address these questions very often.
the best places in Nicaragua to live would be on the west coast and around the Granada - Laguna Apoyo areas, because you have better infrastructure; everything is within close proximity. From Granada, Nicaragua, you’re within an hour and a half to the ocean, you’re a half hour to forty minutes to a major hospital in Managua, which is something that older retirees need to consider—accessibility to emergency medical care. These are really important issues with our clients, and we address these questions very often. Posted August 9, 2014
Indiana Siu - Operation Smile Nicaragua
In my opinion, the best place in Nicaragua to live is Managua. It’s still not super-developed, but it’s just developed enough for you to have a comfortable life. Managua has modern technology and it’s not that expensive to live here. The weather’s kind of hot, but you can put the air conditioning on.Granada is a little bit more expensive, because it’s more touristic.
Within Managua, the best place to live is all the area...
In my opinion, the best place in Nicaragua to live is Managua. It’s still not super-developed, but it’s just developed enough for you to have a comfortable life. Managua has modern technology and it’s not that expensive to live here. The weather’s kind of hot, but you can put the air conditioning on.Granada is a little bit more expensive, because it’s more touristic.
Within Managua, the best place to live is all the area surrounding Carretera Masaya. Carretera Masaya is a very good, upper middle class and wealthy residential neighborhood outside of the center of Managua with lots of condominiums and houses and very little commercial development. Carretera Masaya has both gate guarded communities and non-gate guarded communities.
Posted August 12, 2014
Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties
Which places are the best places to live in 
Nicaragua depend on many things. For example, are you retired? Are you looking to do business?
Nicaragua depend on many things. For example, are you retired? Are you looking to do business? Some people think that New York is the best place because they want to make a lot of money and they are close to everything. Other people would say that they don’t like New York because its noisy, sometimes its dangerous, some places are depressing, there’s ambulances and sirens all the...
Which places are the best places to live in Nicaragua depend on many things. For example, are you retired? Are you looking to do business?
Nicaragua depend on many things. For example, are you retired? Are you looking to do business? Some people think that New York is the best place because they want to make a lot of money and they are close to everything. Other people would say that they don’t like New York because its noisy, sometimes its dangerous, some places are depressing, there’s ambulances and sirens all the time, etc. It depends. What are your needs in terms of safety? How quiet do you need it? How close or far away do you need to be from work or other places?
I’ll explore how the various places in Nicaragua would fit various needs.
Let’s say that you’re trying to learn the country of Nicaragua and do business eventually and at the same time you want to be close to everything. In addition, you don’t want to be in a big city and you want a laid back. If this were the case, Granada, Nicaragua would be your choice. If you’re an active person who at the same time likes to take your time, Granada is good. The picture to the left is of Granada. If you’re the type of person who likes to explore, you’re a pioneer, and you’re not afraid to deal with a big city because you are accustomed to big cities like New York or San Francisco, those places where life is more fast, Managua is like a kindergarten; it’s easy. You can easily find homes or developments where you’re going to feel very comfortable. These homes are in safe, quiet areas, and at the same time you can open a business in Managua and make some money. The first picture in this answer is of a shopping mall in Managua.
Managua is good for entrepreneurs and to meet more expats and more companies. If you are in your 40s or 50s, you want to keep moving forward and want to live close to the action in a decent-sized home at a decent price, Managua would have a lot of potential for you right now. I’m impressed by how many expats already live in Managua. We have houses from US $150,000 to $300,000 that are in a decent location at a decent size, in good and safe areas. You can still find a house in Managua for even less-- $140,000-- and live very well.
Then, you have another type of person who doesn’t like to be in the heat. They think Managua is too hot, too noisy, there’s too many expats, and they would like to live in the countryside but close to the cities. They want facilities, they want food and something to buy but they want good weather. These people could live in Diriomo. Diriomo is one of what we call “the White Towns”, or “Pueblos Blancos”, which are close by Granada. The Pueblos Blancos in my opinion is the next growing expat area, although already there are many expats there who are enjoying the good weather the entire year; in the high 70s all year round.
Then you have Matagalpa and Jinotega, which where the coffee farms are. I have heard that many expats are looking for properties there because it’s a good area, with cool, fresh air and a little cheaper than Granada. (Jinotega Central Park is pictured here.) San Juan del Sur, as well as the beach areas around there such as Rivas, Tola, Popoyo, etc. is for people who love to be beachfront at the ocean. It’s hot, but they are more interested to live on the water than being close to the city.
Many people in San Juan del Sur don’t live there full time; they may live there 3 – 4 months out of the year. Other people do live there full time. There are people who live in San Juan del Sur who have opened hotels, restaurants, and other businesses; they’re business pioneers.
San Juan del Sur is the only substantial city or town that Nicaragua has on the ocean. Lately, San Juan del Sur is becoming more Americanized. Some people say that this has diminished the traditional charm of San Juan del Sur and made it less like a traditional city in the Nicaraguan countryside than it used to be. Now you see more businesses dedicated to expats and international customers . This raises up the prices. San Juan del Sur is like another country within Nicaragua.
Posted August 15, 2014
Tanya Hartill - NicaTour Group
The best places in Nicaragua to live and retire depends on whether you want a beach community or if you want to be around expats. The most popular places in Nicaragua for expats to live or retire are Granada and San Juan del Sur.
Leon and Managua are also becoming more popular now, especially since people are starting businesses there.
The best places in Nicaragua to live and retire depends on whether you want a beach community or if you want to be around expats. The most popular places in Nicaragua for expats to live or retire are Granada and San Juan del Sur.
Leon and Managua are also becoming more popular now, especially since people are starting businesses there.
Posted August 26, 2014
Malena Kruger
In my opinion there is nothing like living in Managua. Managua is a small, manageable city with great restaurants and nightlife.
If you are interested in sightseeing, you have the beach just 45 minutes away, the Masaya volcano is 20 minutes away and the colonial city of Granada just one hour away. If you fancy horseback riding, I recommend Selva Negra Mountain Lounge in Matagalpa (2 hours away). There are great travel agencies like Schuvar Travels that can...
In my opinion there is nothing like living in Managua. Managua is a small, manageable city with great restaurants and nightlife.
If you are interested in sightseeing, you have the beach just 45 minutes away, the Masaya volcano is 20 minutes away and the colonial city of Granada just one hour away. If you fancy horseback riding, I recommend Selva Negra Mountain Lounge in Matagalpa (2 hours away). There are great travel agencies like Schuvar Travels that can easily plan your Nicaraguan Adventure.
Posted November 4, 2014
Daniel Snider - Snider's Realty Nicaragua
The best places in Nicaragua to live would be the coastal communities Rancho Santana, Iguana Beach, Guacalito, the beaches of San Juan Del Sur, and around the northern mountain communities of Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Esteli, which is a coffee-growing mountainous community where you will see a lot of pine and the weather is so much cooler. Back in the day, a lot of German expats went to Esteli (pictured with cathedral) because it is a lot cooler there compared to...
The best places in Nicaragua to live would be the coastal communities Rancho Santana, Iguana Beach, Guacalito, the beaches of San Juan Del Sur, and around the northern mountain communities of Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Esteli, which is a coffee-growing mountainous community where you will see a lot of pine and the weather is so much cooler. Back in the day, a lot of German expats went to Esteli (pictured with cathedral) because it is a lot cooler there compared to being in the coastal areas where it is humid and hot sometimes.
So, it all depends on where you want to be. If you want the ocean, I would recommend areas closer to the coast but we have a lot of really beautiful mountain lands, too. Nicaragua is so small that going from one end to the other is not too far. Overall, I recommend living in the southern west coast of Nicaragua because it is where you will find some of the more beautiful parts of the country.
Posted December 6, 2014
Eugenio Cortez - Hacienda & Ecolodge Morgan´s Rock
The best places to live in Nicaragua obviously depends on the person. There are different places where you can live in Nicaragua. For example, if you like the beach, there’s tons of beaches where you can live. If you like the mountains, there’s tons of mountains where you can live. If you like the city or colonial towns, there are plenty of those, too. If you want to live on a lake, you can live in Ometepe Island (pictured) and have the most...
The best places to live in Nicaragua obviously depends on the person. There are different places where you can live in Nicaragua. For example, if you like the beach, there’s tons of beaches where you can live. If you like the mountains, there’s tons of mountains where you can live. If you like the city or colonial towns, there are plenty of those, too. If you want to live on a lake, you can live in Ometepe Island (pictured) and have the most laid back scene in your life. If you like the party scene, there’s that, too. There’s a variety of different types of places to live. It just really depends on what you like.
If you want to live in a colonial city, Granada or Leon would be good choices. If you want to live on the beach, you can choose pretty much any place along the Pacific coast; you can choose among San Juan del Sur or Tola and many other places.
If you want to live in a colonial city, Granada or Leon would be good choices. If you want to live on the beach, you can choose pretty much any place along the Pacific coast; you can choose among San Juan del Sur or Tola and many other places.
You can also go to the Caribbean coast. You can go to Corn Island and many other places.
If you want to live in the mountains, you can to Matagalpa or Jinotega; that area.
If you like to party, Granada and Managua are pretty big on parties, Leon, too, and San Juan del Sur, obviously. It depends on your age.
Adult nightlife here isn’t what many people expect it to be. In Nicaragua, it is not our culture for adults over 50 or so to go to bars and have drinks as late as 12 at night. The all- night party life here ends at around 35 years old.
Posted December 10, 2014
Immanuel Zerger - Solentiname Tours - Discover Nicaragua
The best places to live and retire in Nicaragua would be the colonial towns, such as Leon or Granada. Leon is a good place to retire for intellectual people because you will find good universities there. The second oldest university in Central America is in Leon. The local living is marked by the university communities. There are many students there. The third biggest cathedral in Latin America is found in Leon, too, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also in Leon, you are also...The best places to live and retire in Nicaragua would be the colonial towns, such as Leon or Granada. Leon is a good place to retire for intellectual people because you will find good universities there. The second oldest university in Central America is in Leon. The local living is marked by the university communities. There are many students there. The third biggest cathedral in Latin America is found in Leon, too, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also in Leon, you are also just 20 minutes away from the Pacific Ocean. 
Granada is a colonial town marked by the commercial aristocracy of Spaniards who created this beautiful colonial town, but with neo-classic aspects. There are lots of two-story buildings there. The restaurants in Granada offer a wide variety of meals such as Asian, Latin American and local Nicaraguan. There is also great nightlife in Granada because there are several bars there. Granada is located on Lake Nicaragua, which is a must-see because it is the biggest lake in the American tropics, in size between Lake Titicaca and the Great Lakes of North America. This is also the reason why the shamans of North America call Lake Nicaragua "holy water."
It is also nice to live on the Pacific beach properties, where there are several developments that are all equipped with Internet connection and electricity. There are several places on the Pacific coast where it is really nice to live. All these places are within a reasonable distance to the city of Managua, so if you need something from a big warehouse, or if you want to go to the malls, which are all in Managua, you are just one to two hours away.
The best beaches of Nicaragua would be in San Juan del Sur and the northern and southern parts of San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur is the traditional beach town of the Nicaraguans and it was in the 19th century when all the traffic to the US passed through San Juan Del Sur. The historic transitions to go from Boston to San Francisco or Los Angeles and back, all came through Nicaragua. Mark Twain arrived in 1867 to go through Nicaragua.
Several buildings in San Juan del Sur are of Victorian style. There are also great real estate offers, if you are looking to buy a house or an apartment in San Juan Del Sur. You will find a rural area in Tola, which is now a nice coastal development with fancy hotels and a five-star spa and lodge resort. There are some real estate properties there where you can build your dream beach house with a swimming pool and a view of the Pacific Ocean.
You can also go to Grand Pacifica, which is only an hour and a half away from Managua, and where you have a good opportunity to buy a new house or apartment. There are also good offers from some beach properties in areas where Nicaraguans also have their houses going north to Leon and behind Leon in the Chinandega area. There is also Marina Puerto del Sol, which is a marina where you can come with your own sailboat, and there are also offerings to buy a property there.
Managua is another nice place to live and retire. There are nice town condominiums in the hills going up behind Managua, but there is a little bit more traffic. After the big earthquake in 1972, the city of Managua was constructed with only one story houses, and it has been that way for 30 years. This has spread the city wider, so you need a car to get around. There are also nice condominium houses there, which are surrounded by nature. (Ometepe island in Lake Nicaragua, pictured above.)
Posted January 22, 2015
Esmerelda Vargas - Schuvar Tours
I love San Juan Del Sur and the beaches. San Juan Del Sur is a fishing village. It is unique and there is a little bit of a mix of cultures because a lot of foreign people live there now, so you will find Nicaraguans, Italians, Americans, etc. The view is very relaxing and there are beautiful houses if you want to retire there. If you like to walk, San Juan del Sur is small town, so I like San Juan Del Sur very much. My second choice to live would be in...
I love San Juan Del Sur and the beaches. San Juan Del Sur is a fishing village. It is unique and there is a little bit of a mix of cultures because a lot of foreign people live there now, so you will find Nicaraguans, Italians, Americans, etc. The view is very relaxing and there are beautiful houses if you want to retire there. If you like to walk, San Juan del Sur is small town, so I like San Juan Del Sur very much. My second choice to live would be in northern Nicaragua, especially if you want to live somewhere close to nature. The area of Matagalpa and Jinotega has a cooler weather with a breeze and mountain views, so it is very relaxing. If you love nature, that is the place for you.
(Coffee farm in Jinotega, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted April 28, 2015
Dr. Carlos Alemán - Centro de Diseño Denta (Clínica Dental)
There are lots of nice places in Nicaragua to live or retire. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend places that are hot, such as in Managua. The best places would be in the northern part of the country, like in Estelí, where they have a nice weather. I would also recommend the little towns around Managua like Carazo, Jinotepe, and Diriamba, which are places that are closer to the capital but at the same time they have better weather. These places...
There are lots of nice places in Nicaragua to live or retire. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend places that are hot, such as in Managua. The best places would be in the northern part of the country, like in Estelí, where they have a nice weather. I would also recommend the little towns around Managua like Carazo, Jinotepe, and Diriamba, which are places that are closer to the capital but at the same time they have better weather. These places are about an hour an 45 minutes away from Managua. It is also cheaper to live in these places. A lot of expats like Granada, even if it is a little bit hot there.
Another popular place for expats is San Juan Del Sur, which is a beach area in the southern part of Nicaragua. There are a lot of things you can do in San Juan Del Sur if you are an expat. You can put up a business. You can buy land and put up your own hotel. A lot of expats come to San Juan Del Sur to retire. If you want to be at the beach, you can go to San Juan Del Sur. If you want good weather and to be close to the capital, you can go to Jinotepe or Diriamba. And if you want to live in the mountains, you could go to the north part of Nicaragua, like Esteli.
(Diriamba, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted October 2, 2016