León is blessed with more tourist sights than you can see in a single day. Plan on two to three days to explore the city, and allow another three days for day trips to the ruins of León Viejo and a volcano climb. Then, of course, you’ll need at least three more days to rest up on the beach at Las Peñitas, where you can paddle along the wildlife-filled shores of Isla Juan Venado by morning and observe nesting turtles at night. The more adventurous will want to add in another three days to visit the reserves in far-off Padre Ramos and Volcán Cosigüaut;ina.

The principal dusty, mellow metropolis of the low-lying Nicaraguan northwest, León remains little frequented while, just 100 kilometers across the plains, its ancient political rival, Granada, bustles with tourists and foreign investors. Granada's gorgeous lakefront property may have something to do with that, but León once had that too--the Spaniards built the first city of León along the shore Lake Xolotlán, moving only when Volcán Momotombo shook the ground beneath their feet. Still, modern Leoneses are justifiably proud in their own right. Traditionally-designed colonial homes and a plethora of grand churches and cathedrals stand shoulder to shoulder along León's streets, awash in a tropical torpor that keeps things to a casual hum; indeed, León throbs with a sense of vibrancy and enthusiasm that's Nicaraguan to the bone. If you can beat the heat, León has a great deal to offer the casual traveler, including numerous museums and sights within the city limits and a host of day trips within an hour of your hotel door.

Make sure to see:

The plethora of interesting churches and cathedrals. Leó is a must for architecture afficionados
The beaches at Poneloya and Las Peñitas
The wetlands at Padre Ramos Reserve
The entire city of León bustles with excitement during Semana Santa