Managua Hotels

Managua is the heart and soul of Nicaragua, and to be perfectly honest, it takes some getting used to! By far the largest city in the country – indeed, the second largest city in Central America (after Guatemala City) – with a population of more than two million people, it somehow doesn’t feel like it due to the fact that it is also one of the greenest cities in the region. It is the only place in Nicaragua where you’ll find the usual large, main chain hotels, but aside from those, there’s a surprising number of good boutique hotels in Managua.

Managua was founded in 1819 as a fishing village on the shores of Lake Managua, and it became the capital of Nicaragua in 1824 as a compromise between the arguing older cities of Leon and Granada. In fact, Managua is strategically situated roughly about half way between the two older colonial towns. Completely destroyed in the earthquake of 1972, the city center of Managua has never completely been rebuilt, leaving a lot of empty space where buildings once stood, and a rather desolate feeling. Modern Managua has really been built around, rather than over the old city center.

A stay in Managua is sometimes essential if you have a very late airport arrival, or early departure, but there are things to see here, too, and some nice neighborhoods with good restaurants and bars, as well as world class hospitals and shopping malls. If you really need your McDonald’s or Burger King fix, Managua is the ONLY place in Nicaragua where you’ll find the main fast food chains!

With that said, for those interested in modern history and political intrigue, or just in Nicaragua in general, Managua is worth a day or two of your time. If you have a late arrival or early departure time, it also might be worth it to spend your first and/or last night here, too. Check out below our Managua hotels.