What to do in Leon, Nicaragua with kids? León is a beautiful colonial city in Nicaragua and a fun destination for families with kids. The city has a rich history, colorful buildings, and plenty of adventure activities for kids. You can have a great time with the family in this city for a few days. In this blog, we list the best children’s activities in León and provide tips for family-friendly restaurants and accommodations for every budget.
Best travel time Leon Nicaragua with kids
You can visit Leon Nicaragua with kids year-round, but the best travel time is between December and April. This is the dry season in Nicaragua, which means it is warm and sunny. This period is ideal for exploring the city and surrounding nature.
During the rainy season, which runs from May to November, it can often rain heavily and especially in the afternoon. If you are traveling during this period, it is best to plan activities in the morning and use the afternoon to relax or do an indoor activity with the kids.
Transportation in and to Leon Nicaragua
The city of Leon is easily accessible by car or public transportation. From Nicaragua’s capital Managua, you can reach the city by minibus in about 2 hours. You can also take the famous chicken buses in Nicaragua, but they take a lot longer. Especially when traveling with kids, you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible, and the difference in cost between a minivan and these chicken buses is not that much.
Another way to travel through Nicaragua is by rental car. You can easily rent a car at the Managua airport and then, of course, with kids, you have complete freedom to go wherever you want. We always rent a car abroad through Sunny Cars, because of the fine all in principle, where there is a huge amount of insurance in the package and they also have super good other conditions. Look online for car rentals at the Managua airport.
León is a fairly compact city, so you can reach many sights in the historic center on foot with kids. For trips outside the city, such as the volcanoes or beaches, it is best to visit by cab or an organized tour. Cabs are affordable and the fastest way to get to your destination. Especially with kids, this is the finest way to travel around the city.
Another fun way to explore the city is by bicycle. There are bikes for rent in Leon and some of them also have child seats.
Children’s activities Leon Nicaragua
#1 Volcano boarding Cerro Negro
One of the most fun activities to do in León with kids is to visit the nearby volcanoes. The Cerro Negro volcano is one of the most famous volcanoes near Leon, and for kids, the Cerro Negro volcano is extra exciting because you can go volcano boarding here. This is possible for kids as young as 6 years old.
Volcano boarding involves sliding down from the top of the volcano on some kind of board. It’s a bit like snowboarding, but on volcanic sand. There are several tours you can book in Leon and many of them also have special equipment for kids. In fact, you will be given protective clothing and a helmet to make the descent safe.
It can be a challenging climb for kids to walk to the top of the volcano with all the gear and board, but fortunately the climb is not super long. In addition, the view from the top of the volcano is truly spectacular! Several organizations also take pictures of the kids halfway up the volcano, and at the bottom of the mountain you usually get something to eat and drink.
Count on reserving at least half a day for these activities. You can book these tours in downtown Leon, but you can also book volcano boarding on Cerro Negro online.
If you visit Leon with slightly older kids who enjoy hiking, it is also possible to take hikes on several volcanoes in the Leon area. For example, you can hike to the top of the Telica volcano and watch the sun set here. You can then also see the lava flowing in the volcano after dark. This tour is not suitable for families with young kids.
#2 Old downtown
It is highly recommended to visit the old town center as well. Certainly the city’s cathedral is fun to visit with kids. You can visit this cathedral, where you can also walk on its roof for a fee. From the roof you have a great view of the city Leon with kids.
In the square in front of this cathedral it is possible to buy food for the pigeons that flock here. This can be both fun and intimidating for kids, so weigh carefully whether you think this is a good idea. The church Iglesia de La Recolección is also fun to check out, partly because of its striking yellow color.
If you want to take in a little more background of the city, we recommend booking a Free Walking Tour. These tours are offered by several organizations online and usually leave in the morning and afternoon. You will then go out with a guide for a few hours and that way you will also get the necessary information at the various sights in the city.
On most tours, you will also go to the market, where you can go and taste some things. With kids, of course, also fun to do. At the end of the tour, you can then decide what amount of money you give the guide for the tour.
#3 Las Peñitas beach
You can also spend a day at the beach in Leon with kids during the hot summer months. The beaches of Las Peñitas are half an hour away from Leon by car. The chicken bus also runs to these beaches and this can be an ideal trip to experience these buses once, because of the short travel distance to this beach.
The beaches here are very family-friendly, as the water here is very calm from the sea. The beaches are not yet so discovered, which also makes them wonderfully quiet. Also, these beaches are an ideal place to go surfing with kids. You have several surf schools here where you can take lessons. The cost of renting a board or taking surf lessons is very affordable here.
The best place to swim in the sea at this beach is at Surf Beach Lodge. For active families, it is also possible to rent a kayak and go explore the natural reserve of Isla Juan Venado with all the mangrove forests you have here. You can spot several animals in the area here, including the crocodile. By the way, you can also book a boat trip through this nature reserve here.
If you visit Nicaragua with kids from August through December, turtles also lay their eggs in this area and you can also book tours here to go see these turtles. By the way, in the village of Las Peñitas you also have plenty of nice restaurants, where you can go for a snack and a drink.
#4 Visit the Museo de la Revolución
You can also visit a museum in Leon with kids. Museo de la Revolución is located right in the center and here you will find a lot of information about the history of the country of Nicaragua, especially about the revolution that took place here. The guides at the museum are often former revolutionaries who share their own stories, and this can also make this museum interesting for kids.
In addition, it is fun to go up on the roof of the old building with kids and from this roof you have a beautiful view of the city. Visit this museum especially when the kids are older.
#5 Visit the Leon Viejo Ruins Park
About a half-hour drive from León are the ruins of León Viejo. This is the original town built in the 16th century and abandoned after a volcanic eruption. Here you can walk around among the ancient ruins and learn what life was like in the past. There are information boards and guides (some of the guides speak English) telling stories about ancient León.
The grounds are freely accessible and from the park you have a beautiful view of the Momotombo volcano. Near this park is the Origin Adventure Park, where you can do all kinds of things with kids, such as swimming in the lagoon. Kids here can plunge into the water like Tarzan via a rope or swing on the mega swing.
Family-friendly restaurant Leon
You can eat great food in León with kids. There are several fun and family-friendly restaurants in town. We list a few of these family-friendly restaurants in Leon.
ViaVia León: for pizza and pasta, this family-friendly restaurant is the place to be. This is a hostel and restaurant in one, and families with kids are always welcome there. It has a casual atmosphere and there is regular live music at this restaurant.
El Sesteo: This restaurant is located in the central square, Plaza Central, and offers a nice view of the cathedral. The menu is very extensive and therefore there are plenty of tasty dishes on the menu for kids as well. You have traditional dishes here, as well as pizza and burgers. There is a spacious terrace where you have a view of the hustle and bustle of the square. This is also one of the few terraces you will encounter in Nicaragua.
Pan y Paz: this is a French bakery where you can get delicious breads, croissants and juices. It has a shady garden where you can enjoy lunch with the kids in Leon.
Family-friendly hotel Leon
You can stay in Leon Nicaragua with kids just fine. You have plenty of family-friendly accommodations you can book in this city. We list some of the best rated accommodations in Leon. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Volcano Hostel
Mid-range accommodation: Hotel Al Sole
Luxury Accommodation: Hotel El Convento Leon Nicaragua
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Leon Nicaragua.
