Rivas offers a variety of landscapes and activities. The coast and mangroves take center stage on the beaches of Tola, while kayaking and boat tours are the focus on the Río Istian in Altagracia. In the Department of Rivas, the Pacific Ocean, Lake Cocibolca and volcanic landscapes meet. This diversity offers several themes to help you plan your trip.

Coast and landscapes

The many beaches in the municipality of Tola stretch along a 54-kilometer coastline. The beaches in the municipalities of San Juan del Sur and Tola are particularly known for their surf-friendly waves, scenic beauty and sunsets. Each feature appeals to different interests: the waves attract surfers, while the sunsets and scenery reveal another side of the coast.

Water activities in Tola and Altagracia

Activities offered on the beaches of Tola include surfing, artisanal fishing, horseback riding and boat trips through the mangroves. Turtle watching and release are also available. This means that experiences on the water sit alongside land-based activities and nature watching.

Kayaking and motorboat or rowboat tours are offered on the Río Istian in the municipality of Altagracia. The boat tours differ in the type of boat used; kayaking is another activity on the river. This offers another way to consider the variety of water activities in Rivas, according to the type of experience.

Cascada San Ramón in the municipality of Altagracia has a waterfall about 50 meters high. Activities there include hiking and swimming at the waterfall. While kayaking and boat tours are the focus on the Río Istian, the waterfall is the defining natural feature here. Hiking and swimming offer different experiences: movement along the trail and time by the water.

Getting to Isla de Ometepe

With its port on Lake Cocibolca, San Jorge is considered the main gateway to Isla de Ometepe. If the island is among your travel interests, this information helps you get your bearings in the department: San Jorge is important for access to the island, while Tola and San Juan del Sur are best known for their coastlines. These places therefore represent different aspects of Rivas—the gateway to Ometepe and the coastal landscape.

Discover culture and nature

The Museo de la Ganadería de Rivas focuses on the history and development of livestock farming in the Rivas region. In Moyogalpa, the Museo Precolombino El Ceibo offers a different focus: it provides guided tours and displays 4,500 ceramic, stone and sculptural objects, as well as petroglyphs. The distinction is clear when choosing a theme: one museum focuses on the regional history of livestock farming, the other on pre-Columbian objects and petroglyphs. It is advisable to check current visiting options in advance for the Museo Precolombino El Ceibo.

The Ñocarime Nature Reserve in the municipality of Potosí offers opportunities to observe flora and fauna, as well as guided hikes. This adds a nature theme to the cultural insights: activities here focus on the landscape and its wildlife and plant life.

Discover more destinations: San Juan Del Sur, El Gigante, Balgüe, Moyogalpa, El Astillero, Urbaite, San Jorge, Escamequita, Altagracia, Mérida, Cárdenas, El Ostional, Popoyo, El Plantel, Rivas, C. La Cuesta and El Coyol.

For the broader travel overview: Nicaragua.