Nicaragua Leon
Nicaragua’s second city and intellectual capital is brimful with red-tiled colonial-style buildings and effervesces with artistic and political energy.
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Like Granada, the core of Nicaragua’s second city and intellectual capital is brimful with red-tiled colonial-style buildings but, unlike its peaceful rival, effervesces with artistic and political energy.
Founded in Nicaragua’s plantation-covered northwest corner, León Viejo (now being excavated) was the capital of the country until destroyed by an earthquake in 1609. A city with a strong religious tradition, it hosts a dozen crumbly churches juxtaposed with murals depicting events from Nicaragua’s revolutionary story. There’s a university and its students enliven the nightlife scene.
Holidays Leon
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Classic holidays
Group - Discovery
Panama / Costa Rica / Nicaragua / El Salvador / Honduras / Guatemala
Alcion: Central America Discovery
22 days from £3,061pp
Group - Discovery
Nicaragua
Cotinga: Off the beaten track Nicaragua
18 days from £2,886pp
Private Journeys
Nicaragua
Self-drive Nicaragua: Adventures by road
11 days from £1,550pp
Classic holidays
Private Journeys
Nicaragua
Signature Nicaragua: Fire, water and revolution
10 days from £2,210pp
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
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Where to go when - our guide to Leon
The weather in Leon is wide and varied
Nicaragua’s second city is characterised by it’s red-tiled colonial-style buildings and it’s artistic and political energy and is mainly frequented by locals and students of the university. Awash in revolutionary history, the people are extremely friendly and a lively nightlife scene.
View our Leon weather guidePapagaio
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Carrie Gallagher - Travel Consultant
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Sophie Barber - Travel Consultant
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Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Consultant
After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
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Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
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Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Consultant
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
