Alejandra Cicognani was 14 when she moved from Mexico City to Nicaragua, her parents’s native country. But a few years later, in 1979, the Sandinista Revolution swept the country, and her family fled. Cicognani landed in the United States, where she graduated from Boston University. From there, she launched her professional career as a financial analyst in Boston before pivoting to public relations, soon serving as the marketing director for brands like Cartier and Chloé. The role fit naturally, and at the behest of her friends, she started her eponymous firm in 2000, becoming the luxury world’s go-to publicist.
Today, Cicognani lives and works in New York, yet remains faithful to her Latin American roots. On trips back to Nicaragua, she rarely lingers in Managua. “The country’s great appeal is its landscape,” she says. “It is known as the ‘land of lakes and volcanoes,’ after all.” Here, she shares her favorite spots in and around the capital.
Hyatt Place Managua
The Hyatt is a nice, easy base in Managua, particularly because it’s right behind Galerías de Santo Domingo mall and the Zona Viva, which have restaurants, bars, and plenty of places to meet people. (hyatt.com)
InterContinental Managua
An older, well-located hotel mostly frequented by businessmen. (ihg.com)
Club Terraza
A members’ club and one of my regular stops in Managua. It’s well located, it’s very social, and the food is quite good. The caveat is that you need to know a member to get in. (clubterraza.com)
Cocina de Doña Haydée
Though nothing beats a home-cooked meal, this is one of my favorite restaurants for traditional Nicaraguan food. It’s a very good place to try nacatamales, vigorón, indio viejo, and other local dishes. It has a warm, old-fashioned Nicaraguan feel. (instagram.com)
Los Ranchos
A Managua classic for churrasco, the country’s signature grilled meat. It never fails. (instagram.com)
Porterhouse steaks
Another lovely steak house option. They offer a wider variety of cuts than Los Ranchos, and the churrasco is equally delicious. (instagram.com)
Restaurante Mundo
They have a very nice international menu, if you ever want a break from traditional Nicaraguan food. (instagram.com
Kansai
An excellent sushi spot in the Las Colinas neighborhood. It’s one of the city’s more contemporary restaurant options. (instagram.com)
ZACATELIMON
For breakfast and lunch—it’s simple and delicious. (zacatelimon.com)
Volcán Masaya and Mercado de Artesanías
These make a natural combination for a day trip from Managua, as they’re both a 30-minute drive from the Hyatt. Volcán Masaya is one of the country’s most impressive and accessible volcanoes. If you visit it during the day, I’d also recommend stopping by the Mercado de Artesanías for hammocks, ceramics, woodwork and other Nicaraguan crafts. This market is particularly good for seeing the country’s living craft traditions, rather than its generic souvenirs.
The night tour of Volcán Masaya is an iconic experience. The Santiago crater is much more dramatic at night—sometimes, you can even catch a glimpse of the glowing magma. The crater is known as “La Boca del Infierno,” or the Mouth of Hell. The night tour involves more walking because they bring you into caves, so it’s more strenuous than the daytime visit.
Granada + Las Isletas de Granada
If you’re staying in Managua, I would absolutely plan a day trip to Granada. It has the beautiful colonial architecture that Managua largely lacks and is, to me, much more representative of what visitors imagine Nicaragua to be. I recommend having lunch or dinner at El Zaguán if you’re in the mood for a good steak and traditional dishes. Stop by a kiosk near the central plaza for vigorón, a traditional street food dish that always makes for a refreshing snack.
From Granada, take a boat tour through Las Isletas, an archipelago of 365 small islands on Lake Nicaragua. Many of the islets are uninhabited, while others have impressive vacation homes. Several boat tours depart from Puerto Asese, just outside Granada—it’s one of the easiest ways to see the landscape that makes Nicaragua so special.
Jicaro Island lodge
If you can, spend a night or two at Jícaro, a small, luxurious eco-lodge on its own island on Lake Nicaragua. From there, you can experience the best of Nicaragua—the lake, the lush landscape, and the feeling of being completely removed from city life. (jicaroisland.com)
Rancho Santana
If you’re able to spend several days in Nicaragua, I might make Managua a quick stop before heading to the Pacific Coast. Rancho Santana is one of my favorite places in the country, with beautiful beaches and nature. The resort has a fabulous hotel and delicious dining options—La Taquería is top-notch. It’s also great for surfing and golf (at least that’s what I’ve been told, since I participate in neither!). The area has become considerably more developed over the past two decades, when San Juan del Sur was still a sleepy surf town dotted with lovely private vacation homes. Today, it’s a more established destination, with intimate, authentic resorts along the coastline.
One of the most wonderful things about the beaches along the Pacific beaches is how untouched they can still feel, with hardly anyone around in some places. The water isn’t crystal-clear like in the Caribbean, and the sand isn’t as light. It’s much wilder, and, to me, that’s what makes it perfect. (ranchosantana.com)
Guacalito
A beautiful resort, widely considered the best in Nicaragua. (guacalitodelaisla.com)
Casa Museo Holmann
Lastly, there is Casa Museo Holmann, a hotel that will open in San Juan del Sur in 2027. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches on the country’s Pacific Coast.
