Things to Do in Nicaragua in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Nicaragua
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season reliability - February gets maybe 5 mm (0.2 inches) of rain for the entire month, which means you can actually plan outdoor activities without constantly checking the forecast. The Pacific coast especially stays bone-dry, and even the Caribbean side is having its driest stretch of the year.
- Ideal temperatures before the March-April heat spike - You're looking at 30°C (86°F) highs with 20°C (68°F) evenings, which is genuinely comfortable for hiking volcanoes or exploring colonial cities. Once you hit late March, those daytime temps push into the mid-30s°C (mid-90s°F) and it becomes legitimately exhausting.
- Semana Santa pricing hasn't kicked in yet - Easter week (Semana Santa) is Nicaragua's absolute peak travel period when prices double or triple. February sits in that sweet spot where the weather is just as good but accommodations cost 40-50% less than they will in late March or April. Granada hostels that'll charge US$80 in April are still US$45-50 in February.
- Wildlife viewing at its best - The dry season concentrates animals around remaining water sources. Howler monkeys are easier to spot in Mombacho, sea turtles are still nesting on Pacific beaches (olive ridleys through March), and migratory birds from North America are still hanging around wetlands like Padre Ramos before heading back north in March.
Considerations
- Wind season on the Pacific coast - February brings those relentless offshore winds that make beach days less relaxing than you'd expect. San Juan del Sur and the Tola beaches get winds of 25-35 km/h (15-22 mph) most afternoons, which kicks up sand and makes the ocean choppy. Surfers love it, but if you're imagining calm swimming conditions, you'll be disappointed.
- Dust everywhere in the interior - By February, Nicaragua hasn't seen significant rain in three months. The countryside is brown, roads are dusty, and you'll find yourself covered in a fine layer of grit after any rural travel. León and Granada especially get dusty winds that make outdoor dining less pleasant than the guidebook photos suggest.
- High season crowds at major sites - While not as insane as Semana Santa, February is still prime tourist season. Ometepe ferries fill up, Granada's better hotels book out, and you'll be sharing volcano hikes with groups of 20-30 people. If you value solitude, this isn't your month.
Best Activities in February
Volcano hiking and boarding
February is genuinely the best month for Nicaragua's signature volcano experiences. Cerro Negro volcano boarding happens in full dry season conditions when the ash slopes are perfectly loose and fast - you'll hit speeds around 50-80 km/h (30-50 mph) sliding down on plywood boards. The lack of rain means the 1-hour hike up the 728 m (2,388 ft) cinder cone isn't muddy, and visibility from the summit is crystal clear across the volcanic chain. Concepción and Maderas on Ometepe are also ideal now - trails are dry, not the mudslick mess they become in rainy season, and you can actually see the crater lakes and Lake Nicaragua views that justify the 8-10 hour round trip climbs.
Colonial city exploration in León and Granada
February mornings are perfect for wandering these Spanish colonial cities before the heat becomes oppressive. Temperatures around 24-26°C (75-79°F) until 10am make it comfortable to climb church towers, explore markets, and photograph the colorful architecture. Granada's Calle La Calzada and León's cathedral rooftop tours are best done before noon - after that, you're dealing with 30°C+ (86°F+) heat reflecting off cobblestones. The dry season also means no sudden downpours interrupting your café-hopping or museum visits. Worth noting that León gets particularly dusty with the afternoon winds, so mornings really are the move.
Pacific coast surfing
Those February offshore winds that make beach lounging less appealing are exactly what creates Nicaragua's best surf conditions. Spots like Playa Maderas, Popoyo, and the Tola beaches get consistent 1-2 m (3-6 ft) swells with clean offshore winds grooming the waves into perfect shape. Water temperature sits around 27°C (81°F), so you don't need a wetsuit. The dry season swell is more consistent than the rainy season's hurricane swells, and you'll get rideable waves 85-90% of days. Beginners can learn at Maderas or San Juan del Sur's main beach, while experienced surfers head to Popoyo's outer reefs.
Ometepe Island biking and kayaking
Ometepe's figure-eight island shape makes it perfect for cycling in dry season conditions. February roads are dusty but passable, and you can bike the 55 km (34 mile) loop around Maderas volcano or the shorter routes to petroglyphs and natural springs without worrying about getting caught in rain. Kayaking around the island's lagoons and shoreline is also ideal now - calm water conditions, good visibility, and howler monkeys are vocal in the dry forest canopy. The ferry ride from San Jorge takes 1 hour and runs multiple times daily, though it does fill up in February so arrive early.
Coffee farm tours in the northern highlands
February falls right in the middle of Nicaragua's coffee harvest season, which runs November through March. Tours around Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Estelí let you see the actual picking and processing happening, not just walk through empty plantations. The highlands sit at 1,200-1,500 m (3,900-4,900 ft) elevation, which means temperatures around 22-25°C (72-77°F) - genuinely pleasant compared to the lowland heat. You'll learn the difference between washed and natural processing, taste multiple roast profiles, and understand why Nicaraguan coffee is actually excellent despite not having the marketing budget of Costa Rica or Colombia.
Caribbean coast and Corn Islands
February is one of the few months when Nicaragua's Caribbean side is actually worth visiting. The rest of the year it's either getting pounded by rain or dealing with hurricane season, but February sits in that brief dry window. Big Corn and Little Corn Islands offer Caribbean beach experiences without the Belize or Mexican Caribbean prices. Snorkeling and diving conditions are best now - visibility reaches 15-20 m (50-65 ft), water is calm, and you'll see nurse sharks, rays, and decent coral. The vibe is seriously laid-back, almost sleepy compared to the Pacific coast surf scene. Worth noting the islands are still rustic - don't expect luxury resorts.
February Events & Festivals
Fiesta de San Sebastián in Diriamba
This traditional festival happens in late January into early February and features the famous El Güegüense dance-drama, which is actually on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. It's a satirical colonial-era performance with elaborate masks and costumes that mocks Spanish authority. The festival includes street parades, traditional music, and plenty of chicha (fermented corn drink). It's genuinely cultural rather than tourist-oriented, which means you'll be one of very few foreigners watching. Diriamba is about 45 minutes south of Managua.