Things to Do in Nicaragua in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Nicaragua
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season conditions mean virtually guaranteed sunshine - March typically sees only 2-3 rainy days total, making it the most reliable month for beach time, volcano hikes, and multi-day adventures without weather disruptions
- Semana Santa (Holy Week) brings the country's most spectacular cultural celebrations in late March/early April - elaborate alfombras (sawdust carpets) in Granada, massive processions, and a genuine window into Nicaraguan Catholic traditions that locals actually participate in, not just tourist shows
- Pacific beaches have the calmest, clearest water of the year - March sits right before April's intense winds kick in, giving you the best swimming and snorkeling conditions at places like Playa Maderas and the Corn Islands without the December-February swell that can make beaches rough
- Shoulder pricing until Semana Santa hits - the first three weeks of March still see decent hotel rates and available tours before the Easter week rush, then everything drops again immediately after, giving you two windows for better value than peak January-February prices
Considerations
- Extreme heat and dust by late morning - temperatures regularly hit 35°C (95°F) in the shade by noon in cities like Granada and León, and months without rain mean everything gets coated in a fine layer of dust that gets in your lungs, your camera, everything
- Semana Santa week (usually last week of March into early April) means domestic chaos - banks close for 4-5 days, buses get packed with Nicaraguan families heading to beaches, hotel prices triple overnight, and many restaurants shut down as staff take family time, making that specific week genuinely difficult for travel logistics
- Vegetation looks dead and brown - after five months of dry season, the countryside loses its lush green appeal, forests look sparse, and that postcard tropical vibe is replaced by dusty browns and yellows until the rains return in May
Best Activities in March
Masaya Volcano Night Tours
March's dry season gives you the clearest visibility into the active lava lake at Masaya, with virtually zero chance of fog or rain obscuring the view. The lack of cloud cover means you get that dramatic red glow against pitch-black skies. Tours typically run 5pm-8pm to catch sunset and full darkness. The heat during day makes this a perfect evening activity when temperatures drop to comfortable 24°C (75°F).
Ometepe Island Volcano Hiking
The two volcanoes on Ometepe - Concepción and Maderas - are genuinely challenging hikes that require dry conditions. March gives you the most reliable weather for summit attempts, especially Concepción which is often cloud-covered other months. Start at 5am to avoid the brutal midday heat. Maderas has a crater lagoon at the top that's swimmable in March when water levels are lower.
Granada Colonial Architecture Walking Tours
The dry weather means you can actually enjoy walking Granada's streets early morning (6am-9am) or late afternoon (4pm-7pm) without getting drenched. March is perfect for photographing the colorful colonial buildings in harsh sunlight that makes the yellows, blues, and oranges pop. The lack of humidity means less haze for those cathedral shots. Hit the central market early to see locals buying Semana Santa ingredients if you're here late March.
Pacific Coast Surf Sessions
March hits the sweet spot for learning to surf on Nicaragua's Pacific coast. Beaches like San Juan del Sur, Playa Maderas, and Playa Gigante have consistent but manageable waves, and the wind hasn't kicked into the intense April-May pattern yet. Water temperature sits around 27°C (81°F) - warm enough for boardshorts only. Early morning sessions (6am-9am) have the glassiest conditions before afternoon winds pick up.
Little Corn Island Snorkeling and Diving
March offers the best underwater visibility of the year at the Corn Islands - often 20-30 meters (65-100 feet) with calm Caribbean waters and minimal plankton bloom. The coral reefs are most vibrant before the summer heat stress, and you'll see nurse sharks, rays, and sea turtles regularly. Water temp around 28°C (82°F) means you barely need a wetsuit. The islands feel genuinely remote and the dry season means reliable boat schedules.
León Volcano Boarding
Cerro Negro is the active volcano where you hike up carrying a wooden board, then slide down the black volcanic scree at speeds up to 50 km/h (30 mph). March's dry conditions mean the volcanic ash is loose and fast - rainy season makes it clumpier and slower. The hike up takes about 45 minutes in brutal heat, so tours leave early morning around 7am. You'll be covered in black dust by the end, which is part of the experience.
March Events & Festivals
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
The week leading up to Easter Sunday transforms Nicaragua into a country-wide celebration. Granada and León have the most elaborate sawdust carpet processions - locals spend hours creating intricate religious designs on streets using colored sawdust, flowers, and rice, only to have processions walk over them minutes later. Churches hold nightly services, families prepare traditional dishes like sopa de queso and rosquillas, and beaches become packed with domestic tourists. This is genuinely the biggest cultural event of the year, not a tourist attraction - you're witnessing actual religious devotion mixed with family vacation time.
Tope de los Caballos (Horse Parades)
Various towns hold traditional horse parades throughout March, particularly in cattle-ranching regions. Riders dress in traditional campesino clothing, horses get decorated, and it's basically a celebration of Nicaragua's agricultural heritage. Granada and Masaya typically have parades mid-March. These are local events that happen to be visitor-friendly, not organized tourism.