Corn Islands holidays
Corn Islands holidays at a glance
The Corn Islands bring a little bit of mellow Caribbean culture to a Nicaragua holiday. The two islands sit 70km off the east coast, and their English-speaking Afro-Caribbean communities have long been fairly cut off from the rest of the country, though more incomers are setting up home here these days.
Arriving feels like stepping back into the Caribbean of the 1950s. There are no high-rise buildings, shopping malls or glitzy resort hotels. Instead, the beaches and roads are almost empty, dotted with open-air, family-run fish restaurants, and the atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed, with no tourist hassle.
Beneath the surface, the unpolluted water around the rocky shoreline is a theatre of colour and movement, and the clear, warm sea offers some of the region’s best snorkelling and diving.
For travellers exploring mainland Nicaragua, a few days here make the perfect contrast, swapping volcanoes and colonial streets for sand, sea and a much slower rhythm. Of all the Caribbean islands Nicaragua has to offer, they’re the easiest to reach and among the most rewarding.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Corn Islands
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
The Corn Islands are a wonderfully laid-back escape, where beautiful Caribbean beaches, warm waters and a slower pace of life reveal a completely different side of Nicaragua.
When to visit Corn Islands
The Corn Islands have a tropical climate, with high temperatures and the possibility of showers throughout the year. The sunniest and driest months are generally February to April, while Easter and Christmas are particularly busy periods.
This is the drier season in the balmy Caribbean Corn Islands that have a typical tropical climate with high temperatures and a chance of showers all year round. The sunniest and driest months are Feb – Apr. Easter and Christmas holidays are busy so plan ahead.
Increasingly hot, wet and humid with the start of the rainy season from the end of May onwards. May and June are particularly good for snorkelling and diving but from July to November there is an increased risk of tropical storms which may limit access to the islands.
Top Things to do in Corn Islands
Browse our things to do in Corn Island. Use the option below to filter by holiday style.
Explore a thriving underwater world of tropical fish, coral reefs and shipwrecks in the turquoise seas of the Corn Islands.
Accommodation in Corn Islands
Accommodation on the Corn Islands reflects their easy-going Caribbean character, with relaxed places to stay that put you close to the beaches and tropical surroundings. It’s an ideal setting for slowing down and enjoying the laid-back pace of island life.
Lively Nicaraguan/Canadian-owned hotel offering all you need for a Caribbean beach break.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Corn Islands
Group Corn Islands Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Cotinga: Off the beaten track Nicaragua
Places visited: Granada · Ometepe Island · Rio San Juan · Corn Islands · Leon
18 days from £3,737
FAQs about visiting Corn Islands
Corn Islands is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- Getting There
It’s a 1-1.5 hour flight from Managua; flight time-keeping is irregular.
- Are the Corn Islands worth visiting?
The Corn Islands offer beautiful Caribbean beaches, a relaxed Afro-Caribbean culture and excellent opportunities for snorkelling and diving. Their slower pace makes them a contrasting addition to a wider Nicaragua holiday.
- What are the Corn Islands known for?
The Corn Islands are particularly known for their palm-fringed beaches, Caribbean culture and snorkelling and diving in the clear, warm surrounding waters.
- When is the best time to visit the Corn Islands?
The sunniest and driest months are generally February to April, within the islands’ drier November-to-May season.
- Combines With
A stay on equally laid-back, but Latin, Ometepe Island on Lake Nicaragua; A visit to colonial Granada on the shores of the lake; a boat adventure down the tropical San Juan river to the west of the lake; a stay on the remote historically and culturally significant Solentiname islands in the far south of the lake.
- Can you snorkel and dive in the Corn Islands?
Yes. The clear, warm waters around the rocky shoreline offer some of the region’s best snorkelling and diving.
- Getting Local Currency
Córdoba. There’s a bank with an ATM close to the pier where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have to ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK and amounts may be limited. There is only one ATM (2014), beside the airfield on Big Corn, so it is best to bring dollars and córdobas cash with you. Obtain your local currency needs before travelling to the Corn Islands.
- Time Difference
GMT -6 hours.
- When To Go
The islands have a typical tropical climate with high temperatures all year round May – Nov is rainy season. The sunniest and driest months are Feb – Apr. Easter and Christmas holidays are very busy. Hurricanes possible Jun – Nov.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- Language
English.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.