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Calm river reflecting clouds and riverside vegetation.

Río San
Juan

El Castillo, Solentiname, the southern reserves and Greytown

Before you go, understand the place.

Río San Juan gathers the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception, in El Castillo, with the hours INTUR published in July 2026; the Solentiname archipelago, Los Guatuzos refuge and Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, where, according to the Río San Juan tourism portal, MARENA does not allow entry to most of the reserve. San Carlos is the gateway.

By Asesordeviaje.com Editorial Team · updated

Themed guides

Places grouped by theme, to plan your day.

  • Fortress, islands and reserves

    INTUR published the hours of the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception in July 2026; Solentiname, Los Guatuzos and Indio Maíz have unconfirmed status.

    Open the full guide

  • Greytown, at the river mouth

    The historic cemeteries of old Greytown, in the municipality of San Juan de Nicaragua. According to INTUR, among the ruins of Greytown, the British free port at the mouth of the San Juan River, there are four 19th-century cemeteries declared a Historic and Cultural Heritage of the nation: the American (1859), the British (1872), the Catholic and the Masonic. INTUR adds that the municipality has no roads and that you arrive and get around only by river or on foot. It has unconfirmed status: INTUR (2026) describes the site with no hours or visiting conditions, the fee is unconfirmed, and the whole municipality lies inside the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve.

    Open the full guide

Plan your visit

The practical information you need to plan your visit

The essentials

Best time to go
According to Canada, the rainy season runs from May to November, with October the wettest month, and the hurricane season from mid-May to the end of November on the Pacific and from early June to the end of November in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It is an approximate national pattern, not a climate record for each region. Follow the civil protection authorities’ instructions.
Getting there
San Carlos, 290 km from Managua according to INTUR, is the gateway to the river; El Castillo is 55 km from San Carlos and has no cars: it is reached by river. The Río San Juan tourism portal lists daily buses from Managua to San Carlos and daily fast boats from San Carlos to El Castillo. The Granada–San Carlos boat across the lake is unconfirmed: one guide reported it suspended in August 2023 because of low water, and another source says it pauses during the dry season.
  1. The Fortress of the Immaculate Conception and its site museum, in El Castillo

Tips and precautions

  1. In Indio Maíz, MARENA does not allow entry to most of the reserve and there are only two access areas, according to the Río San Juan tourism portal: do not go without confirming the conditions.
  2. Published timetables for Río San Juan boats do not always agree.
  3. El Castillo village is pedestrian: there are no cars and it is reached by river, according to INTUR.

Safety and precautions

  • The United States advises travellers to reconsider travel (level 3, advisory reissued on 14 May 2026) due to crime, limited healthcare, wrongful detention and arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
  • According to the United States, Nicaragua has denied entry to or expelled US citizens, particularly people linked to NGOs, universities, churches or the media, and checks their social media.
  • Canada advises a high degree of caution throughout the country (update of 14 October 2026) due to the political situation, the potential for civil unrest and crime.
  • Spain advises extreme caution (update of 26 May 2026).
  • The United Kingdom has no resident embassy in Nicaragua and supports its citizens from San José (Costa Rica).
  • Nicaraguan law bars foreigners from any political activity: taking part in protests or spreading criticism, including on social media, can lead to detention or deportation, according to Canada and the United Kingdom.
  • Use authorised red-plate taxis or radio-dispatched taxis: the United Kingdom warns of express kidnappings in unauthorised taxis.
  • Canada notes that border areas see more crime and violence, and that criminal gangs are more active in the border areas with Costa Rica and Honduras.

Frequently asked questions

What are El Castillo Fortress's hours?

Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to INTUR (23 July 2026). The fee is unconfirmed.

Can you visit Indio Maíz?

Only in part: according to the Río San Juan tourism portal, MARENA does not allow entry to most of the reserve and there are two access areas. The MARENA rule is unconfirmed.

How do you get to Solentiname?

By boat from San Carlos, according to INTUR (2022). The Río San Juan tourism portal lists departures on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Sources

Information checked in . Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

  1. INTUR (Mapa Nacional de Turismo) – Municipio de El Castillo (modificada 23 jul. 2026)2026
  2. INTUR (Mapa Nacional de Turismo) – Municipio de San Carlos (modificada 23 jul. 2026)2026
  3. INTUR (Mapa Nacional de Turismo) – Fortaleza de la Inmaculada Concepción (2022)2022
  4. INTUR (Mapa Nacional de Turismo) – Reserva Biológica Indio Maíz (2021)2021
  5. Río San Juan (portal de INTUR) – Indio Maíz Biological Reserve2026
  6. El 19 Digital – Guardianes de la Reserva Indio Maíz (16 may. 2023)2023
  7. INTUR (Mapa Nacional de Turismo) – Archipiélago de Solentiname (2022)2022
  8. Río San Juan (portal de INTUR) – Transporte2026
  9. ViaNica – Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Guatuzos2026
  10. Gobierno de Canadá – Nicaragua travel advice (act. 14 oct. 2026)2026
  11. Ometepe Nicaragua Travel Guide – Ferry schedule (ago. 2023)2023
  12. Sandy Feet – Río San Juan (© 2015-2026)2026

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

Showing 5 of 5 · 4 unconfirmed, flagged

Nature and jungle · 3

Living culture · 2

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