Granada, Nicaragua, often called the “Great Sultan,” is one of the oldest and most photogenic cities in the Americas. Founded in 1524, it is a vibrant hub of Spanish colonial architecture, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Mombacho Volcano and the vast Lake Nicaragua.

For a traveler, Granada offers a blend of historical charm, outdoor adventure, and a sophisticated culinary scene.

Granada is an ideal location to explore the real side of Nicaragua. With its colorful houses, beautiful colonial buildings, and grand cathedral and churches, the city is perfect for leisurely strolls, nice lunches in one of the many restaurants courtyards, and espresso-sipping at a café street terrace. At night the Calzada provides a lively nightlife where locals mingle with tourists.

Granada’s surroundings offer a vast array of site-seeing tours and the staff at Tribal Hotel can help you plan excursions and activities such as taking a private boat trip on lake Nicaragua and explore its dozens of wonderfully lush islets, or go horseback-riding in the country side, swim in the lake that fills an ancient volcano, or jump in the warm waters of a river in the middle of the jungle –all within an hour or less from the hotel.

Granada is tropical. Do your exploring in the early morning or late afternoon, and embrace the midday siesta like a local.

Granada manages to feel grand without being pretentious. It’s a place where history is lived in, the coffee is world-class, and the sunsets over the lake are worth the trip alone.