Pearl Cays and Pearl Lagoon Nicaragua Travel Guide
TL;DR
A complete travel guide to the Caribbean island group of the Pearl Cays in Nicaragua – including their jumping-off point Pearl Lagoon.
The Pearl Cays or Cayos Perlas are a group of 18 cays located about 35 km (22 mi) off the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. Pearl Lagoon is the perfect jumping-off point to visit these remote islands and have your very own Robinson Crusoe experience.
- Nicaragua Pearl Lagoon and Pearl Cays Map
- Pearl Lagoon Nicaragua Travel Guide
- Pearl Cays Travel Guide
Nicaragua Pearl Lagoon and Pearl Cays Map
Pearl Lagoon Nicaragua Travel Guide
Pearl Lagoon is a great base from which to explore Pearl Cays and Orinoco. The town itself features some nice restaurants facing the lagoon and has a chill Caribbean vibe to it.
Is Pearl Lagoon Worth Visiting?
If Pearl Lagoon wasn’t the best jumping-off point for the Pearl Cays, we wouldn’t go out of our way to visit.
How to Get to Pearl Lagoon
First, you have to take a bus or a flight from Managua to Bluefields.
Public pangas leave from Bluefields Harbour throughout the day as soon as they are full – and we mean full. Currently, boats only run to Kukra Hill and not all the way to Pearl Lagoon. You can easily take a taxi from Kukra Hill to Pearl Lagoon as they are waiting at the harbour. The boat should cost around 3$ and the taxi around 2$ per person.
Where to Stay in Pearl Lagoon
We strongly suggest staying at Hotel Queen Lobster. Its location right on the waterfront is stunning, the staff is amazing, and the food is delicious. Additionally, they organise trips to the Pearl Cays.
Things to do in Pearl Lagoon
Awas Beach
The main activity in Pearl Lagoon is walking to Awas Beach. The walk itself is super nice. You walk over a wooden boardwalk and can spot birds and other wildlife. Unfortunately, it is not very safe.
Relax at the Lagoon
… and maybe have some fresh seafood.
How Long Should I Stay in Pearl Lagoon?
We suggest using Pearl Lagoon mostly as a base because there is not a lot to do here.
Is Pearl Lagoon Safe?
No. We did not feel safe. We were advised not to go outside in the dark and still experienced an armed robbery in the daytime.
We got robbed at knifepoint on our way to Awas Beach – we were three people and it was broad daylight. We recommend you not to go alone as we later learned that we were not the first ones to get robbed here.
Pearl Lagoon Infrastructure
When we visited, we had 24/7 power.
Internet connection was limited but we even managed to buy a new SIM card.
The closest ATMs are in Kukra Hill or Bluefields. You need cash to pay. USD is accepted as long as the bills are in pristine condition.
There are some small shops with a limited product range.
Pearl Cays Travel Guide
The Pearl Cays are the undisputed gem of the Caribbean of Nicaragua.
Are the Pearl Cays Worth Visiting?
Yes, it’s one of the last places in the world where you can be on your very own deserted island – and most certainly the only place in Nicaragua where you can do so!
How to Get to the Pearl Cays
From Pearl Lagoon, you have to rent a panga to get here. We rented ours via our accommodation. The journey takes around an hour and was super bumpy when we did it.
Our tour included a visit to two islands, snorkelling equipment, and lunch.
Where to Stay on the Pearl Cays
If you want to stay overnight, you have two options: Roughing it in a tent or renting your own private island…
Things to Do on the Pearl Cays
Snorkelling on the Pearl Cays
You can do some nice snorkelling here. Beware that the reef is quite shallow and that it can be quite hard to navigate with the waves.
Fishing on the Pearl Cays
We met some fishermen who told us that fishing is world-class around the Pearl Cays, especially for tarpon.
Relaxing on the Pearl Cays
Of course, you can spend plenty of time relaxing on the beach.
How Long Should I Stay on the Pearl Cays?
How long you should stay on the Pearl Cays depends on your budget. Most people do it as a day trip. If you bring your own gear, you can also stay the night but in that case, you have to pay for the boat twice as it will leave and come back to pick you up. If you seriously want to splurge, you can go to a fancy resort and stay longer.
Pearl Cays Infrastructure
The Pearl Cays are not entirely untouched anymore. There are beach bars on some and even hotels on others.
To be safe, you should bring your own snacks and drinks or book a tour which includes food (we did and it was delicious).
Don’t expect any electricity, WiFi or running water.
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