The wedding is 12–14 February 2027 in León & Las Peñitas, with the ceremony on Saturday the 13th. Many of you are coming from abroad — here's everything you need to plan the trip: where to go, entry requirements, flights and transfers.
If you have extra days, these are the places we'd point you to.
Two surf bases: El Tránsito, a quiet beach break near León and an easy first or last stop, and Popoyo in the south, which has the best reef breaks in the country. Surf camps and lodges at both.
The south's main beach town — a horseshoe bay with bars and restaurants, sunsets from the Christ statue, and surf at Playa Maderas a short ride away.
Nicaragua's two colonial cities and old rivals. León, where we're marrying, is gritty and revolutionary; Granada is prettier and sits on Lake Nicaragua. Worth doing both.
Two volcanoes rising from a freshwater lake. Hiking, kayaking the mangroves, swimming in the Ojo de Agua springs, and a scooter round the island.
Walk up a black volcano outside León and sledge back down the ash. Half a day.
A crater lake near Granada with warm, clear water for swimming and kayaking. An easy day between the two cities.
If you have a week to spare: clear water and Caribbean quiet, a short flight from Managua. A different side of the country.
US$10, cash, at the airport.
Most visitors (UK, EU, US and others) don't need a visa in advance. On arrival in Managua you pay a US$10 tourist card fee — bring it in cash. That's it; you don't need to do anything else to be let into the country.
If your route goes through Panama or Colombia and you stop off there for a visit, you'll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate to continue. Straight transit without leaving the airport is generally fine — but check your specific routing before you book.
Everyone flies into Managua (MGA). There are no nonstop flights from Europe — routes connect through a US gateway (Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Newark) or a Latin American hub (Panama City, San Salvador, Bogotá). New York is the easiest, often a single stop. Rough round-trip economy fares for mid-February:
Usually one stop. JFK/EWR → Miami → MGA (American), or Newark → Houston → MGA (United). Avianca via San Salvador, Copa via Panama City.
American · MIAUnited · IAHAvianca · SALCopa · PTY
Fastest of the European cities. LHR → Miami → MGA (BA + American), or LHR → Houston → MGA (United). Avianca and Copa are alternatives.
BA + AmericanUnited · IAHAviancaCopa
CDG → Miami → MGA, CDG → Houston → MGA, or via Madrid then a US/Latin hub. Avianca is the most-scheduled carrier on this market.
AviancaAmerican · MIAUnited · IAHIberia · MAD
Two stops. CPH → Amsterdam/Frankfurt → Miami → MGA, or CPH → Houston → MGA. Amsterdam is the common European connector.
KLM/SAS + AmericanUnited · IAHAviancaCopa · PTY
The wedding runs 12–14 Feb, so aim to arrive 10–12 Feb and leave 15 Feb or later. Worth knowing: mid-February overlaps UK and European school half-terms and the US Presidents' Day weekend (Mon 15 Feb 2027), so seats fill up and prices climb — book early, and check the whole week on Google Flights or Skyscanner.
Managua (MGA) is the arrival airport for everyone. Book a transfer straight to your base; shared vans and group bookings are cheaper per person. One-way estimates:
| From MGA to… | Drive time | Private transfer (one way) |
|---|---|---|
| León | ~1h45–2h | $90–120 |
| Las Peñitas (beach) | ~2h | $100–130 |
| Tola / Emerald Coast & San Juan del Sur | ~2h–2h40 | $120–180 |
| El Tránsito / Popoyo (surf) | ~1h15–2h | $85–140 |
| Rivas / San Jorge (Ometepe ferry) | ~2h–2h30 | $75–130 (or $45 shared van) |