León has the advantage of being just 20 km (12 miles) from the coast. The nearest beaches are Poneloya and Las Peñitas. These two beaches are among the most popular beach destinations for local Nicaraguans especially around the holidays of Easter and Christmas.
Poneloya and Las Peñitas are lined with small hotels, restaurants and private homes. The beach itself can be a bit steep and have some rocky areas. Visitors can walk for miles down the beach without going anywhere that is still undeveloped. One of the highlight attractions to the area is the Juan Venado Island. Located on the southern end of Las Peñitas, the island is only accessible by boat and is relatively small but it is a beauty. Many of the hotels in Las Peñitas can help arrange a tour for your or you can just negotiate with one of the local fisherman to take you over the island. The island is a natural reserve and you can see 106 known species of birds. Visitors may also see a variety of reptiles including crocodiles, caimans and iguanas. From August to December visitors may be able to watch Olive Ridley turtles come to the island and lay their eggs.
Other activities and attractions for visitors to participate include swimming, fishing, horseback-riding, and surfing. There are some great beaches for surfing nearby for those looking to get their surfing fix settled. Northern Nicaragua has great waves and less surfers coming through making it an ideal spot for the more adventurous surfers. Being in a beach town, make sure to ask locals for tips on the best restaurant in the area to enjoy some great seafood. Because there are so many restaurants it is probably best to ask the locals who have an inside scoop on what the best places are.
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