San Juan del Sur

As ships moor or anchor in this port, passengers are tendered ashore to the town centre.

Passengers arriving in the new facility and stepping from their tender boats first pass through a colourful artisans’ marketplace. Vendor stalls currently line the town's streets, and there will also be four new large stores and eight restaurants.

This small town has a growing number of shops and a market area serving both locals and tourists.

Take a printable map with you.

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua's newest cruise call, has an unmissable main attraction: a pure white-sand beach stretching more than two miles. It is ideal for swimming or simply admiring from one of the cafes along the front.

Mountains and forests provide equally spectacular views around this ultra laid-back town, a former pirate haunt on Nicaragua's Pacific coast just 15 miles from Costa Rica's border.

The ruins of the William Walker fortress can be visited, but this is chiefly a place for chilling out. For sightseeing, take a tour to Granada, one of the country's most important cities.

Founded by conquistadors in 1524, Granada sits on the shores of 92-mile long Lake Nicaragua beneath Mombacho volcano, making it the country's oldest Spanish city. Its nickname, "La Gran Sultana" (the Great Sultan), comes from its Moorish namesake in Spain; the colonial-style cathedral and plaza, along with lovely Colon park, make it a hugely enjoyable place to walk.

Apart from the beach and its bars and restaurants, San Juan del Sur has little in the way of attractions or other things to do in the town itself.

Over the last few years, several eco-tourism companies have appeared, offering canopy tours, wildlife watching and visits to nearby surfing beaches.

Book a tour if you do not want to stay in San Juan Del Sur.

Most visitors combine colonial Granada with Las Isletas, touring an archipelago of 365 small islands formed by volcanic activity many years ago.

Another option is a tour of Masaya Volcano (Active), the Masaya arts and crafts market (Biggest in Central America), and Catarian for beautiful views o the Apoyo lagoon crater lake and a taste of local fruits.

Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city and the oldest in the entire Western Hemisphere. Its coloured colonial buildings, interesting history and relative safety make it an important tourism destination.

If you take home one thing from Nicaragua, make it a hammock: Nicaraguan hammocks are among the best made and most comfortable ever.

On the beach, locals sell arts and crafts directly to cruise ship visitors, including hand-carved wood products and colourful paintings.

San Juan del Sur market is in the town's centre, with many stalls selling local meat, fruits, vegetables and other prepared food. Its stores sell sandals, clothes and household goods, while other stalls offer shoe and bag repairs. It opens Monday through Saturday and closes around 4pm.

The currency is Córdoba (NIO).

Spanish remains the official language; in larger cities, English speakers can also be found.

For shopping, Mon-Fri hours are 0900-1900, with Sat hours 0900-1800.

Public holidays are New Year's Day, 1 Jan; Holy Thursday; Good Friday; Labour Day, 1 May; Liberation Day, 19 Jul; Battle of San Jacinto, 14 Sep; Independence Day, 15 Sep; All Souls' Day, 2 Nov; Immaculate Conception, 8 Dec; and Christmas Day, 25 Dec.