Nicaragua is only a short hop across Costa Rica's northern border but it offers vast cultural differences. And its distinctive landscapes make the trip to a new country more than worth an early start. Highlights include the old town of Granada, the Masaya volcano and Apoyo Lagoon Nature Reserve.
With its pastel-coloured buildings and its evocative colonial architecture, the lakeside city of Granada will have wondering whether you've wandered into different century and continent, let alone a different country. Enjoy a guided tour through the pebbled old town and discover peeling baroque churches and palm-fringed plazas.
Then it's off to the lunar landscape of the Masaya National Park, where volcanic craters emit smoke and sulphurous gases, which is why the locals call it ‘the Gates of Hell' – but don't worry, it is perfectly safe. After a trip to browse the artisanal craft market by the Apoyo lagoon, you'll be back in Costa Rica in time for dinner.