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When to go · Nicaragua

Nicaragua in March

Great month. Dry and hot; Semana Santa may fall here (check) — beaches fill.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Nicaragua
Prices
Medium
Nicaragua

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Nicaragua

Dry and hot; Semana Santa may fall here (check) — beaches fill.

Is another month better than March?

No other month rates higher than March for Nicaragua in this guide.

Weather in March

  • Pacific lowlands · Granada, León, Managua, Ometepe, San Juan del Surbest weather

    Dry and breezy December–April; León is one of the hottest cities in the region in April (36 °C (97 °F)+). A drier spell (canícula) often breaks the rains in July–August.

  • Northern highlands · Matagalpa, Estelí, Jinotegabest weather

    Cooler coffee country (15–25 °C (59–77 °F)); cloud forest reserves are wet most of the year.

  • Caribbean coast · Corn Islands, Bluefields, Pearl Lagoon, Río San Juanbest weather

    Rain possible any month; hurricanes and tropical storms mostly Aug–Oct (Iota and Eta hit in 2020).

  • Capital Region: Managua and the lowlands · Capital Region, 50–500 mhot

    Dry season roughly December–April; the rains run May–October with afternoon downpours. Managua sits low and holds heat — 32 °C (90 °F)+ most of the year.

  • Caribbean Nicaragua: Corn Islands · Caribbean Sea, offshorebest weather

    Warm year-round, sea about 27–29 °C (81–84 °F). Rain showers most months; trade winds December–April.

  • Bluefields averages around 225 rainy days a year; March–April is the driest window. Hurricanes roughly June–December.

  • Cooler than the Pacific all year; rainy season roughly May–October, heaviest Sep–Oct. Mornings can be chilly — 15 °C (59 °F) or less.

  • Northern Highlands: Somoto and the border lowlands · Pan-American corridor northhot

    Warmer and drier-feeling than the coffee towns; canyon water is low in the dry season.

  • Northern Pacific Coast: León and the coastal plain · León, Chinandega, Las Peñitas, Poneloyabest weather

    Dry season December–April, hottest March–April; rains May–October, usually afternoon and evening. Coastal wind picks up in the afternoon.

  • Rio San Juan Region: San Carlos and the river · Lake Cocibolca shore and the Rio San Juanbest weather

    Hot and humid year-round; the dry months (roughly December–April) are easier for boat travel and hiking. Rain peaks June–October.

  • Southern Pacific Coast: Pacific lowlands and lake · Granada, Rivas, San Juan del Sur, Ometepehot

    Dry season roughly December–April; rains May–October with the heaviest downpours September–October. The lake and coast stay hot year-round — 30 °C (86 °F)+ most days.

  • Granada33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days
  • Altagracia33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Balgue33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days
  • Big Corn Island30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days
  • Bilwi28 °C (82 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Bluefields29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Boaco30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 1 rain days
  • Chinandega36 °C (97 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days
  • Corinto34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 1 rain days
  • El Castillo32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days
  • Estelí31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days
  • Jinotega29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days
  • Juigalpa32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Las Peñitas33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days
  • León33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days
  • Little Corn Island30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 7 rain days
  • Managua34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days
  • Masaya33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days
  • Matagalpa25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days
  • Moyogalpa32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ocotal30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days
  • Pearl Lagoon30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Playa Gigante33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Playa Maderas32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days
  • Playa Santo Domingo33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days
  • Poneloya33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Popoyo33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days
  • Rama32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Rivas32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days
  • San Carlos31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • San Juan del Norte32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days
  • San Juan del Sur33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 0 rain days
  • San Miguelito32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days
  • Solentiname Islands33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Somoto33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Semana Santa big impact

    Mar–Apr (Easter, check)

    Beaches full; buses packed; many businesses shut Thursday–Friday.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Nicaragua
Medium
Prices · Nicaragua
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Nicaragua, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Mar: Great

    Jan: Great

  • Crowds

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Mar: 1

    Jan: 1

March: Dry and hot; Semana Santa may fall here (check) — beaches fill.

January: Dry, green after the rains, windy on the lake; good surf and offshore winds in the south.

Nicaragua: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in March

Rated best or good this month

  • Pacific lowlands

    Best weather of the year (Granada, León, Managua, Ometepe, San Juan del Sur)

  • Northern highlands

    Best weather of the year (Matagalpa, Estelí, Jinotega)

  • Caribbean coast

    Best weather of the year (Corn Islands, Bluefields, Pearl Lagoon, Río San Juan)

  • Balgue

    Best months: Dec–Apr

  • Big Corn Island

    Best months: Mar–May (calm, dry, clearest water)

  • Bilwi

    Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

  • Bluefields

    Best months: Feb–May, Sep–Nov

  • Boaco

    Best months: Dec–Apr

  • Chinandega

    Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

  • Corinto

    Best months: Dec–Apr

  • El Castillo

    Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season, easier river travel)

  • Estelí

    Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, cooler highland air)