Nicaragua Adventure Tour

In comparison with colonial Leon and Granada, Managua is not the most attractive of Nicaragua’s cities but it does have its own curious, if somewhat unorthodox, charm. Badly damaged in the 1972 earthquake, the city has been rebuilt in a different location and has become a busy modern city.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we plan a short tour of Managua to see some points of interest – a must as many of the streets do not have names so can be quite hard to get around if unfamiliar with the city! We then drive to Leon. Still considered the intellectual centre of Nicaragua, Leon was founded in 1525 and was the capital for 200 years. The old buildings with wrought iron balconies, the massive cathedral (arguably the largest in Central America), the arched colonnades and narrow streets all add an elegant atmosphere to this quiet city, which seems almost lost in a time warp. We have an orientation tour with time to soak up the ambience before driving onto Granada. Granada is situated at the foot of Mombacho volcano on the north west shore of Lake Nicaragua. It was the first colonial city in Nicaragua, founded in 1524 by the conquistador Hernandez de Cordoba. Its magnificent setting is set off by baroque and renaissance buildings.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Atmospheric Granada is a colonial gem, where horse-drawn carriages clip-clop through the narrow streets. On our first morning we plan a sightseeing tour of the city, including a visit to San Fransisco Convent which holds the largest collection of stone sculptures from the early Americans living in Granada before the Spaniards. The rest of our time is left free. It is possible to visit Las Isletas by boat or sea kayak – an area of tiny islands dominated by the Volcano Mombacho walk. You can glide through the forest canopy on a zip line – a remarkable experience. The surrounding area is a prosperous agricultural centre growing hemp and tobacco and Masaya has become a renowned artisan centre with the best handicraft market in Nicaragua. Here you can bargain for baskets, bags, hats, hammocks, carvings, masks, marimbas, embroidered clothes and tapestries. Alternatively you could visit the Volcan Masaya National Park passing great lava flows as we drive up to a view point. The volcano has erupted several times in recorded history (and the park is sometimes closed due to volcanic activity!). There are wonderful views of the volcanic landscape and also across to other volcanoes in the area. Your tour leader can organise many optional activities around Granada.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A short drive brings us to San Jorge, the departure point for ferries to Ometepe Island. Ometepe is made up of two volcanoes connected by an isthmus: the perfect cone of Concepción volcano soars from the depths of Lake Nicaragua to 1610m, only just dwarfing Maderas volcano at 1394m. We leave the time here free to explore at your own pace. There are many things to do, you can explore by local bus or truck perhaps searching out pre-colombian petroglyphs carved by the indigenous people, or taking in some of the highlights of the island and some short walks on the volcanic slopes (all optional). Alternatively you could visit Charco Verde Lagoon, a place of legend. Here you can rest on the beach or take a short nature trail nearby. For the less energetic, some black sand beaches are a perfect spot to drink in the stunning views across the lake.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Departing the island we return by ferry to San Jorge before driving a short distance to San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast where we spend the night. Here we will have some free time to enjoy the Pacific beaches.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we will start our day with a short drive to Cardenas. There we will board our launch for our trip across Lake Nicaragua. En route we will stop at the small island of Mancarrun for lunch and have some free time to explore. We will then continue to San Carlos, strategically situated at the point where the river San Juan and Lake Nicaragua meet, we then continue our journey along the river by boat. The Rio San Juan links the Caribbean with Lake Nicaragua and has long been used as an important trade route. Indeed, before the Panama canal was opened this was the main route from the Atlantic to the Pacific and was popular with the ‘Forty Niners’ rushing to find gold in California. We arrive at El Castillo, named after the fortress built by the Spanish to deter invading pirates and visit the fortress (Lord Nelson is said to have won a battle here). This remote and isolated outpost is only accessible by boat and visitors are a rarity. Accommodation is lodge style with shared facilities. (Please note  from December to March due to adverse weather conditions we will not take the boat ride across the lake we will alternatively travel overland to San Carlos via Costa Rica - this may involve an extra departure tax of 16USD)

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we can walk up to the castle and visit the museum before continuing downstream to the Bartola and Indio Maiz Reserves. We will cruise past virgin rainforest – Costa Rica on the South bank is more developed with some cleared areas for farming while the Nicaraguan side remains largely natural and untouched all the way to Lake Nicaragua. We may hear howler monkeys crashing through the trees and see freshwater fish in the river including snook, bull shark and the famous tarpon, which can weigh up to 100lb! In the afternoon you can set out to explore this unique wilderness area on foot. Sixty different types of orchid grow in the reserve, which is inhabited by rare animals including jaguar, mountain lion and tapir. In the afternoon there is a chance to take a boat trip downriver to Aguas Frescas for a guided walk in the reserve in search of monkeys, iguanas, caimans and more (optional). As the sun sets over the jungle the different sounds of the night start up – noisy cicadas and frogs along with strange jungle calls set the exotic scene.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The Bartola reserve is part of a centre for research into the local flora and fauna. We make an early forest walk (optional) in the reserve this morning, hoping to see some colourful birds such as macaws or toucans (optional guide). This afternoon there is the chance to do some canoeing (optional) or a further walk in the rainforest. Activities here are alternated, to reduce group size and impact. Many travellers simply enjoy the lodge and its relaxing surroundings.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we travel back up-river to San Carlos, enjoying the fabulous green backdrop at sunrise as we wind our way back to the southern tip of Lake Nicaragua. From San Carlos a full days journey takes us at first through the rural backroads passing farms and simple villages as we skirt the huge volcanic lagoon of Lake Nicaragua en route to Juigalpa, little known to tourists, with a bustling main square and beautiful views of nearby mountains.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Early in the morning we will drive towards the Caribbean coast to the small jungle town of El Rama. From here we will travel by small launch or local ferry along the winding, tropical Rio Escondido to the coastal town of Bluefields. Standing on a lagoon at the mouth of Rio Escondido, Bluefields named after it’s founder Blauveld – a Dutch pirate, is Nicaragua’s most important port and has been at the centre of Nicaraguan politics for many years. A small aircraft will be our transport over to Corn Island. From the island’s airstrip, we take a bumpy ride to our simple hotel situated on the beach with views overlooking the coral reef. Completely different from anywhere else in Nicaragua, the Caribbean islands and coast are inhabited largely by Caribs mixed with people of African descent, and English is widely spoken. Corn Island has three miles of white sandy beach, with the warm water on one side of the island crystal clear, and on the other blue green... we suggest a dip this afternoon!ijui

Overnight Standard Hotel

A day to relax and explore. You could take a walk around the island, sit under a coconut palm tree or snorkel amongst tropical fish on the reef. Nearby Little Corn Island with its palm fringed beach is accessible by boat. In the evening try some fresh seafood such as lobster or prawns in one of the local restaurants and just enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we take a small aircraft that takes us over the Caribbean Sea then across miles of dense virgin jungle to Managua.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our tour ends this morning in Managua.

Included meals: Breakfast