Nicaragua
Granada, Laguna de Apoyo, Ometepe, San Juan del Sur, and León
Day 1: After arriving in the capital of Managua, pick up your rental car and drive about an hour to the city of Granada, the first city in the country established by Europeans. After settling into your accommodations, get your bearings by walking to the center of the old town and getting dinner.
Day 1: After arriving in the capital of Managua, pick up your rental car and drive about an hour to the city of Granada, the first city in the country established by Europeans. After settling into your accommodations, get your bearings by walking to the center of the old town and getting dinner.
Day 2: On your first full day in the area, take a walking tour of some of Granada’s finest city sites. Begin with a visit to Iglesia La Merced, one of Granada’s grandest churches, and ascend the bell tower for magnificent views over the city. Next, walk for a few minutes to Granada’s Parque Central, where residents and visitors gather in the shade of the leafy square to talk or enjoy a snack in front of the brightly colored Catedral de Granada. Step inside the cathedral for a quick look and then climb to the top of its tower for another worthwhile and inexpensive view of the city. While in this area, visit the many tour operators and book your tours for destinations around Granada and beyond, if you haven’t done so already. Afterward, walk to the Convento y Museo San Francisco for a look at its prize possession, the statues from Zapatera, which were created about 1,000 years ago. After wandering through the rest of the museum, head back toward the Parque Central for lunch at one of the many restaurants in the center. After lunch, connect with your tour operator for a boat or kayak tour of Las Isletas, a group of over 300 hundred small islands on Lake Nicaragua close to Granada. These tours visit a few of the islands, and, depending on the time of day and the weather, you will see various birds and monkeys. After the boat tour, as the sun gets low in the sky, head out for Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya to see a very much active volcano. You’ll probably need to wait in line for over an hour (depending on the time of year) just for the chance to drive to the top of the crater, but this is an experience you won’t soon forget. You get only 15 minutes after getting out of your vehicle to view the crater, so make the most of your time and get a good view of the molten red action below. At the end of a busy day, head back to your accommodations for some much-deserved rest.
Day 3: Today we visit another volcano, albeit a much less active one. Pre-arrange a tour with your preferred operator to Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho for an incredible day of hiking and zip lining. The top of Mombacho is frequently obscured by clouds. If you are lucky and have a cloud-free visit, you will be able to get a good view of the surroundings, including Granada and Las Isletas. If not, don’t despair; the reserve has wonderful trails among the cloud forest, and you will probably also spot some of the local wildlife. After your hike, your tour operator will take you to a lower spot on Mombacho for zip lining. Because Nicaragua is still considered a rather undiscovered country for travel, you will probably pay less for this exciting activity than you would elsewhere. At the conclusion of a busy day on Mombacho, return to Granada for dinner and then retire to your room for the night.
Day 4: After breakfast, head out with your tour operator (or on your own) for a day in the Masaya area. While you’ve already seen the Masaya Volcano at night. It is a different experience during the day and well worth the return visit. Afterward, head into the city of Masaya to visit the Mercado de Artesanias to shop for local products. Here you’ll find wood products, pottery, and many other interesting objects at good prices. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, head to a wonderful viewpoint at Catarina for views above the Laguna de Apoyo, a lake occupying a crater that warms its clear, deep waters. After enjoying the amazing view, head back to Granada for dinner and to enjoy your last night in town.
Day 5: Get some breakfast and then pack your bags because it is time for a one-day mini-vacation in the middle of your trip. After you’ve spent the last few days seeing the sights, today is all about relaxing. Drive your vehicle a few short miles to the shores of Laguna de Apoyo, which you saw from the Catarina viewpoint the previous day. After arriving at your chosen lodging, spend your day swimming, kayaking, or just lounging about the clear warm waters. From the shores of the lake, you may be visited by aviary friends or hear the distant grunts of howler monkeys. After spending the last four nights in the city, enjoy a peaceful evening in this Nicaraguan paradise.
Day 5: Get some breakfast and then pack your bags because it is time for a one-day mini-vacation in the middle of your trip. After you’ve spent the last few days seeing the sights, today is all about relaxing. Drive your vehicle a few short miles to the shores of Laguna de Apoyo, which you saw from the Catarina viewpoint the previous day. After arriving at your chosen lodging, spend your day swimming, kayaking, or just lounging about the clear warm waters. From the shores of the lake, you may be visited by aviary friends or hear the distant grunts of howler monkeys. After spending the last four nights in the city, enjoy a peaceful evening in this Nicaraguan paradise.
Day 6: After recharging last night, pack your things in your vehicle and make the drive to San Jorge for the ferry to Ometepe Island. The drive isn’t long (about one to two hours), but you’ll spend most of your day traveling. Logistics on Ometepe are a little difficult, as some roads are not in good condition and rental cars are expensive. Bringing your rental car over on the ferry is also a hassle. Make sure to work out the details in advance. In many cases, it may be better to just hire a guide to take you where you want to go or to make arrangements with your hotel. The ride to Ometepe on the ferry is not long (one hour). After arriving, make your way to your accommodations and then get dinner and settle in for the evening.
Day 7: Today is dedicated to seeing Ometepe Island. The island is composed of two volcanos in the middle of Lake Nicaragua that are connected by a narrow isthmus. Climbing either volcano is a possibility but will require an all-day hike to ascend either one. For those who don’t want to hike all day, a shorter hike (four hours) will get you to the San Ramón waterfall on Volcán Maderas. For others, a very nice day can be spent on the islands enjoying less strenuous activities, including a visit to Reserva Charco Verde. This nature reserve has a butterfly garden as well as trails leading to opportunities for wildlife viewing, including various birds and monkeys. Afterward, consider a visit to see some of the island’s petroglyphs. The most easily visited ones are located next to the Altagracia church, near the Parque Central. There are others, but you may need a guide to get to them. A very nice way to end your day is with a dip at Ojo de Agua, where warm mineral water rises from springs in the earth.
Day 8: Today, you must depart beautiful Ometepe, but other wonders await as you make your way to Nicaragua’s Pacific beaches. After taking the ferry back to San Jorge, drive about an hour to popular San Juan del Sur. When you arrive, check into your accommodations, get some lunch, and then make the drive to Playa El Coco. The drive there is not far, but because the last nine kilometers are on a dirt road, it will take longer than expected. The beach at Playa El Coco is seldom crowded, so enjoy a few hours here in the sand and surf before driving another mile or so farther down the same road to Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor. At this wildlife refuge, another beautiful and uncrowded beach awaits. But another reason for coming is that each year from July to January, four different species of turtles arrive and lay eggs here. Depending on the time of year, you may witness the adults laying eggs or the hatching and release of the baby turtles. After a busy but rewarding day exploring the pacific beaches, head back to your hotel, get some dinner, and enjoy the ocean breezes.
Day 9: Wake up early and have breakfast because you have a busy day ahead. Pack your bags and make the four-hour drive to the city of León. After arriving in León, get lunch and then make a quick visit to the Basilica Catedral de la Asuncion, which many enjoy mostly for the views from its distinctive rooftop. Afterward, meet up with your guide for your prearranged trip to the Cerro Negro Volcano, an active volcano that most recently in 1999 spewed ash as far away as León. While the volcano is quiet now, hordes of thrill seekers now come to the volcano to slide down its steep black sand slopes in an activity known as sandboarding. Whether or not you decide to slide down on a board (thrill seekers can get injured when they gain too much speed on the trip down the slopes), the trip here is very interesting. Climbing the volcano takes less than an hour, and at the top, you can see smoke venting from the crater and can view other volcanos in the distance. Digging in the earth just a few centimeters on the top of the crater, you’ll be able to feel the heat from the volcano with your bare hand! After an exhilarating but careful ride down the volcano, you’ll make your way with your tour operator back to León to clean up and get dinner.
Day 9: Wake up early and have breakfast because you have a busy day ahead. Pack your bags and make the four-hour drive to the city of León. After arriving in León, get lunch and then make a quick visit to the Basilica Catedral de la Asuncion, which many enjoy mostly for the views from its distinctive rooftop. Afterward, meet up with your guide for your prearranged trip to the Cerro Negro Volcano, an active volcano that most recently in 1999 spewed ash as far away as León. While the volcano is quiet now, hordes of thrill seekers now come to the volcano to slide down its steep black sand slopes in an activity known as sandboarding. Whether or not you decide to slide down on a board (thrill seekers can get injured when they gain too much speed on the trip down the slopes), the trip here is very interesting. Climbing the volcano takes less than an hour, and at the top, you can see smoke venting from the crater and can view other volcanos in the distance. Digging in the earth just a few centimeters on the top of the crater, you’ll be able to feel the heat from the volcano with your bare hand! After an exhilarating but careful ride down the volcano, you’ll make your way with your tour operator back to León to clean up and get dinner.
Day 10: Today, your journey in beautiful Nicaragua ends. As you make your way to the airport in Managua (about two hours), you’ll take with you many memories of this misunderstood country of friendly people and beautiful landscapes.