The western coastal plain of Central America holds a line of active volcanoes running north to south. Nicaragua itself has 19 volcanoes, almost all of them protected in National Parks.
Volcan Masaya, located about halfway between Managua and Granada, has a road to the edge of its crater. Visitors look over a stone wall and nearly 1000 feet straight down, into a rumbling smoking caldera belching acrid fumes. Folklore describes this place as the mouth of Hell. Yet, incredibly, flocks of vivid green parrots nest on the sheer walls of the crater, safe from predation. Tours can also be arranged to see a lava tube cave beneath the volcano, where three species of bats hang, and fresh lava glows in the dark.
Cerro Negro, a volcano near Leon, is completely different. The newest of Nicaragua's volcanoes, it began erupting in 1850. Visitors trek through a blasted moonscape of sharp volcanic rubble. The climb is steep, but not too long; it takes about an hour to climb Cerro Negro. From the lip of the crater, the green coastal plain is laid out below, and beyond, the sparkling Pacific. A chain of volcanoes marches into the distance, including Telica and San Cristobal, often with smoke drifting from their cones.
Hikers can continue on down into the crater, where the air is sulfurous and the ground too hot to touch. If arrangements were made ahead of time, it is possible to use a board to descend from the volcano, snowboarding or sledding on the ash. Some people even run down.
Volcan Mombacho, near Granada, offers a cabled canopy tour through rainforest. There is a cloud forest here, and a dwarf forest as well, but the trail to it can only be explored with a guide. Wild orchids bloom on Mombacho.
There are many more volcanoes and many more sights in Nicaragua, all waiting to be explored by adventure travelers who want to see and experience the best of this fascinating land.
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner