Nicaragua Multisport

Day 1 Arrive Managua

You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel this evening.

Day 2 Kayak Isletas and Granada (B)

This morning you will drive south to the shores of Lake Nicaragua to set out on a kayaking tour of the tiny isletas offshore. Over 365 tiny islands were created by the eruption of Mombacho and now are either uninhabited or the site of vacation homes. Keep your eyes peeled for birds and other wildlife as you pass each island. Kayak out to Fort San Pablo and explore this ancient structure, constructed on an island by native inhabitants to defend themselves from pirate attacks.

This afternoon you will set out on a walking tour of the city of Granada. The oldest colonial city in all Central America, Granada was first founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba. Though it has been sacked by pirates multiples times and undergone many civil wars, Granada boast beautiful Spanish architecture, making it the must see of Nicaragua. Explore San Francisco convento museum, one of the best in the region. Originally constructed in 1585 it was burnt by pirates then later again by William Walker and was recently restored in 1989. Inside you can see primitivist art, paper mache figurines depicting indigenous life, as well as the Zapatera Statuary, with black basalt statutes carved between 800 and 1200 AD.

Explore also La Merced church, arguably the most beautiful in the city. Enjoy a climb to the belltower for an extra dollar! Also visit La Fortaleza,  an old Spanish fort constructed in 1748 with the best view over the city!

Spend the rest of your tour wandering around the main plaza, perhaps even take a horse-drawn buggy ride! Feel free to explore more museums as time allows.

Day 3 Mombacho Volcano and Zipline Tour (B,L)

This morning you will head to nearby Mombacho Volcano, an active volcano that last erupted in 1570. You will hop into an army cargo vehicle which takes you up the steep climb on the brick road to the top where you find a small biological station. Feel free to get out and explore the small exhibits in the station. The top part of this volcano is home to a cloudforest, housing some species of flora and fauna only found here. You can walk on the trails keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife, as well as find some lookouts allowing you to peer over into the now forested craters below.

On your way down the volcano, you will stop to take the zipline tour at the base of Mombacho! Zip across this 1500 meter zipline course suspended by canopy platforms. The tour offers fantastic views of Mombacho cloudforest and the nearby Lake Nicaragua. The course contains fifteen platforms and a twenty five meter long rope bridge!
After the zipline adventure, return back to Granada and enjoy the rest of the afternoon free.

Day 4 Ometepe Island Biking (B)

Today you will drive to the town of San Jorge. From here board a ferry for the hour ride across the lake to Isla de Ometepe, one of the world's the largest lake islands. Next you will embark on a bike ride around the island. You will pass by small villages, banana plantations, and take in spectacular views of Concepcion and Madera volcanoes.

After your bike ride, continue on to your hotel this afternoon, located on the coast of the lake. Enjoy the rest of the day free. You can grab a kayak to paddle around the lake, go for a swim, or hop back on a bike for some more riding this afternoon! You can also arrange to visit some of the museums of pre-Columbian artifacts in the area this afternoon, or go see the nearby petroglyphs dating back 2000 years ago.

Day 5 Kayak and Horseback Ride on Ometepe (B)

This morning enjoy a two hour kayaking tour near Charco Verde. Keep your eyes peeled for birds and wildlife that inhabit the area.  Following this you wil visit the Ojo de Agua via horseback ride, where you hike into a secluded swimming hole located in the interior of the island. Head back Moyogalpa for the ferry back acoss to San Jorge. From here you will continue south to San Juan del Sur, the surfing mecca of Nicaragua! Enjoy the rest of your day free.

Day 6 San Juan del Sur (B)

Enjoy a free day in San Juan del Sur. Here your guide is available to help you arrange activities as you wish. You can arrange to try your hand at surfing or boogie boarding, do a zipline tour, arrange to go diving, fishing, sailing, rent mountain bikes, go for a hike, or even go on a nightly turtle watching tour if you are there between July and December. The day is free for you to do as you wish, your guide is on hand to help you plan your day.

Day 7 Masaya Volcano and Market (B)

This morning you will transfer back north towards Managua. En route visit  Masaya Volcano. You will climb the volcano side, passing by fields of petrified lava, until you reach the top. Cover your face to bear the smell, you will be able to get out and walk around, and even peer down into the deep sulfuric crater at the top!

Continue on next to the Masaya Market, the most famous handicrafts market in Nicaragua, and well known for its hammocks! After exploring the multicolored booths and bartering for keepsakes, you will continue on to the nearby small towns of San Juan del Oriente. Here you will be able to witness the making of the handicrafts in action. See how an entire community contributes to making one hammocks, watch the ceramic makers at the potter's wheel, or the carpenter as he builds wooden rocking chairs!

Enjoy your last evening in the country in Nicaragua.

Day 8 Return Home