Discover Nicaragua

Arrive at Liberia Airport and be transferred privately to your hotel in the Tenorio area. Tenorio is home to the Rio Celeste, known for its vibrant blue waterfall and unique natural beauty. This protected area, nestled between Guanacaste and Alajuela provinces, also features fumaroles and lush trails perfect for exploring. Rustic accommodations add to the charm of this destination, which is ideal for travelers seeking a closer connection to nature. Enjoy the evening in Managua and dine on your own.

After breakfast, transfer to Las Tablillas Border, a quiet crossing with a smooth immigration process. Once in Nicaragua, proceed to the immigration office to complete formalities. From there, take a short transfer to the Santa Fe Bridge, where a motorboat awaits. Enjoy a 1.5-hour journey along the San Juan River, keeping an eye out for monkeys and a variety of bird species, including eagles, falcons, blue jays, and herons.

In the afternoon, explore the historic town and visit the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception, built in 1672 to defend colonial Nicaragua. The San Juan River, spanning 192 kilometers from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Sea, is home to diverse marine life, including freshwater bull sharks, offering a unique blend of natural and cultural heritage.

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before boarding a private boat to reach the Bartola River. Begin a guided walk along the Bartola Trail in the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, one of Nicaragua’s most pristine natural reserves. Covering 3,180 square kilometers, the reserve supports diverse wildlife, including toucans, macaws, sloths, jaguars, monkeys, and even manatees. You may also spot reptiles like poison dart frogs, snakes, and crocodiles during your exploration.

Visit Marional Farm to learn about the production of Mariola honey. The angel bee, or Tetragonisca angustula, produces this natural, medicinal honey, valued for its unique flavor and therapeutic properties. The farm’s honey is small-scale and primarily used for therapy, offering insight into this rare production process.

Continue to a cooperative in El Castillo town, where local farmers collaborate to produce and sell cocoa domestically and internationally. Observe the cocoa transformation process, from seed fermentation to chocolate production. Join “Las Hijas del Cacao” for a hands-on chocolate-making lesson, preparing both solid and liquid forms. Conclude with a tasting session, sampling a variety of chocolates crafted from Rio San Juan cocoa.

This morning enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for an early transfer to Moyogalpa Port. Here take a ferry to Port San Jorge and transfer two and approximately six hours to Managua.

After the journey relax at your hotel and explore Managua.

After breakfast, travel approximately 2 hours from your hotel to Leon, the former colonial capital of Nicaragua. Once located at the base of Momotombo volcano, the city was relocated after a devastating earthquake and volcanic eruption in 1609. Today, Leon is a hub of culture, known for its connection to poets like Rubén Darío and its role in Nicaragua’s history.

In the afternoon, take a guided walking tour of the city’s highlights. Visit the largest cathedral in Central America at the Main Plaza, explore historic murals, and learn about Leon’s influence on the country’s social, economic, and political development.

*Please note that museums are closed on Mondays, and many churches are not open to visitors on Sundays.

After breakfast, this morning, choose between two-morning tour options:

Juan Venado Island Tour: Juan Venado Island is a natural reserve off of Nicaragua's Pacific coast that provides habitat for hundreds of species of birds, wetland creatures, and sea turtles. Observe these native species and enjoy pristine volcanic sand beaches as you tour the island on foot and via boat. 

Cerro Negro Volcano Hiking Tour: Cerro Negro, the youngest volcano in Central America, offers a one-of-a-kind adventure. Standing at 726 meters, this active volcano features black volcanic slopes perfect for hiking or sandboarding. Reach the summit to take in panoramic views of the surrounding volcanic chain and vibrant landscapes below.

Spend the evening exploring and dining on your own in Leon City.

Start the day with an early departure from Leon for a 3.5-hour drive to San Jorge Port. From there, take a public ferry across Lake Nicaragua to Isla Ometepe, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The one-hour ferry ride offers a unique experience, though the lake crossing may be a bit choppy at times. Ometepe features two striking volcanic cones rising from Central America’s largest freshwater lake. This island, long revered by the Nahuatl people, is rich with archaeological sites and ancient petroglyphs. Accessible by ferry from San Jorge Port, Ometepe’s fertile landscapes and cultural significance make it a fascinating destination.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel this morning and gear up for an eventful journey. Explore the island's cultural and archaeological highlights. Visit Charco Verde to see its green lagoon and diverse wildlife. Stop at the archaeological and numismatic museum, which houses over 3,000 artifacts, and view pre-Columbian statues displayed at the oldest church courtyard on the island. Conclude the day by unwinding in a natural pool.

Spend the evening exploring and dining on your own in Ometepe Island.

Start with a land transfer to the port, followed by a ferry ride, and continue with a drive to Granada. Along the way, stop at the Catarina Viewpoint to enjoy sweeping views of Apoyo Volcanic Lagoon, Mombacho Volcano, Granada, and Lake Nicaragua—an excellent spot for photos. Then, visit San Juan de Oriente, a village renowned for its pottery-making traditions. At a local pottery school run by Valentine Lopez, observe artisans blending ancient techniques with modern designs.

Arrive in Granada, a historic city dating back to the early sixteenth century. Known for its colonial and neoclassical architecture, colorful streets, and easygoing atmosphere, Granada remains a must-visit destination for travelers and locals alike.
 

After breakfast today, choose between two-day tour options:

Mombacho Volcano Crater Trail, Granada City & Boat Trip on Nicaragua Lake: The tour begins with a 45-minute 4x4 drive up the slopes of nearby Mombacho Volcano. The surrounding cloud forest is full of lush vegetation that has regrown since the volcano was last active. At the foot of the mountain meet the park keepers and switch vehicles for the ascent to the summit. Along the way enjoy breathtaking views and become acquainted with the biodiversity of the region. At the summit set off on a moderate hike along the trails of the volcano. Throughout the hike, learn about Mombacho's wildlife, ancient inhabitants, and volcanic history. If the day is clear, the hike affords amazing views of the plain Pacific region of Nicaragua, neighboring Granada, as well as beautiful Lake Nicaragua. The hike takes about two hours, after which you are driven back down the mountain. Then, explore Granada City on a walking tour, visiting "La Merced" church, the brightly colored cathedral, and the San Francisco Convent, which features a collection of pre-Columbian sculptures in human and animal forms. Visit Lake Nicaragua to discover a chain of 354 islands formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. These lush islets, made of basalt rock, are home to diverse birdlife, including egrets, cormorants, ospreys, and kingfishers, with Mombacho Volcano towering in the background.

Masaya Volcano, Artisan Market & Granada City : This tour takes you to half an hour from Granada to the first national park in the country, established in 1979, home of the Masaya Volcano. Visit the Environmental Interpretation Center to explore the volcano's geological history and its cultural importance to indigenous communities. Continue to the Santiago Crater viewpoint for an up-close look at this active volcanic site. Walk the "Comalito" trail through forested paths with fumaroles and spot native plants and wildlife. End the trail at a scenic lookout with views of Masaya Lagoon, Mombacho Volcano, and Granada. From there, visit the Masaya arts and crafts market to browse local ceramics, hammocks, and leather goods before heading to Granada City. Take a guided walking tour to explore La Merced Church, the brightly painted cathedral, and the San Francisco Convent, which houses an impressive collection of pre-Columbian sculptures. The tour concludes at Lake Nicaragua, where a chain of 354 lush islets rich in birdlife, including egrets, cormorants, and kingfishers, lies in the shadow of the towering Mombacho Volcano.

After finishing the tour of your choice, return to the hotel in Granada and enjoy dinner on your own.

After breakfast this morning transfer from your hotel to Managua International Airport for your flight and the next leg of your journey.