Nicaragua Wildlife and Nature

Upon arrival in Managua, meet up with your guide and transfer from the airport to Granada City.

Granada, founded in 1524, is Nicaragua's most visited city. Its charming colonial and neoclassical architecture, colorful cobbled streets, and relaxed atmosphere make it a key destination for both locals and travelers. Stroll through the city to admire its historical landmarks and vibrant ambiance before settling in for the evening.

Start your day with an early visit to Montibelli, a private reserve spanning over 160 hectares on Managua's Sierra. Rising between 360 and 720 meters above sea level, this tropical dry forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife and plant species. Bird enthusiasts will love spotting woodpeckers, hummingbirds, golden orioles, hawks, and the national bird—the turquoise-browed motmot. Enjoy breakfast at the farm surrounded by nature.

After breakfast, head to the Chocoyero Reserve. This lush, water-abundant reserve features trails that lead through vibrant forests teeming with life. Keep an eye out for howler and white-faced monkeys along the Congo Trail for your best chance to spot them. Birdwatchers will be thrilled by the famous chocoyos, green parakeets that nest by the waterfall. Catch them in the morning as they depart or in the late afternoon when they return.

After the tour, return to Granada. Enjoy lunch and dinner on your own.

Start your day at Masaya Volcano National Park, Nicaragua’s first national park established in 1979. Begin at the Environment Interpretation Center, where your guide shares the history of the volcano and its cultural significance to indigenous communities. While the Santiago crater lava viewpoint is closed, explore the "Comalito" trail. This scenic path winds through forests, active fumaroles, and vibrant plant life, leading to a lookout with sweeping views of Mombacho Volcano, Granada City, and the tranquil Masaya Lagoon—a volcanic lake with deep cultural importance. Afterward, visit the Masaya arts and crafts market, just 15 minutes away, to browse a variety of local creations, including ceramics, hammocks, and leather goods, perfect for unique souvenirs.

Continue to Granada, a city filled with colonial charm. Join a guided walking tour to visit landmarks such as La Merced Church, Granada’s colorful cathedral, and the San Francisco Convent, home to an extraordinary collection of pre-Columbian sculptures. Stop at Tio Antonio Hammocks, a community project supporting individuals with hearing impairments. Watch artisans craft beautiful hammocks, transforming raw materials into intricate designs. You’ll also visit Café Sonrisas, a welcoming space showcasing the project’s broader efforts. Wrap up the day with a boat tour at the Islets of Lake Nicaragua, a chain of 354 small islands created by a massive eruption of Mombacho Volcano. Admire the lush vegetation and rich birdlife, with species like ospreys, kingfishers, and herons adding to the natural beauty.

Return to Granada for an evening of relaxation. 

Start your day with a pickup from your hotel, heading to Mombacho Volcano's base. Switch to a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the ascent, as private vehicles are not permitted beyond the entrance. Enjoy lush vegetation and stunning views on the way to the summit. At the entrance, you’ll find the biological station, where local park rangers will guide you as your hike begins.

From the biological station near the summit, follow a 0.9-mile (1.5-kilometer)1-hour round-trip hike along a well-maintained trail. Walk through the lush cloud forest, passing scenic viewpoints of the crater and surrounding landscapes. The trail includes some stepped sections but is rated easy to moderate, making it suitable for most visitors, including families and those with a moderate fitness level.

The afternoon and evening will be yours to wander through charming Granada and dine on your own.

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel before setting out on a scenic 5-hour drive from Managua to the port of San Carlos, the capital of Rio San Juan. From there, board a private boat for a one-hour picturesque ride to Solentiname, a stunning archipelago located in the southeastern part of Lake Nicaragua. Made up of 36 islands covering 4,020 hectares, Solentiname is renowned for its natural beauty, peaceful atmosphere, and hidden treasures.

Upon arrival, check-in at the Cabañas Paraiso Hotel and savor a homemade lunch at the hotel’s restaurant, offering spectacular views of the lake and its serene surroundings. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore San Fernando Island, one of the gems of this remarkable archipelago.

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before setting off on a private motorboat adventure to Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge. This vast 430-square-kilometer reserve is a sanctuary of lagoons, wetlands, and forests that support diverse ecosystems. Keep an eye out for jaguars, monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, and colorful birds like toucans, parakeets, and kingfishers as you cruise the serene Rio Papaturro, which flows into Lake Nicaragua from Costa Rica. On clear days, you may even catch stunning views of four volcanoes in the distance.

In the afternoon, explore Solentiname’s Mancarron Island. Visit its charming church, browse local artisan crafts, and take in the history at the small museum. This day offers a unique blend of nature, wildlife, and cultural discovery.

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before a water transfer from San Fernando Island to the port of San Carlos. From there, take a private boat ride to El Castillo, a journey lasting about 1.5 hours. Along the way, keep an eye out for playful monkeys and a wide array of migrating birds, including eagles, falcons, blue jays, and herons.

The journey takes you along the Rio San Juan, a 192-kilometer (119 miles) river flowing from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Sea. This river is home to diverse wildlife, including freshwater bull sharks that also inhabit Lake Nicaragua.

In the afternoon, explore the quaint town of El Castillo and the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception, a historic structure built in 1672 to defend colonial Nicaragua from foreign invasions.

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel before setting off on a private boat to the entrance of the Bartola River. Here, explore the Bartola Trail within the stunning Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, one of Nicaragua's most pristine natural treasures. Spanning 3,180 km² (1227 mi²), this reserve is teeming with wildlife, including toucans, macaws, sloths, jaguars, howler monkeys, and even manatees. Keep an eye out for colorful birds and unique creatures like poison dart frogs and iguanas as you walk through the lush rainforest.

Next, visit Marional Farm, home to the rare Mariola bee (Tetragonisca angustula), a species prized for its medicinal and gourmet honey. Learn about this tiny "angel bee," known for producing nutrient-rich honey with calming properties. While honey production here is small, you'll discover its fascinating therapeutic uses.

The tour continues in El Castillo, where you'll visit a small cocoa cooperative run by local farmers. See firsthand how cocoa transforms from seed to chocolate through drying and fermentation. Join the "Las Hijas del Cacao" chocolate makers in a hands-on chocolate-making experience, creating both solid and liquid treats. End the visit with a tasting session, savoring a variety of rich chocolate flavors crafted from Río San Juan cocoa.

This morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel before beginning your journey to Managua. The transfer includes a 1.5-hour boat ride followed by a 5.5-hour land transfer.

Managua has been Nicaragua’s capital since 1852. The northern part of the city features the remains of the old city center, destroyed by an earthquake in 1972, while the southern area is the country’s cultural and commercial hub. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore the city at your leisure.

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