- Day 1: Granada
Upon arrival at Managua's international airport, transfer to a comfortable colonial-style hotel in Granada, located just steps from the Central Park. Overnight at Hotel Plaza Colon, set in an elegant antique colonial house restored to its original style and architecture with external courtyards and balconies overlooking Central Park & Cathedral. [D]
Accommodations : Hotel Plaza Colon
Meals Included : Dinner
- Lodging
- Hotel Plaza Colon
- Description
The Hotel Plaza Colon is located in a historical building with a colonial facade at the center of Granada. It was the home of many of the renowned families of the city, and one of them decided to transform the house into a hotel, for which they acquired the three neighboring properties, taking special care in keeping the style and architecture of the restored house. The current facade of the hotel is the same it had back in 1905. Guests can refresh in the swimming pool or lounge at the patio. The comfortable hotel rooms feature air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cable TV, closets, high-speed Internet access, hairdryers, alarm clocks, hot water, and minibars.
- DAY 2: Granada
After a welcome breakfast, depart for the richly forested Mombacho Volcano towering over Granada, traveling along a gravel road with excellent views of the volcano and surrounding environment. Frequently enshrouded by mist, Mombacho Volcano, among Nicaragua’s most impressive, rises like a sleeping giant to 4,626 feet. A short hike through verdant tropical forest full of mosses and epiphytic plants brings us to the Mombacho Canopy Adventure for an exhilarating zip line tour through the cloud forest.
We return to colonial Granada for a typical lunch at the Doña Conchi’s restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the community kitchen of Carita Feliz, a center which provides educational, work and health programs for local children where we help support the program by interacting with the kids and helping prepare the evening meal. Overnight Hotel Plaza Colon. [BLD]
Accommodations : Hotel Plaza Colon
Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Lodging
- Hotel Plaza Colon
- Description
The Hotel Plaza Colon is located in a historical building with a colonial facade at the center of Granada. It was the home of many of the renowned families of the city, and one of them decided to transform the house into a hotel, for which they acquired the three neighboring properties, taking special care in keeping the style and architecture of the restored house. The current facade of the hotel is the same it had back in 1905. Guests can refresh in the swimming pool or lounge at the patio. The comfortable hotel rooms feature air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cable TV, closets, high-speed Internet access, hairdryers, alarm clocks, hot water, and minibars.
- Day 3: Granada
It’s a short drive to Asese Port on the banks of Lake Nicaragua where we kayak or take an electric-powered boat through the 365 enchanted islets of Granada. This volcanic archipelago, formed 20,000 years ago when Mombacho Volcano blew most of its cone into the lake, is located just 3km from Granada and is rich in fauna and flora. There is much to see including caiman, turtles, migrating swallows and a variety of exotic birds. We visit the San Pablo Fort, built to protect the city of Granada from pirates during the 18th century.
Depending on time and the day of our visit we stop by the local La Esperancita School to play with the children and learn how our visit benefits their community. After a lakeside lunch, we return to Granada to explore the charming cobblestone streets of Granada on horse drawn carriages. We pass through the 18th Century Cathedral and the famous Convent of San Francisco dated 1524, now a museum with brightly painted murals depicting Nicaragua’s colorful history. We also visit the vibrant Granada Market where we interact with locals, try exotic fruits and explore for souvenirs. Overnight Hotel Plaza Colon. [BLD]
Accommodations : Hotel Plaza Colon
Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Lodging
- Hotel Plaza Colon
- Description
The Hotel Plaza Colon is located in a historical building with a colonial facade at the center of Granada. It was the home of many of the renowned families of the city, and one of them decided to transform the house into a hotel, for which they acquired the three neighboring properties, taking special care in keeping the style and architecture of the restored house. The current facade of the hotel is the same it had back in 1905. Guests can refresh in the swimming pool or lounge at the patio. The comfortable hotel rooms feature air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cable TV, closets, high-speed Internet access, hairdryers, alarm clocks, hot water, and minibars.
- Day 4: Granada
Venture into rural Nicaragua to the Pueblos Blancos community with their white painted houses and impressive panoramic views over the Apoyo Lagoon. Along the way, stop at San Juan de Oriente to observe local artisans creating beautiful Nicaraguan pottery we have the opportunity to take a turn at the throwing wheel, guided by these skilled local potters.
We drive up and then hike into the Masaya Volcano National Park to peer into its stunning and smoldering active Santiago crater. See if you can spot the specially adapted green parrots that live in the crater walls! En-route back to Granada, we stop to shop at the Masaya Market for authentic Nicaraguan handicrafts including hammocks, leather goods, paintings, masks and wood carvings. Overnight Hotel Plaza Colon. [BLD]
Accommodations : Hotel Plaza Colon
Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Lodging
- Hotel Plaza Colon
- Description
The Hotel Plaza Colon is located in a historical building with a colonial facade at the center of Granada. It was the home of many of the renowned families of the city, and one of them decided to transform the house into a hotel, for which they acquired the three neighboring properties, taking special care in keeping the style and architecture of the restored house. The current facade of the hotel is the same it had back in 1905. Guests can refresh in the swimming pool or lounge at the patio. The comfortable hotel rooms feature air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cable TV, closets, high-speed Internet access, hairdryers, alarm clocks, hot water, and minibars.
- Days 5 - 8 : San Juan del Sur
Depart for the beautiful beach of Ocotal outside the Pacific community of San Juan del Sur. On arrival at the hotel, say a fond farewell to your guide who returns to Granada. Enjoy four days relaxing at Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Eco-lodge, the perfect place for getting away from it all. The spacious, open-air, screened-in luxury cabanas are completely private and all have king-size beds, comfortable sofa-beds, and large decks with an outdoor rope-swing day bed. Spacious, tiled bathrooms feature two sinks and a natural shower. Bungalows are situated on a hilltop setting and connected to the main lodge, restaurant and pool area by a long-span hanging foot bridge through the lush forest canopy. Luxuriate the three days in the rainforest and private beach and join local excursions at your leisure with local guides.
Your stay at Morgan’s Rock includes one activity of your choice per day. Options include guided nature walks (day and night), tours of the hacienda, sunset tour, opportunities to collect eggs or milk a cow while helping prepare a traditional Nicaraguan breakfast on the adjacent farm and assisting with protection and release of baby sea turtle tours (in season). Other activities available at additional cost include surfing lessons, horseback riding, mountain biking, sea kayaking and fishing. [BLD]
Accommodations : Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge
Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Lodging
- Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Eco-lodge
- Description
True Nicaragua ecotravel is best represented by a stay at Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge, a lavish nature retreat that is part of a large nature reserve along the Pacific Coast. Each private, screened-in, open-air individual bungalow is situated on a hill-top promontory surrounded by rain forest. Spacious decks with rope swing lounges maximize the sounds of crashing waves and views of dramatic Central American sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.
A large, cable suspension bridge connects the bungalows to the main lodge with an alfresco, poolside restaurant featuring creative, fresh tropical Latin American and international cuisine. Each bungalow has complete visual privacy and features one king size bed, a comfortable sofa bed, a spacious two-sink bathroom with natural shower, and a private deck complete with a rope-swing day bed.
- Day 9: Departure
Enjoy one more Nicaraguan sunrise, gaze at the beautiful Pacific Ocean and prepare to head home. Transfer to Managua International airport for your international flight home or begin post trip extension. [B]
Meals Included: Breakfast
We loved climbing the different aged volcanoes and learning of Nicaragua’s geology, flora and fauna. Biking through Granada was a great way to experience all of the city, and our sunset boat trip to the Nature Reserve was magical. I think our family would agree, that the best part of our trip was our guide, Julio Flores. We consider him a friend. - Claire Lichtenfels, ID
Overall Rating
90%Guide Rating
100%Value Rating
90%Itinerary Rating
90%Accomodation Rating
80%