NICARAGUA VACATIONS
9 Days / 8 Nights | family
Nicaragua is one of the less explored countries in Central America with so much to offer, from colonial cities and impresive volcanoes to great lakes and amazing people. On this trip you will be able to learn a fascinating history, take photos of a numerous of volcanos, hike in cloud forest, zip line across the hillside of a big mountain, sail on the tenth largest fresh water lake in the world and much more. There will be plenty of time to jump into a natural hot spring, too! This will be an exciting experience that you and your family will never forget.
Day 1: Wellcome
On your arrival to the Managua international airport a representative from Fun ‘N’ Sun Travels will meet you at the main exit gate and drive you 30 minutes to your hotel making time to answer any questions that you may have.
Overnight: Los Robles Hotel – welcome dinner is included
Day 2: Managua + Ruins of Old Leon
Right after breakfast we start with a tour in the old historical center of Managua, Nicaragua’s Capital City. This city is located in the lowlands just south of Lake Managua surrounded by several volcanic lagoons. It has been the capital of Nicaragua since 1851. With more than one third the population of the country it is a city in a hurry, easily showing the visitor its style and its interesting urban life.
During this tour, we’ll see remains of the destruction from the 1972 earthquake in the old Managua and visit the National museum, the modern Metropolitan Cathedral, the Tiscapa lagoon and Recreational park, Peace Park, Plaza of the Revolution, and Lake Managua Waterfront. Then we head toward the Ruins of Leon Viejo. Driving around Lake Managua affords marvellous views of the impressive Momotombo volcano, the Momotombito Island and much more.
Leon Viejo was the first Capital of Nicaragua founded by the spañish conquistador, Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524. The city was abandoned 68 years later because of economic reasons as well as increasingly violent activity of the Momotombo Volcano. It has recently been declared by UNESCO “Heritage site of humanity” as a symbol of Spanish conquest. Finally we take you on a spectacular drive along the volcanic chain of “Los Maribios”to arrive in the colonial and University City of Leon, where you will have lunch and spend the next two nights.
Meals included: B & L | Overnight: La Perla Hotel
Day 3: New Leon walking city tour
Today we start our day exploring the City as we walk down the main streets. During this tour we will enjoy the charm of this cultural and historical city, while learning of its most important historical events. We’ll also learn about its most famous former resident Rubén Dario, Father of Nicaraguan poetry, and prince of the Spanish literature.
León still has an architecturally interesting center with many old colonial houses, monuments, murals and churches including the biggest cathedral in Central America. As we move arround we will discover the two oldest catholic images that we Nicaraguans have, they have survived the destruction of the ancient city of Leon. Also we will visit a wolrd class Finally we are going to visit a colorfull market packed with tropical fruits, typical sweets and much more.
Your afternoon is free to explore the surrounding area of Leon. We recommend you visit the nearby Pacific Ocean surfing beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas. You may also visit the hot mud holes of San Jacinto just half an hour drive or the active Cerro Negro the youngest volcano in Nicaragua.
Meals included: B | Overnight: La Perla Hotel
Day 4: Ometepe Island
After breakfast we continues our vacation trip driving towards Ometepe Island on Lake Nicatagua. On the way we stop at La Paz Centro town not only to taste “Quesillo and Semilla de Jicaro” a typical Nicaraguan dish and drink, but also to visit the tile and brick factories and learn about the making process. Then we continue with a sightseeing drive for 3 hours through the Nicaraguan countryside with excellent photo opportunities.
After lunch in Rivas City we take a one hour ferry boat ride on Lake Nicaragua from pier San Jorge to Ometepe Island. Then your private vehicle takes you to the Charco Verde Hotel where we will stay the next 2 nights. Ometepe is an Indian word meaning “two hills”, named for Ometepe’s Twin volcanoes, Conception and Madera. It is the largest freshwater island in the world with a total area of 276 square Kilometres and inhabited by approximately 48,000 people.
Meals included: B & D | Overnight: Cabañas El Paraiso
Day 5: Exploring Ometepe Island
Today, we will spend the whole day exploring this beautiful Island while traveling arround the two amazing volcanoes. The tour includes visiting the pre-columbian ceramic and nicaraguan currency museums, petroglyphs, statuaries and banana plantations. We will also enjoy observing the daily activity of the local people getting to know the way every one live. Of course we can’t miss the opportunity to go swimming to el ojo de agua, a natural spring!
Ometepe is one of the destinations admired by both local and international tourists. The hospitality, beautiful landscapes, great archeological background, relaxing beaches and forests that home an incredible biodiversity are other attractions that you will be part of.
Meals included: B & L | Overnight: Cabañas El Paraiso
Day 6: Mombacho volcano & Granada city
This day is reserved to travel from Ometepe Island back to San Jorge and then to the Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve. This is one of the most famous volcanoes of Nicaragua mainly due to the mystical cloud forest that occupies much of its sides and top.
The incredible steepness of the volcano guarantees a spectacular 30 minutes ride on a military style truck from the parking lot passing coffee plantations all the way to the visitor center at 1200 meters above sea level. Once on top we will experience a big change in temperature so a cup of coffee will be worth it while we get set for hiking one of the 4 trails with spectacular views of the surrounding area. After that we will head back down to undertake a zipwire tour across big trees experiencing a flying sensation that you will never forget. This activity has been designed for families. It has a 2 km range, 17 platforms, 11 double lines and 3 hanging bridges. After this incredible adventure we will continues to Granada where we can eat lunch and tour the city during the rest of the day.
Meals included: B & D | Overnight: Dario Hotel
Day 7: Islets of Granada
Today we have a free morning in Granada to relax. After lunch we will go on a boat tour of the scenic islands on Lake Nicaragua. They are locally known as “Las Isletas” and consist on a group of 365 small Islands formed many years ago from a Mombacho volcano eruption.
Meals included: B | Overnight: Dario Hotel
Day 8: Masaya Highlights
After breakfast we get ready for our last day tour, first we will travel 30 minutes to San Juan de Oriente known as the pottery capital of Nicaragua, here we will see many shops set up next to the roads where most families sell their potteries. You will be able to visit a family dedicated to this activity for years, they will explain and show you the whole pottery making process. After that you will get across the main road and visit Catarina. This town is famous for the great variety of precious ornamental plants, however it is not only visited for its plants, the main attraction here is the famous lookout point (Mirador de Catarina). Here you will have a superb view of the volcanic lagoon of Apoyo, the city of Granada, as well as Lake Nicaragua and Mombacho Volcano. After having lunch in a typical restaurant you continues a couple of kilometers by car to the National Handicraft Market located right in the Masaya city center. Masaya is a colorfull city with quite a lot colonial buildins and churches. it is inhabited by hard working people who meet their needs mainly selling a wide varity of fruits as well as processing leather, fabric, etc…
Finally on the way to Managua we will visit the Masaya Volcano National Park, a very popular tourist attraction where we will be able to get in direct contact with an active crater without having to hike, since we can reach the crater rim by car.
Meals included: B & L | Overnight: Los Robles Hotel
Day 9: Depart Nicaragua
Today we’ll drive you to the Managua airport for your return flight home
THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES
– Transfer in & transfer out
– Hotel accommodation
– Transport with air conditioning
– Professional lisenced tour guide
– 13 comidas (8D-3A-2C)
– All entrance fees to parks and museums