If you are interested in making a trip to one or more of the below mentioned places we can provide more detailed information.

We can also arrange (personalized) trips for you!

General

Located between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the country of Nicaragua is an intriguing land of dramatic scenery and friendly people.

Although its abundance of waterways, volcanoes, colonial cities and tranquil pueblos offer much to explore, Nicaragua’s tumultuous recent history has left it comparatively undiscovered.

Over the past 30 years, the country has endured devastating political upheaval and natural disasters that have caused enormous human suffering. An earthquake in 1972 killed 10.000 people and nearly destroyed the nation’s capital. The 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza and the subsequent war killed tens of thousands and crippled the economy. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch shattered the country’s infrastructure, killed thousands and left one-fifth of the population in refugee camps.

These hardships have, in the past, made Nicaragua seem an undesirable and potentially unsafe place to visit. These perceptions are changing however, and travelers are learning not only how much the country has to offer but also that it is now considered one of the safest countries in Central and South America.

The capital of Nicaragua is Managua. One million of the country’s citizens live there. Managua is a large city and can be somewhat intimidating. The country has so much to offer that most people leave Managua quickly to explore the rest of the country.

Things to see in the region:

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Surs setting makes it the premier coastal town of Nicaragua. Formerly a thriving fishing village, it now caters to tourism in addition to the surviving fishing industry.

Some would say San Juan is all about relaxing and enjoying the water. In San Juan and the nearby beaches, swimming, boogie boarding, surfing, fishing, diving, snorkeling and sailing are the call of the day. In addition to water sports, learning Spanish with a private teacher is very popular.

Granada Founded in 1524, Granada enjoys the distinction of being the oldest colonial city in the Americas. Situated on the edge of Lake Nicaragua and in the shadow of the Mombacho volcano, Granada is a romantic city of colorful colonial homes and churches. Just off Granada in the lake are ‘Las Isletas’, made up of more than 360 islands, created when the Mombacho exploded 20.000 years ago. Granada highlights: Old colonial homes and the parque central of Granada Boat trip to Las Isletas Nearby excursions: Laguna de Apoyo; crater lake. Mirador de Catarina The Mombacho Volcano Reserva & Canopy Tour The Masaya Volcano Reserva Masaya handcraft and artesania market

Isla Ometepe

Isla Ometepe is one of the most striking scenes in Nicaragua. An island emerging from Lake Nicaragua made of two volcanoes. The extinguished volcano Maderas features thick cloud forests, abundant birds and animals, waterfalls, a beautiful crater lagoon and amazing panoramic views. More experienced climers can climb ‘Volcán Concepción’, an active volcano.

For relaxation go to playa Domingo the most popular white sand beach of the island. Laguna Charco Verde, at the southern coast of Concepción, is a lovely green lagoon, steeped in myth. There is a beach next to the lagoon and it is a cool place for swimming and seeing wildlife such as monkeys and colorful birds.

Mombacho Natural Reserve:
Mombacho’s majestic peak overlooking Granada has two craters and is covered in dense cloud forest. There are scenic walks on well-built trails ranging from a few minutes to several hours and from easy to challenging due to climbing of steps. It is possible to see over 50 different species of mammal, 174 types of birds and 750 different varieties of flora.
Knowledgeable guide services are available upon arrival at the Biological Station (at the top).

La Flor Wildlife Refuge

Located 18 km south of San Juan del Sur, this is a spectacular deserted pacific beach where the Paslama, Olive Ridley and Tora turtles arrive by the thousands to lay their eggs. Between July and January each year you can witness this unique event (nighttrips).

The Apoyo Volcano & Laguna de Apoyo

The Apoyo volcano is an extinct crater dating back 23.000 years. Today, the crater holds a marvelous dark blue lagoon, 7 km wide, sitting a few hundred meters below the crater lip. It is Nicaragua’s largest crater lake and reaches depths of up to two hundred meters. The views across Laguna de Apoyo toward Granada and Lake Nicaragua make it a popular destination and visitors can enjoy this scenery from one of the many restaurants situated on the crater lip (Mirador de Catarina).