Nicaragua In Style
Suggested Itinerary
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Overview
Blessed with dramatic volcanic backdrops, captivating colonial cities and lush primeval cloud forests, the natural and cultural landscapes of Nicaragua are amongst Central America’s most diverse and bewitching. Here you can find elegant reminders of Spanish rule alongside traditions that can trace their origins back to the pre-Columbian tribes of Mesoamerica. Active volcanoes share the landscape with award-winning organic farms, whilst the waters of Lake Nicaragua lie scattered with islands ...
Blessed with dramatic volcanic backdrops, captivating colonial cities and lush primeval cloud forests, the natural and cultural landscapes of Nicaragua are amongst Central America’s most diverse and bewitching. Here you can find elegant reminders of Spanish rule alongside traditions that can trace their origins back to the pre-Columbian tribes of Mesoamerica. Active volcanoes share the landscape with award-winning organic farms, whilst the waters of Lake Nicaragua lie scattered with islands and inlets just ripe for exploration.
The adventure begins in beautiful León, a colonial gem filled with UNESCO treasures. Your gateway into the protected landscapes of the Pacific lowlands and the central highlands, the journey then takes you high onto the coffee-rich slopes of the temperate mountains, before depositing you by the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Here, amongst the volcanic landscapes of Ometepe Island, you can enjoy volcano treks, breathtaking panoramas and a chance to immerse yourself in local customs and culture.
The Pacific idyll of Morgan’s Rock then offers a chance for exploring the Pacific coastline and jungles by bike and kayak, before the Spanish heritage of Granada and the picturesque white villages of Los Pueblos Blancos provide a fitting end to this cultural journey. Although not able to compete with some of their more developed neighbours for high-end accommodation, the itinerary makes use of the most comfortable and unique lodges and hotels available in Nicaragua.TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy the stunning colonial architecture of León and Granada
- Visit the Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge and the cloud forests of Selva Negra
- Hike the volcanic slopes of Ometepe Island and the Masaya Volcano
- Explore the protected reserve of Morgan’s Rock by kayak and mountain bike
- Tour the delightful artisan villages of Los Pueblos Blancos
- Peer into the bubbling rim of an active volcano
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 ARRIVE MANAGUA - LEON
Day 1 ARRIVE MANAGUA - LEON
Arriving in Managua today, the capital and largest city in Nicaragua, you will be met at the airport and then transferred in the company of your English-speaking guide to the city of León. Founded by the Spanish and home to the second oldest university in Central America, León, with its impressive collection of colonial monuments and churches, has long been the country's political and intellectual centre. On arrival you will check into a restored 17th century Franciscan convent for a three-night stay.
Day 2 LEON
Day 2 LEON
Nicaragua's colonial capital for over three centuries, León's historic cathedral has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2000. This morning you will enjoy a tour of some of its highlights with your guide. Visiting a local market along the way, you'll then have an opportunity to prepare a traditional Nicaraguan lunch under the expert guidance of the locals, before visiting a plantation in Chichigalpa, where Flor de Caña, known as the world’s finest rum, grows their sugar cane. You will then visit the production facility to learn about the history, production, and conservation of the product and taste the award-winning rum.
Day 3 LEON
Day 3 LEON
Located just a short drive from León, the Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge is famed for its impressive mangroves and its sea turtles. Stretching along 22 kilometres of protected Pacific coastline, the reserve is also home to alligators, iguanas, crocodiles and some 106 species of birds. A private boat tour of the reserve today will include a chance to swim in the Pacific waters before lunch. Later you will drive back to León for your final evening in the city.
Day 4 LEON - ESTELI - SELVA NEGRA
Day 4 LEON - ESTELI - SELVA NEGRA
Turning east this morning, your journey takes you next towards the temperate mountains of Nicaragua's northern highlands. Here, the fertile soils around Estelí provide ideal conditions for the production of tobacco. In recent years Nicaragua has become one of the world's finest producers of high-quality cigars and today you will see for yourself why this region has become a magnet for Cuban expats. Continuing on to Selva Negra, you end the day in a cloud-forest ecolodge on a family owned coffee plantation.
Day 5 SELVA NEGRA
Day 5 SELVA NEGRA
Founded by German immigrants in 1891, the resort and coffee estate provides a magical haven from the cares of the world. A guided walk through the cloud reserve forest this morning provides a chance to look for troops of howler monkeys and the wonderfully iridescent Resplendent Quetzal. Later you will have an opportunity to tour the estate, learning how innovative and pioneering farming methods have gone on to win the estate several awards for its sustainability and its speciality coffee.
Day 6 SELVA NEGRA - APOYO LAGOON
Day 6 SELVA NEGRA - APOYO LAGOON
Thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans, the Mesoamerican tribes were enjoying the rich flavours of locally grown cocoa. This morning you will enjoy a tour of one of the country's most famous organic chocolate producers, before transferring to the shores of Nicaragua's largest volcanic crater lake - Laguna de Apoyo. Here you can settle into your luxury lodge, boasting stunning views over the surrounding forest and crater lake.
Day 7 APOYO LAGOON - OMETEPE ISLAND
Day 7 APOYO LAGOON - OMETEPE ISLAND
Continue to the shores of Lake Nicaragua today and to the volcanic island of Ometepe. Home to the twin volcanoes of Concepción and Maderas, on arrival you will be trans-ferred to the sandy isthmus at Playa Santo Domingo, where the afternoon is free to enjoy your lakeside lodging.
Day 8 OMETEPE ISLAND
Day 8 OMETEPE ISLAND
A private guided tour of the island today includes visits to the town of Altagracia, the Charco Verde Lagoon and Finca Magdalena, which will be followed by a home-cooked lunch of traditional campesinos food with a local family. You'll also have an opportunity to pay a visit later to a local culture and learning centre that provides local children with instruction in art and English language, before returning to the lodge.
Day 9 OMETEPE ISLAND
Day 9 OMETEPE ISLAND
Today you will hike up one of Ometepe's impressive volcanic peaks. Options available include either a gentle 2-3 hour hike up to a secluded mountain waterfall on Maderas or a more strenuous 5-7 hour trek to the summit, through the virgin cloud forest to the crater lake. A more challenging alternative is also available for the active slopes of Concepción, where you can climb above the tropical treeline to enjoy some truly majestic views of the island and the surrounding lake.
Day 10 OMETEPE ISLAND - MORGAN'S ROCK
Day 10 OMETEPE ISLAND - MORGAN'S ROCK
Transferring back to the mainland after breakfast, this morning you'll drive next towards Nicaragua's Pacific coast and the private reserve and ecolodge at Morgan's Rock. Sand-wiched between the azure waters of the Pacific and the lush Nicaraguan jungle, the resort sits in the heart of a private protected reserve of over 4,000 acres. Staying in an ocean view bungalow, you'll enjoy opportunities over the next two days for river kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and paddle boarding.
Day 11 MORGAN'S ROCK
Day 11 MORGAN'S ROCK
A second day in the resort provides a chance to enjoy more of the natural bounty of one of Nicaragua's most remote and beautiful Pacific coastlines. Home to a rich variety of flo-ra and fauna, the reserve is a haven for monkeys, sloths and scarlet macaws, whilst in nesting season (Aug-Jan) the beaches become a scurry of activity from hatching turtle eggs.
Day 12 MORGAN'S ROCK - MOMBACHO - GRANADA
Day 12 MORGAN'S ROCK - MOMBACHO - GRANADA
Later this morning you will take a private transfer to the summit of nearby Mombacho Volcano, where you can choose to enjoy a guided nature walk along the Tigrillo Trail or take a zip-line ride along the western slopes of the volcano. After lunch you then depart for the colonial splendour of Granada, whose stunning collection of Moorish and Andalusian architecture makes it one of the most captivating cities in the country. There should be time later for a guided orientation tour of the city.
Day 13 GRANADA
Day 13 GRANADA
Start the day with a boat tour around the volcanic islands of the Las Isletas Archipelago, before enjoying a privately guided cultural tour of the city which will include a visit to the La Esperanza Granada Project, a volunteer organisation that is focused on improving the lives and education of disadvantaged children. In the afternoon you’ll then leave the city and drive into the historic highland villages of Los Pueblos Blancos (The White Villages). These historic Spanish villages occupy the scenic landscapes of Nicaragua's Central Valley and offer up a chance to combine picturesque charm with fascinating traditional artisan workshops. A visit to the famous rebel barrio of Monimbó is then followed by a tour around the active rim of the Masaya Volcano, before returning to Granada later this af-ternoon.
Day 14 GRANADA
Day 14 GRANADA
Spend the day relaxing or exploring at leisure.
Day 15 GRANADA - MANAGUA
Day 15 GRANADA - MANAGUA
You will take a private transfer back to the airport in Managua for your international flight back home.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
San Juan De La Isla, Ometepe Island
Lakefront on Santo Domingo beach, San Juan de la Isla occupies a place on the sandy isthmus that connects dormant Maderas Volcano with the active Concepción Volcano. The three-star, family-run property offers beachfront, cabin-like accommodation made from wooden logs on stilts, as well as rooms located in the middle of lush tropical forest with views of the imposing volcanoes. The latter are located close to the restaurant, housed in a restored century-old, colonial hacienda and there is the choice between the newer, individual adobe and wooden cabins, or rooms within a central building, converted from a colonial horses’ stables. The Los Naranjos restaurant offers fresh local food, with a lot of it sourced from the property’s own farm. A waterfront location in between the two volcanoes means that a stay here is ideal for both exploring the island and its waters by foot, mountain bike, horseback or kayak, as well as simply relaxing amongst the island’s beauty.
El Convento, León
A favourite among travellers, the Hotel El Convento is a ground-up restoration of the 17th century San Francisco Convent. Elegant décor and colonial-style, dark-wood furniture can be found throughout the hotel, rooms and well-manicured gardens. The on-site restaurant, El Victoriano, offers an eclectic international menu available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rooms are simple with tiled flooring, air-conditioning and small touches of stylish furniture pieces. Guests can contemplate the hotel's history in the peaceful, central garden for a bit of down time or make use of the hotel's small outdoor pool and humble fitness room. Ideally located in the heart of the city centre the hotel is just two blocks from the central park amongst a variety of shops, restaurants and wonderful colonial architecture. The owners, the largest private art collectors in Central America, have also converted three colonial homes connected to the San Francisco church across from the hotel into an art museum. Their artistic identity can be seen from the antiques, original colonial art works and native crafts dotted throughout the hotel.
Selva Negra Ecolodge, Selva Negra
Built and owned by German-descendent Nicaraguan families; a third of the property is dedicated to the coffee cultivation and the award-winning estate; another third is used rotational pastures for sustainable cattle ranching and organic farming; and the last third has been preserved as virgin forest making it a truly eco-friendly lodge. The hotel grounds are comprised of a complex of cabins dotted around the gardens, including one to five-bedroom bungalows or private en suite rooms within a larger building. Rooms are made from brick and sustainably harvested wood from the surrounding forest, as are the beds and furniture within them.
Morgan's Rock Ecolodge, Morgan's Rock
Located just north of San Juan Del Sur, Morgan’s Rock maintains a focus on the preservation of Nicaragua’s ecology, biodiversity and culture, which is lived and breathed throughout the hotel experience from the 18 bungalows and villas made of local, natural materials to the privately protected forest encompassing the hotel and the variety of tours available to explore and support this incredible country. The spacious accommodation is made from eco-friendly wood featuring large windows with views through the canopy treetops and come equipped with king sized beds, a private deck, daybeds and five-star amenities.
Plaza Colon, Granada
The boutique Hotel Plaza Colón sits across Granada’s main square opposite the cathedral. The building has housed many a local aristocratic family in the city, with the latest deciding to turn it into a four-star hotel after acquiring neighbouring properties. The hotel façade has been maintained from the beginning of the 19th century and this classic style can be seen throughout. Rooms are spacious and have an elegant décor, with a sleek modernisation of the local colonial style, and are furnished with dark-wood beds and fixtures and biodegradable products and amenities. Accommodation on the second floor has vaulted ceilings and some rooms have wooden balconies equipped with rocking chairs looking out over the city’s main park. The central courtyard features an outdoor pool, which the rooms on both levels of the hotel surround, in addition to an onsite bar, breakfast area and gym. Its central location means that there are plenty of dining options nearby including the popular La Calzada street, adjacent to the cathedral, where you will find most of the city’s best restaurants.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
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WILD MILES
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Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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