Nicaragua Detailed Itinerary Aug 23/17 The small Central American country of Nicaragua has gone from being a country at war to one of Latin America s travel gems. Stunning landscape, smouldering volcanoes, abundant primate and bird life, impressive colonial cities and warm welcoming people make Nicaragua a must see destination for adventure travelers. We start in the capital of Managua before departing for Leon, the oldest (1525) and easily one of the most beautiful colonial cites in the Americas. We continue to Matagalpa, know for coffee production and it s indigenous people. We visit a second colonial masterpiece of Granada as well as Masaya Volcano and market and enjoy local cuisine during a cooking lesson. Enjoy time on Ometepe island, formed by 2 volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua. We visit pre-colombian petroglyphs, a butterfly farm and a local church that has its own Facts & Highlights 13 land days Maximum 16 travelers Start and finish in Managua All meals included Enjoy the colonial gems of Leon (1525 - oldest city in the Americas) Visit beautiful Ometepe Island on Lake Nicaragua, formed by its 2 volcanoes Search for monkeys, sloths, turtles and a myriad of birdlife Explore Matagalpa including a coffee tour and Indigenous communities Granada Sites, Mombacho Volcano Hike, Laguna de Apoyo Journey to Masaya market and volcano Relax on the Pacific coast including San Juan del Sur and a Turtle reserve Departure Dates & Price Mar 05 - Mar 17, 2018 - $3495 USD Nov 01 - Nov 13, 2018 - $3495 USD Mar 04 - Mar 16, 2019 - $3495 USD Nov 02 - Nov 14, 2019 - $3495 USD Activity Level: 2 Comfort Level: Some long drives through mountain roads. Accommodations: Comfortable hotels with private bathrooms. US/CAN 1-800-741-7956 UK 0808-234-1714 INTL. 001-416-588-5000
indigenous Jesus. On the Pacific coast, we visit a turtle sanctuary which has several major turtle migrations to lay eggs between July and January each year. If we visit during a major migration, the site is truly magnificent! If the beach has no turtles, we can learn about the turtles and go for a swim at this pristine white sand beach. Always keep an eye out for monkeys! Our last stop is the capital of Managua, where we enjoy a city tour and our farewell dinner. Day 1 Arrive Managua Upon arrival in Managua, Nicaragua s capital, we are met and transferred to our hotel. This evening we have our welcome dinner. Dinner and overnight in Managua. Day 2 Managua Sites Enjoy a tour of the city s main sites, including the palace and cathedral which was destroyed during the 1972 earthquake. The area was devastated and almost abandoned but has seen a revival including a recent lake front development of restaurants and parkland where local families can visit and relax. We will also learn about national hero Augusto Cesar Sandino and the Somoza dictatorship. We will see the ruins of the old presidential palace, also destroyed by the earthquake that leveled the city. We will see the monument to Simon Bolivar, in the avenue of the same name and also the National Theater Ruben Dario, New Presidential House, Palace of Culture and other buildings. Overnight in Managua. 2
Day 3 Leon - Oldest City in the Americas (est. 1525) Not only is Leon a beautiful colonial city, it is also the oldest city in the Americas, established in 1525. We will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Momotombo volcano and Lake Xolotlan. We explore several churches and historic buildings and also stop at a wall of murals which depict some of the most important symbols, stories and political statements from Nicaragua s past and present. We will also see the birdhouse of Ruben Dario, the Ortiz Gurdian art gallery and the El Convento hotel and its colonial architecture. During the walking tour get to know the historic murals of the city and understand the role played by Leon in the social, economic and political development of Nicaragua. Day 4 To Matagalpa, San Jacinto Mudfields Today we depart for Nicaragua s Pearl of the North. Matalgalpa, with its fresh climate, is in a valley surrounded by mountains and is the center of Nicaragua s coffee production. Enroute, we stop at the San Jacinto Mudfields. Not far from Leon, San Jacinto Mudfields are fumaroles or boiling mud holes which act as a release from neighboring Telica volcano. This primordial landscape can easily feel like it is the beginning of time on our planet. We stop in Estelli for a tobacco tour before arriving in our final destination of Matalgalpa. Dinner and overnight in Matalgalpa. Dinner and overnight in Leon. 3
Day 5 Matagalpa, Coffee Tour, Indigenous Community, Weaving What better way to start your day than a coffee tour that obviously comes with a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Matagalpa is not only the center of Nicaragua s coffee production, but also a center for indigenous culture. We visit with the indigenous community of El Chile who are known for their beautiful weavings. We visit a weaving workshop where you can buy a bag, purse, bedspread or carpet right from the woman who weaved it. We will also have lunch with a local family. We learn about the history and culture of these fascinating people. We continue our exploration until we reach a viewpoint with a 360 degree panorama of the valley and surrounding mountains. Dinner and overnight in Matalgalpa. Day 6 To Granada, Masaya Volcano & Market, Cooking Lesson We set out for the (still active) Masaya volcano, where we will witness the influence that volcanic activities have had in the shaping of the zone, as well as the flora and fauna of this wildlife refuge. We then visit the pleasant and interesting Masaya market, known for for local ceramics, hammocks, wood and leather souvenirs, before stopping at a local restaurant for a cooking lesson on Nicaraguan specialties. For dinner, we will enjoy some of the cuisine we learned about during our cooking lesson. We continue to the colonial city of Granada where we will have a sightseeing tour by horse carriage and arrive at the main plaza for our walking tour of the surrounding area. You will finish your day with a relaxing boat ride around some of the islands formed by the impressive Mombacho volcano. Overnight in Granada.
Day 7 Granada Sites, Mombacho Volcano Hike, Laguna de Apoyo This morning we explore the most impressive sites of Granada, arguably Nicaragua s most impressive colonial city. Mombacho volcano is our next stop. We transfer to more powerful trucks as we drive up the steep road to the summit. Notice the drop in temperature and an increase in lush greenery as the top portion of the volcano is often shrouded in mist, creating a cloud forest. If clear, you can see the lake and city below. We can enjoy a moderate 1 hour hike to several viewpoints. We stop for lunch by Laguna de Apoyo, one of the most beautiful lagoons in Nicaragua which has an abundance of flora and fauna. After lunch, we can relax and enjoy the view or cool off with a refreshing dip in the lake. Day 8 To Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua After breakfast, we depart Granada as we drive towards Lake Nicaragua. We take a ferry to the heart of Ometepe Island. This stunning island was formed by 2 volcanoes, Conception (1,610m) and Maderas (1,394m). The volcanoes are joined by a low isthmus that form one island in the shape of an hourglass. This afternoon, we can relax on the beach or go for a swim. Lake Nicaragua, although a fresh water lake, looks and feels more like the ocean and even has bull sharks; however, they are rarely seen. Overnight on Ometepe Island. Overnight in Granada.
Day 9 Ometepe Sites Sites we visit include a butterfly farm, petroglyphs and even a local church, which has its own indigenous Jesus. We will visit a pre-colombian Museum where we will learn about the culture of the different ethnic groups or tribes that inhabited the island of Ometepe, and then we will be passing through different rural villages to reach the natural reserve of Charco Verde, a natural lake within the vegetation. Overnight on Ometepe island. Day 10 To San Juan del Sur, Zipline, viewpoint Enjoy a relaxing morning before we depart by ferry for the ocean, leaving this special island behind. On our way, we make a stop and transfer to specially made dirt road buggies (with incredible suspension) and drive to a viewpoint where we can see San Juan del Sur looking westward and Ometepe and Lake Nicaragua if we look towards the east. You can enjoy the view, or for those who would like a bit of an adrenaline rush, you can zip line. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys, lizards and a myriad of birds and toucans. We continue to our historic ocean-side hotel in San Juan del Sur, built in 1902, and features one room that was the favourite room of Mark Twain. Overnight in San Juan del Sur.
Day 11 San Juan del Sur, Turtle reserve We continue our drive to a protected beach, to La Flor Wildlife refuge where one can find thousands of turtles that come onto the shore to lay eggs between July and January each year. There are 7 large migrations that happen during this time period and several smaller ones, also during this time. Overnight in San Juan del Sur. Day 12 To Managua, Farewell dinner After a relaxing morning by the ocean, we drive back to the capital city of Managua. This evening we enjoy our farewell dinner. Dinner and overnight in Managua. Day 13 Depart Managua Our Central American adventure concludes with a transfer to Managua International Airport for your departure flight.
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Questions & Answers 1. How big are the groups? Each group is limited to 16 participants. Small groups are an important ingredient in adventure travel. They allow for more interaction and more personalized service throughout the itinerary. 2. What is included in the tour price? All accommodations throughout; all meals, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour); bottled drinking water throughout the trip; all internal transportation; airport transfers on day 1 and departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour); all day trips and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary; tips for hotels (porterage), national guide, and bus driver, restaurants and spot guides; services of a trip leader. 3. What is not included in the tour price? International flights, tips to ElderTreks tour leader, alcoholic drinks, visa s and travel insurance. 4. Are these educational tours? Yes, in the broadest sense of the word, educational. We visit cultural centers and historical sites, and have talks and discussions on many aspects of history, culture and nature. But this is only a portion of the educational experience. We believe that it is equally educational to meet local people on a non-commercial basis, visit their homes and even try to learn a few words in the native language. Sometimes the most educational moments are spent sipping a cold drink in a street market or trying some newly learned Spanish phrases. 5. How do we travel during the tour? All local transportation is included in the land price of the trip. We use minivans or bus for our land travel and we take several boat journeys during our Central American adventure. 6. What are our accommodations like? We always stay in good accommodations both hotels and lodges, where rooms have a private bath or shower. 7. What about the weather? The two distinguishable seasons are the wet season and the dry season. The best time of the year to visit the region is during the dry season (generally from November through May) when the humidity is relatively low. Average temperatures during these months are 82 F (27.7 C) for the highs and 69 F (20.5) for the lows. While rain is not common during this time be prepared for the chance of precipitation anytime. 8. When is payment due? A non-refundable deposit of $500 or 300 GBP (plus insurance if you require it) is due at time of booking and will reserve your place on the adventure. Payment of the full land cost is due 100 days before departure. Cancellation charges are applicable and are outlined in the Terms and Conditions section of our brochure. 9. Is medical insurance required? Insurance coverage is not included in the cost of your trip. Please note that medical insurance is not required for this adventure but is recommended. ElderTreks offers comprehensive travel insurance and we are happy to provide you with a quote if you call our office. If you are purchasing insurance elsewhere, please ensure you provide the details to ElderTreks as soon as possible. *Please note those travelers with pre-existing medical conditions must take out travel insurance at the time of deposit 10. What should I take on the tour? There is a detailed What to Take list in our Trip Kit, which we will send to you after you have booked the trip. 11. What meals are included? All meals during the itinerary are included, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day. We eat a variety of local foods prepared in a wide range of settings. In many cases, we simply order a number of dishes and share, allowing you to sample new foods. 12. Can you arrange my flights? We would be happy to take care of your air arrangements. ElderTreks offers personalized flight itineraries not group flights. Stop over en route, come in a few days early, or extend your stay. Call us for a customized itinerary. 13. What if I would like more information? If you have any further questions about the trip, please do not hesitate to contact our office for additional information. A Trip Kit containing further details on the destination will be sent to you once you have booked the trip. 5
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