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Volcan Masaya is an active volcano that's vey accessible if you're staying in the capital city of Managua. There's a road that taxis and other cars can drive up (walking would easily take an hour because off the steep slope and it's just not worth it as there isn't much to see along the way). Go in the late afternoon or early evening as you will then be able to see the lava glowing.
The best way to learn about a place's culture and people is to immerse yourself in their daily life, live, eat and sleep the way they do. Join a community service/NGO and you'll go home with the feeling that you received so much more from the wonderful people than you gave them.I went with Bridges to Community (bridgestocommunity.org) which builds houses in the most impoverished regions such as Ticuantepe and Guanacastillo. It works in a novel way, where you work on the foundation of a house that was built bu a previous group, and then you lay the foundation for another site in preparation for a future group. It's a cycle, much like life itself.Some people question how effective this form of grassroots movement is in solving a country's problems. Though it doesn't seem like a magic solution for the country, for that one family you're building a house for, it changes their lives forever....
El Castillo is a town of about 1,500 built into the bank of the Río San Juan and named after its principal attraction: El Castillo de la Inmaculada Concepción de María. The fortress—dark, moss-covered ruins that still loom above town—was strategically placed with a long view downriver, right in front of the shark- and crocodile-infested Raudal el Diablo (still one of the biggest challenges for upstream vessels). The Fortress of the Immaculate Conception has more successfully attracted tourists than repelled English pirates, and if you’re in the area, this is the one place you should not miss.You get to El Castillo by taking a river trip. Catch the boat in the town of San Carlos, on Lake Nicaragua (make arrangements ahead of time, as the service only operates on certain days). From there, the boat follows the Rio San Juan to El Castillo, passing through areas that have suffered a lot of...
Big Corn Islands is 70 kilometers off the Caribbean Coast. Tourism infrastructure is small-scale so visitors should not expect the level of amenities as in more developed places. For example, electricity and telephone services do not always function. The accessibility is quite good though, with several daily flights between Big Corn Island and Managua, and the more adventure-minded tourist can get there also by road and then over water. Accessibility is easy with several daily flights between Big Corn Island and Managua and the more adventure-minded tourist can get there by road and then over water. The islands are inhabited by approximately 8,000 people and most speak both English and Spanish. SCUBA diving and snorkeling are one of the many activities available.
This is a small private reserve located just outside the Indio Maiz National Park at the confluence of the San Juan and Bartola Rivers. It is in a remote area which is accessible only by a 4-6 hour boat ride from El Castillo.Bartola is a biologically diverse region with over 400 species of birds and 80 species of amphibians and reptiles. Many academic institutions and organizations frequent this place for ecological projects. The rustic but comfortable lodge is located in a clearing between the river bank and forest. Reservations are required due to it's remote location.
Mombacho Volcano is one of the most prominent volcanoes in Nicaragua located 10 km from Granada. The entrance of the reserve is situated on the foot of the volcano and you take the truck that ascends the volcano four times a day. The ride uphill only is an adventure by itself. Whether it’s your own car or the truck you’re using, the incredible steepness of the volcano guarantees a spectacular ride. You will see coffee plantations and later on the cloud forest next to the single lane road. The views are also spectacular from here. When you arrive at the top (at 1,200 mts) the temperature will probably have dropped significantly and the humidity will be high. It’s always windy. After the 20-30 minutes ride you will find a tourist center on the top of the volcano. The reserve is well run by the Cocibolca foundation, and offers more to tourists than many other tourist attractions as well as...
The longest canopy tour in Nicaragua is five minutes from the town of San Juan del Sur with 2.5 kilometers of zipline in a rural setting. The canopy is on the border of a farm at the foot of a hill which starts at the top of one of the hills, from where you have a superb view of the bay of San Juan del Sur. It consists of 16 cables that are connected through 17 platforms, most of them located up in the trees. For a single person, it takes about 45 minutes to complete the whole canopy tour. The longest cable is 328 meters; the highest one passes over a canyon measuring 70 meters deep; and at the fastest one you can reach a speed of 70 kilometers per hour. Da Flying Frog also offers horses for rent to explore the natural area where you can also find large petroglyphs. The price of $25 per person, and the horses cost $10 per hour. For groups, Da Flying Frog also offers free transportation...
The Island of Ometepe is located in the southwest corner of Lake Nicaragua, about 10 km from the mainland port town of San Jorge in the department of Rivas.Ometepe is the largest island within a freshwater lake in the world, with a total area of 276 km2 and approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The Island was created by the eruption of two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. The larger of the two volcanoes, Concepción, reaches a height of 1610m and is considered an active volcano. Maderas, a dormant volcano, is classified as tropical cloud forest. Both volcanoes host a variety of fauna including howler monkeys, white-faced monkey, deer, parrot, armadillo, and iguana, as well as diverse plant life.We hired a private guide to trek half-way up Concepcion Volcano as it is quite a grueling hike.
Just outside the town of Masaya, the Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya (Tues–Sun 8am–3pm; US$3.30) offers a glimpse into the smoking cone of the volcano and stunning views of the area around Managua. Trails take you through a lunar landscape with its own unique flora and fauna. The park entrance is on the Managua–Granada highway, about 4km from Masaya. You can get off any bus between Managua and Masaya or Granada (except the express) at the entrance, from where you'll either have to hike the tiring two-kilometre road up to the crater and back again or hitch a lift. Alternatively, you could hire a taxi from Masaya. About 50m before the entrance to the park, the Dina #2 restaurant is a geat place to watch the sunset.Volcán Masaya last erupted in 1772, but it was a powerful eruption, as the depth of the crater testifies. The fumes coming from the crater are sulphurous and you might find it...
This 365-island archipelago was formed when Volcán Mombacho erupted thousands of years ago, hurling its top half into the nearby lake in giant masses of rock, ash, and lava. Today, the islands are inhabited by some campesinos and wealthy Nicaraguans and foreigners with ostentatious vacation homes. Taking a motorized boat is far from ideal; boat motors scare away wildlife. Kayaking is more enjoyable through Mombotour office in Granada.You can also rent a kayak through "Corte del Maltese" a small hotel located in Granada on the shores of Lake Cocibolca (also known as Lake Nicaragua).
Hotel con Corazon Granada
1 Review and 191 Opinions We stayed here in May 2011, very nice staff, arranged for safe secured parking for our truck and a...
Hotel Casa Naranja Managua
1 Review and 53 Opinions It felt like staying at Home in Nicaragua. The rooms are nice, very comfortable beds, a great...
Buena Vista Surf Club San Juan del Sur
174 Opinions
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Q: Can anyone advise any information on a direct bus from Grenada, Nicaragua bus to Liberia, Costa Rica? Does anyone know where I...
A: I'm as new at this as you, but I'm researching similar questions. Look at www.ticabus.com.
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