Nicaragua Tours and Travel

Day 1 – Managua

• Arrival at your leisure in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. The airport is well connected to the United States and other capital cities in Central America.
• Transfer to our hotel in Managua.
• We can also transfer to Granada, where you will visit the San Francisco convent, once a US Marines base and nowadays an indigenous art museum. We will walk around the colonial streets of Granada, following the steps of William Walker who failed to attempt to annex Nicaragua to the United States.
• We’ll head out for dinner and drinks. There are two main beers in Nicaragua, Toña and Victoria, you can try both and decide which one is best.
• Overnight in Managua.

Day 2 – Managua – Masaya

• After breakfast in our hotel, we’ll start the walking tour of Managua to visit the Loma de Tiscapa park where there are good views of the city. We’ll check the remaining classical buildings that survived the 1972 earthquake. You’ll learn about its turbulent history and the left-wing Sandinista movement, finishing at the city’s attractive lakefront.
• We’ll drive to the town of Masaya, where we will have a local lunch. We’ll visit Apoyo Lagoon, a beautiful volcanic lake with views to the Mombacho Volcano, Lake Nicaragua, and the islets of Granada.
• Masaya artisan market located inside a 1900s structure, used as an ordinary market. You will be able to check some local handmade products such as traditional clothes, sweets and handmade crafts.
• At sunset, you will visit the active Masaya Volcano, where you will have the opportunity to see the bubbling lava coming out of the Santiago crater.
• We’ll drive back to Masaya for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight in Masaya.

Day 3 – Masaya – Cerro Negro – León

• After breakfast in our hotel, we will head to the city of León.
• We’ll stop in the volcano Cerro Negro, another active volcano. We’ll do a 1 hour hike to the top, where we’ll have amazing views. Our local guide will explain to us about the geology of this site.
• For adrenaline lovers, you can board down the mountain, either standing or sitting. It’s the fastest and funniest way to descend!
• We’ll continue our drive to León. We’ll have lunch and then free time to wander around the colonial streets in León, relax in the hotel or have a beer in a rooftop bar.
• Dinner and drinks.
• Overnight in León.

Day 4 – León

• We’ll begin our morning by exploring the political, intellectual and artistic capital of Nicaragua. This three-centuries old city has charming colonial architecture and numerous churches.
• León is also known for being a university city. During the Somoza dictatorship, from 1936 to 1979, this city held student protests and was home to the hardest battles in the insurrection during the Nicaraguan revolution (1961 to 1979). We will be able to learn all about it with a historic Sandinista combatant.
• In the afternoon, there’s an optional activity for an extra fee. You’ll be transferred to the Pacific coast, to Peñitas bay and take a motor boat to Juan Venado island, where there’s a wetland famous for its turtle and bird nesting. Your guide will find the best way to cut through the inlet to the Pacific Ocean, where you can walk or swim.
• We’ll reunite in León to go for dinner and drinks
• Overnight in León

Day 5 – León – Jinotega

• Breakfast and transfer further north into the mountains, towards Jinotega.
• We’ll visit the former base of rebel General Augusto Sandino, leader of the Nicaraguan revolution.
• We’ll have lunch at Jinotega, known as the city of mist due its climate, and walk around its beautiful and quiet streets.
• Visit the black pottery workshops, and finish with a cup of coffee, produced in the area.
• Dinner and drinks.
• Overnight in Jinotega.

Day 6 – Somoto

• After Breakfast, we’ll drive to Somoto near the Honduras border.
• We will do a couple stops. First, in San Rafael del Norte to visit to the Sandino Museum, the tomb of Sandino’s wife and the town’s parish church with the bizarre “Daniel Ortega fresco”, the current president of Nicaragua
• Then, we’ll stop in Condega which proudly displays a Somoza-era warplane shot down by Sandinista rebels, now a hill-top monument.
• We’ll arrive in the quiet village of Somoto which is the birthplace of Nicaragua’s most famous revolutionary folk singers, the Mejia Godoy brothers. It is also home to the most delicious corn rosquillas in Nicaragua, a traditional biscuit that goes great with fresh brewed Nicaragua coffee
• Dinner and drinks.
• Overnight in Somoto.

Day 7 – Somoto – Ocotal

• After breakfas,t you will be transferred to Somoto Canyon. You will be rappelling down to the base of the canyon, followed by a hike along the river bank that leads you to a warm river where you can swim and relax.
• We’ll have lunch in Somoto.
• We’ll drive to Ocotal, check in our hotel to take a shower and rest a bit before going out for dinner.
• Overnight in Ocotal.

Day 8 – Ocotal

• After breakfast, visit Ocotal’s central park, inspired by an English garden. Then, we’ll visit the Ocotal cultural centre that was once a US Marine base and the place where Sandino first confronted US troops. The result would change his strategy and influence how modern guerrilla warfare is fought.
• Then we leave Ocotal to explore the ancient colonial settlement of Ciudad Antigua. Another hotspot during the contra war, the little village has ancient residents who once knew General Sandino and others who blame their current state of poverty on British pirates that attacked the village more than 300 years ago.
• We’ll have lunch in the colonial village of Mozonte.
• After that we’ll visit Las Pilitas, a natural reserve in Mozonte, where we can find three waterfalls.
• Return to Ocotal for dinner and drinks
• Overnight in Ocotal

Day 9 – Ocotal

• After breakfast, the tour concludes. Transfer back to Managua, YPT can assist with arranging post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.