Active Nicaragua

Active Nicaragua Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Managua, Nicaragua. Arrive in Managua by 3:00 p.m. We meet at the airport and take a private transfer north to the colonial capital of León, considered the cradle of Nicaraguan culture. After checking into the hotel in León’s historic center, we have a brief group orientation before enjoying a welcome dinner showcasing Nicaragua’s fresh produce. Dinner included.
  
  Driving: 2 hours.

• Day 2

  After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer by 4-wheel-drive vehicle to the slopes of the active Cerro Negro Volcano. Our hike on this surreal black sand and rocky terrain provides us with a view of the volcano's smoking interior. After slip-sliding down the west face of the cone and hiking to the crater lake of El Tigre, we enjoy a picnic lunch and a very special treat, swimming in the warm waters of this extinct volcano. We return to León for the night. Breakfast and lunch included.
  
  Driving: 2.5 hours. Hiking: 2.5 hours, elevation gain of 500 feet.

• Day 3

  Our day begins with a city tour of León and the opportunity to learn about its fascinating history. Founded in 1610, León is full of intellectual vitality and artistic tradition. With a dozen colonial period churches, León boasts Nicaragua’s oldest university, its only medical school and several world-famous poets. This afternoon we drive south to the active cone of the Masaya Volcano National Park which was established in the mid 1970s as Nicaragua’s first national park. Our hike takes us around the 5-crater complex including the steaming Santiago crater. Expect to see snakes and other reptiles on our hike on the Sendero Los Coyotes as we pass through dry tropical forest. Then we drive 30 minutes to historic Granada, founded in 1524 and considered Nicaragua’s most attractive city with brightly colored buildings and small cafes. Our lodging is at a colonial hotel. All meals included.
  
  Driving: 3 hours. Walking city tour: 2-3 hours. Hiking: 3 hours, rolling terrain.

• Day 4

  We're off to kayak the 85°F waters of what's considered the hemisphere's grandest rain-formed lake! Lake Nicaragua is the second-biggest lake in Latin America and is known locally as Cocibolca, which means "sweet sea." We kayak around the Las Isletas Archipelago, which is made up of 365 little volcanic islands, each rich in fauna and flora and especially in water birds. Next, we head to the east face of the dormant Mombacho Volcano for a high canopy tour set amid a working coffee plantation. Soaring among the treetops above the deep green of coffee plants we'll have a bird's eye view of tropical flora and century old trees. We return to Granada for lodging.
  
  Driving: 1½ hours. Kayaking: 2 ½ hours. Zip- line canopy tour: 1½-hour.

• Day 5

  We take the ferry from San Jorge to the island of Ometepe, which was formed by two volcanoes, Concepción, which rises 4,430' and is a perfect cone shape, and Maderas, which is 3,833' above sea level. You may see orchids and plantain groves as we drive around Concepción to Santo Domingo Beach where we'll have lunch. A leisurely beach walk rounds out the afternoon. Our lodging tonight is lakefront cabins, and we'll dine in the private home of islanders. All meals included.
  
  Driving: 2 ½ hours. Ferry ride: 1 hour.

• Day 6

  Our 4x4 takes us to the base of the Maderas Volcano for a 7-hour hike as we climb in virgin cloud forest to the misty summit's crater lake where we'll have a backpack lunch. We'll visit ancient pre-Columbian petroglyphs at El Porvenir before we return to Santo Domingo. All meals included.
  
  Driving: 45 minutes; Hiking: 6-8 hours, elevation gain of 3,750 feet. Terrain: Easy at first; steeper, rocky, muddy, possibly slippery toward the top.

• Day 7

  The ferry from Moyogalpa delivers us to the mainland and have lunch in Rivas. Here we can see a statue of Chief Niqueragua, reputed to be a highly intellectual indigenous king, on the site where it is believed the first contact was made between the Spanish Conquistadors and native peoples in 1523. We’ll drive on to the sweeping half-moon bay at San Juan del Sur, a stopping off place for Gold Rush-minded Americans as they sailed from New York to San Francisco in the 1850s. The afternoon is at our leisure to stroll along the beach and soak in the relaxed atmosphere of this tranquil fishing village. All meals included.
  
  Driving: 1 ¼  hours; Ferry: 1 hour.

• Day 8

  Spending a full day sailing along the Southern Pacific coast, we'll swim and beach comb in hidden coastal bays and indulge in a gourmet BBQ for lunch on a deserted white sand beach. You might want to sample the rum punch at the open bar. Dinner will be at El Timón. All meals included.
  
  Sailing: 6-8 hours.

• Day 9

  After spending another lovely morning in San Juan del Sur, we transfer north to Managua with a stop to shop at the restored 19th-century Masaya outdoor artisan's market. Lodging will be in the heart of the capital city's new restaurant district, where our farewell dinner includes a dance show. Driving 2.5 hours; All meals included.
  
  Driving 2.5 hours.

• Day 10

  We have breakfast at the hotel before we drive about 20 minutes to the airport for our flights home, ending our visit with Nicaragua’s friendly people and vibrant culture. Breakfast included.

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

All accommodations and meals as noted in the daily itinerary; group arrival and departure transfers; private in-country transportation; kayaks and related gear; skilled bi-lingual trip leader; and entrance fees to parks as indicated.

Airfare to/from Managua, Nicaragua; 2 dinners; alcoholic beverages or soft drinks; optional guide gratuities; laundry fees; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature or insurance of any kind.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary.  If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available.

Nicaragua enjoys an average temperature of 80°F year round. Humidity averages 65%. There are two seasons: green and dry. The green season is from mid-May to mid-November; the dry season is from late-November to early-May. Rain during the green season is normally limited to short and powerful bursts with longer showers at night. The hottest time of year is at the end of the dry season, from March to May, while the coolest period is from October to January.

This trip is rated Moderate [3].  It contains a variety of activities ranging from easy [2] to moderate plus [3-4] hikes, kayaking and swimming.  All participants should be in good physical condition and know how to swim.  A regular exercise regimen consisting of walking and hiking and paddling/swimming (if possible) is highly recommended beginning at least 2-3 months prior to departure.  The better shape you are in, the more you’ll be able to enjoy all that this adventure has to offer.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary.

Weather

Nicaragua enjoys an average temperature of 80°F year round. Humidity averages 65%. There are two seasons: green and dry. The green season is from mid-May to mid-November; the dry season is from late-November to early-May. Rain during the green season is normally limited to short and powerful bursts with longer showers at night. The hottest time of year is at the end of the dry season, from March to May, while the coolest period is from October to January.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, hiking boots, a change of clothing and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
• Bring clothing that is lightweight, quick-drying and provides protection from the sun.
• Dress is informal, and casual style clothes are acceptable. However, shorts are not worn in the cities. Pants, capris, and skirts are a better choice for city wear, especially when visiting Nicaragua's many beautiful and traditional churches. Shorts and beachwear are acceptable while hiking and at the beach.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
• Trekking poles are highly recommended for the hike on Maderas Volcano.
• The REI MultiTowel or similar is recommended as a quick-dry towel on this trip. See www.rei.com for details.
• Plastic bags are the key to keeping clothing and gear dry. Use Ziploc bags to keep wet clothes separate from dry clothes.