8-Day Tour of Nicaragua

On this 8-day tour through Nicaragua, we'll explore colonial towns, volcanoes, and natural parks to discover the best this country has to offer. You're sure to fall in love!

8-Day Tour Details

Day 1: Managua

Your journey begins! Upon arrival at Managua Airport, we'll meet you and take you to your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, you'll have the rest of the day to either explore Nicaragua's capital at your own pace or relax and prepare for the adventures ahead.

Day 2: Managua – León

Good morning! Ready to dive into Nicaragua's history? After breakfast, we'll head to Managua's historic center. Here, we'll go on a guided tour of the center, passing by the Plaza de la Revolución, surrounded by landmarks like the Cathedral and Palacio Nacional, as well as a visit to the Laguna de Tiscapa viewpoint for sweeping views of the city.

Next, we'll take a 2-hour drive to the colonial city of León. Here, we'll enjoy a traditional lunch in the charming central square. After lunch, we'll walk through León's streets to admire its architecture, passing by its churches, the Catedral de León, and the local market. You'll love the city's timeless charm!

We'll end the day at the hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Day 3: León

After breakfast, you'll have the morning free to enjoy León at your own pace and prepare for an afternoon of adventure: sandboarding on Cerro Negro Volcano!

After lunch, we'll drive for about an hour to the Cerro Negro Natural Reserve, where we'll go on a 1-hour hike to reach the top. Once there, we'll enjoy the stunning views before gearing up with our sandboarding equipment, complete with protective suits and goggles. For 10 minutes, we'll slide down the volcanic slopes at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h). What an adrenaline rush!

After this thrilling experience, we'll return to the hotel to clean up and enjoy dinner.

Day 4: León – Granada

We'll leave León behind after breakfast and head to Granada, our second colonial destination.

Known for its colorful streets and pastel hues, Granada will welcome us with a guided tour. We'll visit its churches, central plaza, and La Merced Church, where we'll climb the bell tower to admire the city from above. We'll also visit the cemetery, former hospital, and train station. You'll love discovering Granada's rich history!

For lunch, we'll savor vigorón, Granada's signature dish—you're going to love it! Later, we'll stop at the hotel to rest before heading to Marina Cabaña Amarilla. Here, we'll embark on a boat tour of Las Isletas, a beautiful archipelago full of wildlife. We'll wrap up the day by watching the sunset from the water before heading back to the hotel.

Day 5: Granada

On this day, you have three options to choose from: spend a day relaxing and enjoying the hotel's facilities, go hiking in the Mombacho Volcano Cloud Forest, or embark on a hike on Masaya Volcano at sunset.

If you choose to hike in the Mombacho Cloud Forest, we'll leave early and travel to the summit in an offroading vehicle. From there, we'll hike three different trails: El Puma, El Cráter, and El Tigrillo. You'll hike 5 miles (8 km) surrounded by lush nature!

If you opt for the Masaya Volcano hike, we'll leave in the afternoon and, once we arrive, hike for 20 minutes to a viewpoint. We'll arrive just before sunset to admire the golden light over the volcanic landscape.

We'll finish the day with dinner and a relaxing evening at the hotel.

Day 6: Granada – San Juan de Oriente – Mirador de Catarina

After breakfast, we'll set off to San Juan de Oriente, a picturesque indigenous village famous for its pottery. At a local family workshop, you'll learn about this traditional craft and even try to make your own pottery!

Next, we'll head to the Mirador de Catarina, just 15 minutes away, where we'll enjoy breathtaking views of Laguna de Apoyo and explore artisan stalls.

Lastly, we'll return to Granada to join a local family for a Nicaraguan cooking class. Together, we'll prepare dishes like gallo pinto, fried plantains, queso frito, and the traditional drink, pinol. Delicious!

Day 7: Granada – Laguna de Apoyo

On this relaxing day, we'll leave Granada and head to Laguna de Apoyo, where you'll spend the day and night in a peaceful natural setting.

You'll learn about this unique lagoon, formed by a volcanic eruption over 20,000 years ago. Many consider a swim in its calm waters to have therapeutic benefits.

Day 8: Laguna de Apoyo – Managua

On your final day, we'll enjoy breakfast before our trip back to Managua. Finally, we'll drop you off at the airport with plenty of time to catch your flight. Have a great journey home!