Where centuries of history meet untouched beauty
Explore all that off-the-radar Nicaragua has to offer! This vacation combines the best of both words: colonial cities and breathtaking nature. See Masaya Volcano, Granada, Apoyo Lagoon, Ometepe Island and more.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Managua (MGA)
- All airport and inter-city transfers
- 1 night in Managua at Elements Boutique Hotel, or similar
- Coffee Tour, with traditional lunch (en-route to Carazo)
- 2 nights in Carazo at D'Santos Boutique Hotel, or similar
- Full-day tour of Masaya Volcano, Artisan Market, Catarina & San Juan de Oriente with lunch at local restaurant
- Four wheel-drive tour to Mombacho Volcano Crater Trail, with lunch
- 2 nights at Apoyo Lagoon, at Pacaya Eco-Lodge and Spa, or similar
- Apoyo Lagoon nature walk, Granada City Tour & Islets boat trip, with lunch
- 2 nights on Ometepe Island at Hotel Villa Paraiso, or similar
- Ometepe Island tour, with lunch (en-route from Granada)
- Half-day kayaking tour on Istian River
- 2 nights in San Juan del Sur at Hotel Victoriano, or similar
- 1 night in Managua at the Camino Real Hotel, or similar
- Shuttle transfer to the airport (MGA)*
- Breakfast daily
- Tourist Card (purchased at airport) = $10.00 per person
- Airport exit tax = $45.00 per person
*Please note the hotel shuttle runs every half-hour, beginning at 5:00 am. It takes approx. 5 minutes to get to the airport from the hotel.
Great Ways to Explore
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Taste exceptional Nicaraguan coffee straight from the source in Dolores!
- Buy handmade, one-of-a-kind souvenirs in Masaya, the handicraft heart of Nicaragua.
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Take a tour of Apoyo Lagoon, a 200-year-old crater lake surrounded by lush vegetation.
-
Find adventure on Ometepe Island, featuring twin volcanoes and the largest lake in Central America.
-
Kick back and relax in the laidback surf town of San Juan del Sur.
Embark on a thrilling adventure through Nicaragua, a Central American gem nestled between Costa Rica and Honduras.
Your journey begins in the buzzing capital of Managua, where you'll spend one night before transferring to the Carazo department. Here, taste Nicaraguan coffee straight from the source and keep your eyes peeled for unique bird species. The next day, tour the beautiful Masaya National Park and visit a handicrafts market!
Enjoy a 4-wheel-drive tour through Mombacho Volcano and a cloud forest before arriving at your next destination: Apoyo Lagoon. Circle this 200-year-old crater lake and marvel at the surrounding vegetation before touring the colonial city of Granada.
You'll then hop on a ferry to Ometepe Island, a 19-mile island with two volcanoes, waterfalls, springs and much more! Relax in this peaceful paradise and kayak through Istian River. Your vacation ends in San Juan del Sur, a laidback town hugging the Pacific.
Helpful links for travel to Nicaragua:
Visa & Passport/Travel Advisory Info
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Managua (MGA)
- All airport and inter-city transfers
- 1 night in Managua at Elements Boutique Hotel, or similar
- Coffee Tour, with traditional lunch (en-route to Carazo)
- 2 nights in Carazo at D'Santos Boutique Hotel, or similar
- Full-day tour of Masaya Volcano, Artisan Market, Catarina & San Juan de Oriente with lunch at local restaurant
- Four wheel-drive tour to Mombacho Volcano Crater Trail, with lunch
- 2 nights at Apoyo Lagoon, at Pacaya Eco-Lodge and Spa, or similar
- Apoyo Lagoon nature walk, Granada City Tour & Islets boat trip, with lunch
- 2 nights on Ometepe Island at Hotel Villa Paraiso, or similar
- Ometepe Island tour, with lunch (en-route from Granada)
- Half-day kayaking tour on Istian River
- 2 nights in San Juan del Sur at Hotel Victoriano, or similar
- 1 night in Managua at the Camino Real Hotel, or similar
- Shuttle transfer to the airport (MGA)*
- Breakfast daily
- Tourist Card (purchased at airport) = $10.00 per person
- Airport exit tax = $45.00 per person
*Please note the hotel shuttle runs every half-hour, beginning at 5:00 am. It takes approx. 5 minutes to get to the airport from the hotel.
-
Taste exceptional Nicaraguan coffee straight from the source in Dolores!
- Buy handmade, one-of-a-kind souvenirs in Masaya, the handicraft heart of Nicaragua.
-
Take a tour of Apoyo Lagoon, a 200-year-old crater lake surrounded by lush vegetation.
-
Find adventure on Ometepe Island, featuring twin volcanoes and the largest lake in Central America.
-
Kick back and relax in the laidback surf town of San Juan del Sur.
Embark on a thrilling adventure through Nicaragua, a Central American gem nestled between Costa Rica and Honduras.
Your journey begins in the buzzing capital of Managua, where you'll spend one night before transferring to the Carazo department. Here, taste Nicaraguan coffee straight from the source and keep your eyes peeled for unique bird species. The next day, tour the beautiful Masaya National Park and visit a handicrafts market!
Enjoy a 4-wheel-drive tour through Mombacho Volcano and a cloud forest before arriving at your next destination: Apoyo Lagoon. Circle this 200-year-old crater lake and marvel at the surrounding vegetation before touring the colonial city of Granada.
You'll then hop on a ferry to Ometepe Island, a 19-mile island with two volcanoes, waterfalls, springs and much more! Relax in this peaceful paradise and kayak through Istian River. Your vacation ends in San Juan del Sur, a laidback town hugging the Pacific.
Helpful links for travel to Nicaragua:
Visa & Passport/Travel Advisory Info
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Managua!
Say hello to Nicaragua! Upon arrival at Managua airport, you will be met by a Careli Tours representative holding a sign with your name. You will receive your complete itinerary and set of documents, then be transferred to your hotel.
Settle into your accommodation, then find a local restaurant nearby to enjoy your first meal in Nicaragua.
Transfer to Managua hotel
Check-in - Elements Boutique Hotel
Located in an upscale district and just a 10-minute drive from Managua city center, Elements Boutique Hotel offers a wonderful stay for those looking for a city adventure. One of few five star properties in the city, the urban chic hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, room service, outdoor pool, fitness center, gardens and a restaurant. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with a welcome drink and showed to your room.
Rooms are sleek and sophisticated, with air conditioning, a safe, a kettle, a minibar, a refrigerator, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom complete with bathrobes, a hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries. The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from the historic center and a 35-minute drive from Managua International Airport.
Day 2. Managua - Carazo
After breakfast at your hotel, continue to Dolores, a municipality in the Carazo department. Upon arrival, enjoy a traditional lunch and take a tour of a coffee plantation. Coffee was introduced to the country in the 1800s, and remains one of the most popular exports!
Transfer to Carazo
Check-in - D'Santos Hotel Boutique
Tucked away in tranquil Dolores, the D'Santos Hotel Boutique offers a rural stay in beautiful Nicaragua. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking, an on-site restaurant, a gift shop, bike rental, and room service.
Rooms are charming and feature air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with pay-per-view channels, a coffee machine, and private bathrooms including free toiletries. Some rooms also feature a private sitting area. Granada is just 18 miles away from the hotel, while Managua is 20 miles away and Salinas is 28 miles away. The Augusto C. Sandino Airport is just 19 miles from the hotel.
Coffee Tour and traditional lunch
Head to D’Santos Reserve in Dolores to learn about nature and certified coffee! After enjoying a delicious traditional lunch at a beautiful palapa, you will continue by strolling along the easy paths of the reserve with your naturalist tour guide. Learn about the traditional ways of cultivating shaded coffee, and about the species of plants and their relationship with the fauna of the area. Keep your eyes open for iguanas, small mammals, dazzling butterflies and a large variety of birds like woodpeckers, manakins and Nicaragua’s national bird, the motmot.
Day 3. Carazo
In the early morning, embark on a bird watching nature walk with your guide, where you will see species like long-tailed manakins, red-legged honeycreepers, blue-capped motmot and parakeets.
You'll then head toward Masaya Volcano where you'll enjoy a tour of the national park, Masaya artisan market, Catarina and San Juan de Oriente.
Tour of Masaya Volcano, Artisan Market, Catarina & San Juan de Oriente with lunch at local restaurant
Visit Masaya Volcano National Park, the first national park in the country established in 1979. Upon arrival, witness all the influence that volcanic activities have had in the shaping of the zone including a beautiful volcanic lake known as the Masaya Lagoon. Only ten minutes from the entrance is the environmental interpretation center, a museum where you can see a model of the park. See paintings by Nicaraguan artists, learn about the tectonic plates and volcanic regions of the planet and get to know the flora and fauna of this wildlife refuge. Continue to the summit of the volcano, where you'll walk a few steps to see the Santiago crater, active since 1946. This short visit to the crater is enough to appreciate the amazing active nature.
You'll then take a 20-minute drive to the city of Masaya, the heart of Nicaraguan handicrafts. The biggest crafts market, Mercado Viejo, features the wares of metal workers, leather workers, carpenters, painters and musicians. Watch as artisans make hammocks, one of the main products made in and around Masaya.
Have lunch at a local restaurant in Masaya, then continue your visit to Catarina and San Juan de Oriente. In Catarina, discover beautiful arts and crafts, and nurseries with stunning flora. You will also see the view from Catarina of the surrounding water and volcano landscape.
Your tour ends in San Juan de Oriente, a town known for pottery. Beginning with a tradition going back more than 1,500 years, pottery making in San Juan de Oriente is an emerging local art form that is becoming increasingly recognized by the outside world while remaining rooted in its ancient ways. Visit a local pottery school operated by Valentine Lopez and learn about this beautiful tradition.
Day 4. Carazo - Apoyo Lagoon
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Mombacho Volcano near the city of Granada. Reach the highest region of the volcano, home to a cloud forest, and follow along a trail through the stunning flora and fauna. After lunch, transfer to your accommodation in Catarina.
Transfer to Apoyo Lagoon
Check-in - Pacaya Lodge and Spa
Pacaya Lodge and Spa is ideally located next to Laguna de Apoyo. Developed in partnership with Opportunity International Nicaragua to create sustainable opportunities for the area's communities. Twenty minutes from Granada, the hotel provides warm hospitality and is an ideal location to explore some of Nicaragua's best attractions. Enjoy close proximity to Granada, the artisan market and volcano in Masaya, and activities such as hiking and zip lining at the Mombacho Volcano. Stay on the property to sample dishes made with fresh ingredients from the organic garden at Restaurante Guardabarranco then indulge in yoga and massage or any number of signature treatments at the spa.
Four wheel-drive tour to Mombacho Volcano Crater Trail, with lunch
Prepare for adventure as you tour Mombacho Volcano by a four wheel-drive vehicle! Beginning on a paved road, you'll be surprised by the biodiversity of this natural reserve. Reach the summit and enjoy incredible views of the cloud forest below. You'll then continue on the trails of the volcano for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, where you'll learn about the flora, fauna, volcanic landscape and the ancient people who lived there. If the day is clear enough, you'll head to an impressive viewpoint to take in the views of the Pacific region of Nicaragua. Your tour ends with a typical lunch at the Casa Hacienda.
Day 5. Apoyo Lagoon
Your day is jam-packed with exciting excursions! Begin at Apoyo Lagoon, where you'll enjoy a moderate walk around the crater lake. Cool off by the water before heading into Granada, a beautiful colonial city with history at every corner. End the day with a relaxing boat ride around the islands of the city.
Apoyo Lagoon nature walk, Granada City Tour & Islets boat trip, with lunch
Embark on an early morning nature walk at Apoyo Lagoon! Enjoy spectacular views of the ancient crater lake as you wind through the verdant jungle canopy. Explore Apoyo's hiking trails, and learn more about the area's history and biodiversity. On this moderate 1.25 mile hike, you'll frequently hear Howler monkeys and see parakeets. The hike concludes at the Apoyo waterfront, where you can cool off at the beach club, splash in the waves, sun on the beach, or take out a paddleboard.
Catch the shuttle or walk back to Pacaya Lodge, then enjoy a tour of the colonial city of Granada, founded by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524. Situated near Mombacho volcano and the great lake of Nicaragua, the city was named after Granada in Spain. On this tour, you'll see colonial churches, narrow streets, large homes with beautiful indoor patios, and much more. Your sightseeing tour ends at the main plaza, where you’ll pick up a walking tour of the surrounding area. See La Merced Church, the famous Casa de Los Tres Mundos and the San Francisco convent. Due to the historical and cultural value of the city, it is in the process of being declared a Heritage of Mankind City by UNESCO.
Your day ends with a relaxing boat ride around some of the islands and a visit to local artisans. See the volcanic evidence and influence of the area, and enjoy great views with plenty opportunities to take pictures.
Day 6. Apoyo Lagoon - Ometepe Island
After breakfast, set out on a private guided transfer from Catarina and travel to San Jorge Port, Rivas. You will board a ferry for a 1-hour ride that will take you into the heart of Ometepe Island, a 19-mile island boasting two volcanoes, waterfalls, natural springs and incredible wildlife! Continue with a tour on the island taking you to a museum, a natural reserve and a butterfly center.
Transfer to Ometepe Island
Check-in - Hotel Villa Paraíso
Indulge in a relaxing escape to Hotel Villa Paraíso. Boasting panoramic views of the lake from the cabins, access to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, and organized tours, the hotel places you in the heart of the area's natural beauty. Slip away to Isla de Ometepe Biosphere Reserve on Lake Cocibolca for an afternoon of leisure. Kick back with a cocktail from the hotel bar or relax in a hammock on your balcony while you take in the views of the Concepcion and Maderas volcanoes surrounding the property.
Ometepe Island tour with lunch
Your tour of Ometepe Island begins at the Numismatic & Pre-Columbian Museum, where you'll learn about the culture and artistic evolution of the different ethnic groups and tribes that inhabited the island of Ometepe. Pass through different rural villages to reach the natural reserve of Charco Verde. Embark on a 1-hour light trek through the reserve and observe the famous Charco Verde, a natural lake within the reserve surrounded by lush vegetation.
In Charco Verde, visit a butterfly center and see different species of colorful butterflies in an area of almost 13,000 square feet, covered by a large garden of host, nectar and ornamental plants. The area also includes trails, a small waterfall, a laboratory for breeding and irrigation system, so visitors interested in learning about butterflies have the opportunity to observe at all stages: egg, larva, pupa and butterfly.
Day 7. Ometepe Island
Today, enjoy a kayaking excursion along the Istian River and observe wildlife from the water. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your accommodation or exploring Ometepe Island on your own.
Half-day kayaking tour on Istian River
The Istian River sits between Concepcion and Maderas volcanoes on the stunning Ometepe Island. On this leisurely kayaking excursion, your local guide will take you along the shores of the lake and then into a creek where you'll hopefully see monkeys, caiman, turtles and a large variety of colorful birds. If the creek is dry, then some of your tour will be a guided walking excursion in the forest looking for wildlife. If the current is too strong for your liking, on your return along the lake, you can take a boat to relax and enjoy the scenery instead of kayaking!
Day 8. Ometepe Island - San Juan del Sur
Transfer from your hotel to San Jose del Sur port to catch the 1-hour ferry to San Jorge Port. From there, you will be transferred another 30 minutes to your hotel in San Juan del Sur. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure in this calm, laidback surf town on the Pacific.
Transfer to San Juan del Sur
Check-in - Hotel Victoriano
Located right on the beach, the Hotel Victoriano in San Juan del Sur offers stunning views and a historical stay. Set in a renovated building from the 19th century, the hotel is far from dated. Guests can enjoy an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, a Victorian architecture and Gold-Rush history gallery, an on-site restaurant, a bar, room service, ticket and tour assistance, lovely spa treatments, and a garden.
Rooms are comfortable and feature a minibar, a safe, air conditioning, cable TV, a refrigerator upon request, complimentary bottled water, and a private bathroom, complete with hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. Some rooms also have a balcony and sea views. Just a mile away is the Cristo de la Misericordia, and a little further than that is the bus station. Guests could choose to travel to Madera Beach, which is only 11 miles away, or Del Coco beach, which is 15 miles away.
Day 9. San Juan del Sur
Enjoy a free day in San Juan del Sur! Consider taking a hike up to the Christ statue overlooking the bay of San Juan. Pay a small entrance fee to enter the chapel, then admire the breathtaking views from this perfect vantage point.
Later today, you might want to head back into town or lay out on one of San Juan's beautiful beaches like Playa Maderas or Playa Marsella. End your day with a delicious Nicaraguan treat like quesillo, a thick corn tortilla stuffed with soft cheese, pickled onions and vinegar.
Day 10. San Juan del Sur - Managaua
Enjoy a final day in Nicaragua with a transfer from San Juan del Sur to your final accommodation in Managua. This is the perfect time to get any last-minute souvenir shopping, sunbathing, and exploring in!
Transfer from San Juan del Sur to Managua
Check-in - Hotel Globales Camino Real Managua
Hotel Globales Camino Real creates a bright and welcoming ambiance for all its guests. In close proximity to the Managua airport, Pharoh's Casino, and surrounded by the natural beauty of Nicaragua, the hotel is an ideal base for getting to know the area. Its reputation for excellent service and a highly trained staff is well-deserved. The property has tons of options to make your stay even better. Its 125 guestrooms offer all the amenities needed for a pleasant stay while the on-siteCasablanca Restaurant and lobby bar both offer refreshment and a chance to meet the other guests during your trip.
Day 11. Depart Nicaragua
Your Nicaragua adventure ends today. At the appropriate time, you'll be transferred back to Managua airport for your flight home.