zWonders of Nicaragua

Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the deluxe InterContinental Hotel.

Discover Managua’s Old Town and modern districts and visit the National Historic Park of Loma de Tiscapa. Learn more about the city’s dramatic past and see the ruins of the once grand Presidential Palace. Travel across the calm lake waters to Ometepe Island. Accessible only by ferry, this remote and unique UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was formed by two volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua’s vast expanse. Check in to the Villa Paraiso Hotel. Meals B,L

Your day begins on the forested slopes of the Maderas Volcano, once the site of an ancient civilization whose legacy you will encounter in the form of ancient petroglyphs. Then visit the Ometepe Museum and continue into Charco Verde Nature Reserve, nestled at the base of two volcano and home to a variety of the island’s wildlife including monkeys, armadillos and anteaters. Meals B,L

Travel by ferry and over land to Granada, the oldest Colonial city in the Americas. Enjoy a guided tour featuring the town’s most celebrated architectural landmarks including La Merced Church and San Francisco Convent, now home to a fine collection of pre-Columbian sculpture. Then set out by boat to explore among the islets that dot the shores of Lake Nicaragua. As the afternoon is winding down, you’ll join rural residents as they go about their daily life, returning from school and running errands by boat. Many of these folks are artisans who have spent their entire lives on these waters. Enjoy two nights at the Plaza Colon Hotel. Meals B,L

Enjoy a guided nature walk around the crater of Mombacho Volcano and learn about this unique eco-system, home to more than 90 species of orchids. Then learn about the cultivation and roasting techniques that have been refined at Cafe Las Flores, a picturesque coffee plantation surrounded by rainforest. Enjoy a sampling of their fine blends before returning to your hotel. The balance of your afternoon is free to explore more of Granada’s Colonial-era ambience at your own pace. Meals B

Explore Santiago Crater, active since 1946, and experience another colorful slice of daily life at the bustling Masaya Market, also a great place to find artisan handicrafts. Continue to the shores of Lake Managua to visit the ruins of Old Leon c, established by the Spanish in the 16th century and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Continue on to the modern-day city of Leon to visit the home of Nicaragua’s beloved poet, Ruben Dario, and tour the Colonial-era Cathedral c, the largest in Central America. Overnight at El Convento Hotel.  Meals B,L

Explore by motorboat in this pristine reserve, where mangrove forests and a barrier island are home to abundant animal life. Return to Leon in the mid-afternoon where the rest of the day is free to explore more of this handsome and captivating town at your own pace. Meals B,L

You’ll be escorted to the airport today for your onward journey.  Meals B