Nature and culture Nicaragua and Costa Rica

EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AT THEIR BEST

Countries
Costa Rica, Nicaragua

Zones
Central, South

Themes
Adventure, Community Tourism, Culture, Nature

Discover the communities around Lago de Apanás, in Jinotega, Nicaragua, where you will learn to work with black ceramic, meet with coffee producers of SOPPEXCA, and visit Granada, Masaya, Craft Market of Masaya, Masaya Volcano National Park. In Costa Rica, visit the community of Bijagua, the Tenorio National Park, and observe birds and nocturnal fauna.

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Day 1

Arrival in Managua. Meet and greet and transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Introduction to Nicaragua: life zones and characterization of the country. Visit to a private reserve to explore nature and wildlife, especially birds. Lunch in the place. Transfer to Managua. Guided tour of the historic center. Guided walk through the Salvador Allende port, located on the northern pier, and the largest recreation center. Free time for dinner at your leisure. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 3

Departure to León Viejo, history of the city and Spanish colonization in the foundations of the place. Transfer to the city of León. Nicaragua is the country in the Americas with the most volcanoes per square kilometer, so the route to León is good to observe the Maribios volcanic chain, and its volcanoes: Momotombo, Cerro Negro, Santa Clara, Telica and San Cristóbal. Lunch. Transfer to Chichigalpa to the facilities of Flor de Caña, the traditional leading rum in Central America. Tour of the facilities, and historical tour of this emblematic rum and main export product. Return to the colonial city of León, hotel check-in, and dinner out.

Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel. Guided walk through the city of León: visit to the main icons of the city including the cathedral, the bust of Rubén Darío, a private collection of art, and the market. Time for lunch. Transfer to a rural community, information about the community. Traditional Nicaraguan cooking workshop: Old Indian. Group dinner. Transfer to the hotel in León.

Day 5

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the city of Jinotega. Introduction to the change of life zone towards the coffee region of the country. Stop in the city of Matagalpa and visit the cathedral. Lunch in Matagalpa. Continue to Jinotega and hotel check-in. Walk to Cerro la Cruz, observation and tour of the city. Guided visit to the cafeteria of a local fair-trade cooperative. Dinner.

Day 6

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to San Rafael del Norte and encounter with the heroic revolution of Sandino. Visit to the Cathedral of Father Odorico D’Andrea, an event of popular faith unique in Nicaragua. Lunch. Visit a group of artisan women and a black ceramic workshop. Return to Jinotega. Dinner.

Day 7

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the colonial city of Granada and hotel check-in. Guided walk through the city and free time. Dinner at your leisure. The city of Granada is perhaps the most visited city by tourists due to its colonial history and architectural beauty. Granada offers a diversity of hotels and restaurants.

Day 8

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Peñas Blancas border crossing with a stop in the beautiful city of Masaya. Visit the Masaya Volcano National Park, and visit the crater and tour its interpretation center. Visit to the handicraft market of Masaya and to the Catarina viewpoint, which offers the opportunity to contemplate the Laguna de Apoyo, an ancient volcanic crater, the city of Granada, the shores of Lake Nicaragua, and the Mombacho volcano. Lunch is offered once we reach the city of Liberia.

Day 9

Breakfast at the hotel. Introduction to Costa Rica: characterization of the country: life zones, biodiversity conservation system, and cultural profile. Visit to a wildlife refuge center: details of the operation, and history of resident animals and reintroduction to their habitat in the center. Visit to a nearby beach with options for places to lunch. Transfer to the beach, and free afternoon at the beach in the Pacific Ocean until sunset. Transfer to Liberia and dinner at the hotel.

Day 10

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Tenorio National Park. Guided naturalistic walk in the rainforest and explanation of the celestial tones of the Rio Celeste waterfall. Visit to the Teñideros and the viewpoint of the national park. Possibility of observing wildlife in its natural habitat: sloths and birds such as the toucan. Lunch. Transfer to La Fortuna. Check-in at the hotel, and free time in the pool. Dinner.

Day 11

Breakfast at the hotel. Chocolate tour: from the cacao plant to the chocolate bar. Luncheon, and free time at La Fortuna. Bus tour to Lake Arenal, main source for hydroelectric production in the country. If time permits, sighting of the Arenal Volcano and historical detail. Time to enjoy the hot springs in a private center where dinner is offered. Transfer to the hotel. Tropical dance workshop at night.

Day 12

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a rural community in the northern region of Costa Rica. Visit to the local school, and participation in organized games with the children. Lunch with local families. Visit to the community’s cassava plantations and cooking workshop with the group of women from the community. Snack. Departure for the hotel in Sarapiquí. Dinner at the hotel. Naturalistic night walk.

Day 13

Birdwatching. Breakfast at the hotel. Day of rest or adventure. Optional charge for zip-line, rafting on the Sarapiquí River, horseback riding, guided naturalist trekking in the rainforest, rappel, safari. The guide will explain the options available and costs. Lunch and dinner included in the hotel.

Day 14

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for San José. Tour through the Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of the most biologically rich parks. Lunch in the city of San José, capital of Costa Rica. Guided walk in the city, and visit to the National Museum to recreate the history of the country, including a butterfly garden. Visit to a craft market. Return to the hotel and farewell dinner.

Day 15

Departure. Breakfast at the hotel, farewell and transfer to the airport.

Activities included

National (bilingual) guide in each country during the entire trip (not offered without a guide), private transportation, lodging with breakfast, lunch or dinner as indicated, tickets, tours and activities, water when it is not potable on the site, national sales taxes and border taxes. The price varies according to the number of people and lodging options.
All breakfasts, and some lunches and dinners, according to the activities or the hotel.
Civil liability insurance, transportation insurance, and tourist accommodations. Health insurance is NOT included, it is suggested that it is taken in the client’s city of origin.

It does not include:
Some dinners or lunches as indicated, alcoholic beverages, bottled water, airport taxes, air tickets, and individual medical insurance indispensable to take the trip.

Useful information - Don't leave anything

We recommend to bring…
Entry to Nicaragua requires the personal payment of a US $ 10 tax at the airport.

Raincoat, cool cotton clothing (pants and long-sleeved shirt to cover from the sun and avoid mosquitoes), hiking boots, hat, flashlight, camera, water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent.