Ometepe Island – Masaya: its national park, its handicraft market - Granada Colonial, its monuments, Lake Nicaragua and the Islands – Leon, other colonial city- Hike Cerro Negro active volcano -Matagalpa and the mountains-

Day 1: Airport-Managua

Arrival in Managua, transfer to your hotel. Night in Managua.

Day 2: Managua – Ometepe Island (B)

In the morning, a representative of Nicaragua Adventures will visit you and provide a map of Nicaragua, road-maps, vouchers and important information about your trip.
Optional: guided city tour in Managua.

Then, we will transfer you to San Jorge and provide the tickets for the ferry to Ometepe Island, world’s largest volcanic island in a lake. You will be picked you up at the ferry (at your arrival in the Island) and transfered to the hotel. Accommodation in hotel situated on the waterfront. You can discover the island or just relax at the beach. Night at the hotel.

Day 3: Ometepe Island (B)

Free day in the island. Optional tours available, like kayaking, bicycling, hiking in the rain forest (please arrange in advance). Overnight in the hotel.

Day 4: Ometepe Island – Granada (B)

After breakfast, leave the hotel and the island. The people of the hotel will drop you at the ferry place at 10am, and you will be delivered your car by a representative of the car rental company at your arrival in San Jorge. Drive 75 kilometers north to reach Granada.
Accommodation in your hotel.
Granada is the oldest city in the Americas, founded by the Spanish in 1524.
Note: on the way, you can go to the Masaya National Park and see its active volcano.
Night at the hotel.

Day 5: Granada (B)

Free day in Granada to enjoy the different tours and activities in the area:

-Boat ride to discover Lake Nicaragua and some of its 365 small islands “Isletas”.
-Fishing in Lake Nicaragua, water skiing
-Excursion to Mombacho volcano, natural reserve with a cloud forest, a very nicely designed trail circles around one of the craters (Thursday to Sunday).
-Tour to Masaya markets and the “white towns”, home of famous handicraft manufactured in the country, as well as Catarina, lookout where from you can observe Lake Nicaragua & the Islets, the Mombacho volcano, Granada and Apoyo Lagoon.
-Tour to Masaya National Park and volcano, where you’ll reach the edge of a still active volcano and visit its small but very interesting museum.
(Can be combined with the markets and white towns, in one full day)
-Canopy tour (top tree trail) in the Mombacho volcano (Tuesday to Sunday).
-Museums, churches and colonial monuments in Granada.
-Visit a small cigar factory.
-Go to Apoyo Lagoon, where a crater lake awaits, with warm, pleasant and safe waters. There a private exclusive resort located in front of the water and including bar and restaurant is awaiting you.

Night in Granada.

Day 6: Granada-Leon – San Jacinto – Leon (B)

Drive north towards Leon, one of the oldest colonial cities in Central America. The road goes along Lake Managua (“Xolotlan”), and you will observe the Momotombo volcano, still active and its little brother Momotombito immerged in the lake. On the way stop at San Jacinto and observe the boiling mud and thermal waters. Accommodation at your hotel. Free day to visit Leon, colonial city with many antique churches, the largest cathedral in Central America, art galleries and more… Free evening and night in Leon, very lively city mostly during the week ends.

Day 7: Leon- Cerro Negro active volcano (B)

After breakfast go for an adventure day to discover one of Nicaragua’s monsters: Cerro Negro active volcano. Born in 1850, it is one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua. Cerro Negro “Black Mount” is the most recent of a group of four very young cinder cones in the central Maribios. Last big eruption was August 1998…
Hiking to the top takes less than an hour, a sort of trail has been made in the rocks and volcanisc ashes. Temperature can be very hot as there is no vegetation at all, ranges between 30 and 42-48 celcius (according to season; once you hike the breeze makes it easier) and the overwhelming view once we reach the active crater will be the reward you had ever imagined, sulfur coming out from many places, crater and also from the shores (many crevaces). From the top, you will also observe the crater of Telica, another active volcano, as well as the Pacific ocean, 20 miles away. After a walk around the crater we will hike down and drive back to the City of Leon.

Day 8: Leon – Matagalpa and the coffee plantations (B)

Leave Leon, on the road towards south and then north, to mountainous region Matagalpa, home of famous coffee plantations. Arrive at Matagalpa, drive a few more miles, reach your hotel located in a large coffee plantation.
Accommodation at Selva Negra Lodge.
Night in Matagalpa.

Day 9: Matagalpa – Managua (B)

Free morning to visit the area. In the afternoon, drive back to Managua. On the way along the road, you will see people selling the most unexpected animals: tattoos, monkeys, parrots, iguanas, fishes and more…
Arrive in Managua, accommodation in your hotel to spend the last night before you fly back home.

Day 10: Managua-Managua airport (B)

Drive to the airport; return your car to the car rental agency. Board your flight back to your country.
Note: for your convenience, you also can return your car the evening of day 7 in your hotel, and our agency will provide transportation to the airport.

Note: Beach extensions to San Juan del Sur or Corn Island are possible, please contact us!

Package includes:

Lodging:
2 nights in Managua
2 nights in Ometepe Island
2 nights in Granada
2 nights in Leon
1 night in Matagalpa

Meal plan: as specified

Others	Does not include
Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Managua upon arrival day. Transportation in private vehicles or shuttle with a/c on day 2. Ferry fees to Ometepe Island on day 2. Round trip transfer port in Ometepe-hotel-port. Car rental with basic insurance (SLI) and taxes, drop off and pick up fees, from day 4 in the morning to day 9 in the morning. All taxes for hotels and restaurants.	All optional activities mentioned and where the program states it as not included. Discretional tips All meals not included in the above list Taxes at the airport (entrance and exit) Other personal expenses Optional insurance for your car Gas Travel insurance