Nica - Costa Adventure

10 days, 9 nights. (Guided or self-drive)

Nicaragua: travel in time in an antique colonial city founded almost 500 years ago, its architecture and history; active volcanoes and tropical forests; Lake Nicaragua and the Islands; the Canopy Tour.

Costa Rica: a relaxing vacation in front of the beaches of beautiful Guanacaste; Arenal area and its magnificent surroundings; Turrialba and rafting the rapids of the Rio Reventazon; The Central Valley and San Jose.

This program alternates sightseeing tours, some adventure days and time to relax between 2 activities!

Category: moderately strenuous.

DAY 1. Airport-Apoyo Lagoon-Managua

Arrival in Managua, meet and greet by our guide. If time allows it, transfer to the Apoyo Lagoon located 50 minutes drive from Managua. A crater lake is there, with warm, pleasant and safe waters. There is a small private exclusive resort, located in front of the water and including bar and restaurant.
Enjoy your afternoon in front of the water… You can also rent kayaks.
Transfer to your in Managua. Free night, many restaurants and bars are located very close to your hotel in a very lively area.

Part of the Norome resort in the Lagoon seen from the water

DAY 2: Managua- Masaya- Granada

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in your hotel and explain you the details of your trip. Leave Managua and drive south direction to Granada.
On the way along the road, you will see people selling the most unexpected animals: tattoos, monkeys, parrots, iguanas, fishes and more…
Arrive in the Masaya area. First we will visit the first National Park created in Nicaragua in 1979, that of the still active Masaya Volcano. Then we will visit the finest Handicraft Market where you can enjoy the creativity and variety of Nicaraguan art at bargain prices. Later, stop at Catarina with a magnificent view on the Apoyo lagoon, Mombacho volcano, Granada and Lake Nicaragua. Go to San Juan de Oriente, famous for its ceramic arts. Eventually, we will continue our way and reach the city of Granada. Accommodation in your hotel and free evening in Granada.

White-faced monkey in the Islands

DAY 3: Granada-Canopy Tour- Cloud Forest- Lake Nicaragua-Granada

Go for another adventure day: we’ll experience the canopy tour, located in the shores of Mombacho volcano facing Lake Nicaragua and the islands, Zapatera Island being just in front of us. 17 platforms wait at this top security canopy tour. Lunch in a restaurant located on the shores of the volcano.

Then, a powerful truck will drive us all the way to the top of the extinct volcano. From there we will visit the Mombacho Natural Reserve and its tropical cloud forest, a paradise for nature lovers. Walking through the trail around one of the craters in the most surprising biological diversity, with incredible views to Granada, Lake Nicaragua & the Islands “Isletas” will make this journey magnificent! It takes 1h20 to walk around the crater (quite gentle).

Back to Granada, free evening.

DAY 4: Granada-Lake Nicaragua and
the Islands - Granada

In the morning, we will go for a visit of the city of Granada.
After lunch, we’ll go to the port and take a 2 hours boat ride to visit Lake Nicaragua and the islands & their habitants the “Isleños”. There are approximately 365 small islands in this natural paradise, the natives and wealthy people from the capital or foreigners live in a perfect harmony.
Back to Granada, evening and night in Granada in your hotel.

Lake Nicaragua and the Islets “Isletas”.

DAY 5: Granada- Border- Costa Rica

Leave Granada. Drive 100 miles south to the border. Cross the border (Peñas Blancas). Drive to Guanacaste and the Pacific beaches of Costa Rica: accommodation at the hotel of your choice by the beach.

White sand beach

DAY 6: Beach day

Free day at leisure to enjoy the beach.

DAY 7: Beaches of Guanacaste- La Fortuna and Arenal

Pick up the car to continue the tour to Arenal zone. Take the route boarding Arenal Lake and its beautiful perspectives, after Cañas. You arrive in Tilarán. Visit Los Pumas: It’s a refuge of wild animals like pumas, jaguars, monkeys, ocelots, etc. Close to La Fortuna appears the majestic body of the Arenal Volcano (5 000 ft high). This is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. After its first explosion in 1968, the Arenal Volcano usually surprises everybody with small eruptions and red lava flaming, huge ash columns.
Go to the Tabaccon Resort and its 15 natural swimming pools with hot water coming down from the volcano.
Night at your hotel.

DAY 8: La Fortuna and Arenal – La Paz Waterfall- Turrialba

Morning at leisure to explore the area.
Then continue to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, starting at the Welcome Center, Bernardo's Trail will take you through the beautiful Hummingbird Gardens, where you can enjoy the wonders of these tiny creatures. From there, proceed to the Orchid houses and the entrance to the forest. As the trail takes you deep into the thick green growth of the forest, pay close attention to the winding vines and indigenous plants which are home to many of the rain forest most colorful-feathered creatures. This truly spectacular trail begins with a suspended staircase, which creates a path along the vertical cliff face of the Magia Blanca Waterfall, the largest and most powerful of the falls. Enjoy the beautiful nature’s show leaving Río La Paz, Río La Paz Grande, the view of the separates small waterfalls.
Then, continue our journey to the area of Turrialba, this very beautiful area is located east of San Jose. Arrive around 6.00. pm. Accommodation at your hotel. Night in the hotel.

DAY 9: Turrialba- Rio Pascuare- San Jose-

Take a rafting tour to Rio Pascuare, class III-IV.

The Pacuare River is one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids. This quintessential tropical river is a trip of pure magic, unsurpassed beauty, wildlife and exhilarating rapids.
Located on Costa Rica's Atlantic slope, the Pacuare River borders the Talamanca mountain range, home to native Cabecar Indians and an incredible variety of wildlife.
Once at the river at our private put-in, you'll raft 16 miles deep in the heart of densely vegetated gorges, past gushing waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids, in one of Costa Rica's most impressive primary rainforests. On the river you will raft by Ríos Tropicales Lodge, where guests stay on two and three-day trips. Intimate and charming, the lodge blends naturally into the forest on our 1,000-acre private reserve, with waterfalls and pools.
After an adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montanas and many more, after we finish, a short drive to Ríos Tropicales Operations Center for a hearty and delicious lunch, showers, optional drinks and souvenir store.. This unforgettable trip will easily be a highlight of your stay in Costa Rica!
On the return drive to San José, you'll enjoy remarkable views of Braulio Carrillo National Park and Irazú Volcano. Accommodation at your hotel in San Jose.

DAY 10: San Jose- Poas volcano- San Jose airport

In the morning, if you wish, visit to the Poas Volcano National Park, one of the most visited places by national and international tourism. The Poas volcano is one of the most spectacular volcanoes of the country and of extraordinary scenic beauty. It has many types of habitats like very long forests with short trees, areas with very little flora and some with little smelly plants and also the cloudy forest. In this last type of forest is very common to find plants that grow attached to the trees, like orchids, ferns etc. Located at the Cordillera Volcánica Central, 37 km north from Alajuela province. It was created by means of the law No 4717. Its extension is of 5.600 hectares.
Transfer to the international airport at 1.00. pm. Bon Voyage!

Price of this package:
Option Nakuti Resort (Golfo de Papagayo):
US $ 1 749 per person.
Hotel Barcelo Playa Langosta, (Playa Langosta)
US $ 1 789 per person.

Package Includes all the following:

Lodging:
• 1 night in Managua,
• 3 nights in Granada,
• 2 nights in the beach in Guanacaste, all inclusive (all food and national drinks).
• 1 night in La Fortuna,
• 1 night in Turrialba,
• 1 night in San Jose.

• In total, 9 nights in selected hotels in each area.

Meal plan:
• Breakfasts every day;
• Lunch on days 2, 3, 5, 6 included (4 lunches);
• Dinner included on days 5 and 6.
• Note: Each meal includes one soft drink or beer per person.

Others:

• All activities mentioned and included, with all respective entrances:

• Masaya volcano and national park;
• Canopy tour;
• Visit of the Natural Reserve of Mombacho;
• Boat ride in Lake Nicaragua;
• Museums, art galleries, tourist centers;
• Rafting tour;
• Tour at La Paz Waterfall;
• Poas volcano.

• All ground and air transportation in private vehicles with a/c, gas, insurance.
• English speaking guide/driver for days 1 to 10, with his expenses, lodging, food and beverages.
• Cooler with purified water in the vehicle.
• All taxes for hotels and restaurants.

Does not include:

• All optional activities;
• Discretional tips (restaurants, hotels…);
• All meals not included in the above list;
• Taxes at the airport (entrance and exit)
• Taxes at the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica;
• Other personal expenses