Corn island Beach Break and Classical Nicaragua

Day 1-2 Granada Colonial city

As soon as you enter Granada you will have to say "wow, I could stay here a week”. Granada is a very colorful and charming city. The fact is that Granada is "THE MUST” of Nicaragua, truly a colonial jewel founded in 1524 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, today is the oldest colonial city in the continent of America, not including the Caribbean. We will talk about the different architecture of Granada, the colonial which is the way the Spanish built their houses when they settled in and made Granada a city; adobe walls (clay, straw and egg whites), wooden pillars, burnt red tiles on the roofs, classy corridors with a central garden and a fountain that pens up to the sky, and humongous doors for the entry of horses which help us to remember that we didn't always have gas run cars to get from one point to the other. Granada in its days was a very important city being the other important city Leon. You can take a carriage ride if you like; the horses have been there since the colonization era to get around and only the predominant figures where able town one.
 

 Granada was sacked on numerous times by pirates, suffered from civil wars and burned down by William Walker a filibuster, today it is rich of history and beautiful Spanish architecture. Although the original architecture has been altered into more of a neo classical and baroque influence, Granada still contains the characteristic quality of the 1800s, with beautiful churches, coble stone streets and great international food. On this day we will visit Fort la Polvora, a small gun powder fort that was built in the 1700s to protect its city from pirate attacks, wonder around beholding the many churches, the central park, the Cathedral, plaza of independence, san Francisco Convent museum.

  Later take a ride on a boat that will lead us through some of the 365 small islands of volcanic origin in which the near by volcano Mombacho erupted no less then a million years ago and now are summer homes to a lot of wealthy people and humble fisher men.

Day 3 Mombacho Volcano

 Just a few miles away are the stunning Volcano that overlooks the Colonial city of Granada. Mombacho is a dormant volcano (not active) but if it is a cloud of rest experience you want this is perhaps the best place in Nicaragua to visit measuring 1,435 meters above sea level. It’s a park with three options. For those seeking a relaxing walk, at the visitor center near the top you can hike through a cloud of rest full of a moss laden habitat and bromeliads with a few species of humming birds and butterflies. You can also find several species of ferns, orchids and other exotic plants and some endemic species like a salamander only found on this  volcano .At this altitude you will have to take a coat because the volcano is damp and you can feel the slight humid breeze as   you find yourself inside the clouds that surround the volcano .Since Mombacho is a dormant volcano, its crater is full of lush vegetation and step ravines. In this trip we will circle the majestic crater until we reach a view point that the trees halt their growth for you to see the best view of Granada and the rest of the country side from a high altitude.

 There is also a Canopy or zip line that you can harness yourself into and glide from one tree to the other, there are 15 stations to glide though over a big plantation of shaded coffee. This is extreme adventure sport however it is very safe and regulated for what ever age ranges. So strap in and get ready for a great adrenaline rush.

OMETEPE ISLAND

 Ometepe island is and was once a sacred island before the Spanish conquerors came to the new world, our native ancestors tribes, descending from a pre- Aztec period in Mexico believed in a prophesy which spoke of a sacred island with twin volcanoes that stood in the middle of a great ocean of fresh water. This prophesy was fulfilled when they found Ometepe Island in lake Nicaragua. A prophecy that till this day has not been forgotten.

Now today the island is an archeological island for stone Idols, petrogliphs or stone carvings and ancient pottery have been found scattered all throughout the island.

Our tour begins parting from port San Jorge though Lake Nicaragua on ferry, your eyes will be hypnotized as you see Volcano Concepcion ( a totally active volcano apx 1,600mts) and Volcano Maderas (not active apx 1,300) getting closer and closer as you get sprinkled by the foam that mildly wets you from the lake. Soon you will forget that it is a lake because lake Nicaragua is so huge. And also the fact that inside its waters dwell sharks! Yes that is right SHARKS, Gar fish and saw fish.

We shall disembark onto the island in Port Moyogalpa, and set foot on the first village.Once on the island we shall drive trough the paved streets, it is a big island Ometepe has an area of 276 km². It is 31 km long and 5 to 10 km wide. We shall again see a lot of cattle and ometepes main industry PLANTAIN fields. Tobacco fields are also found on ometepe.On our way to lunch we shall see how the twin volcanoes immensely intimidate the small little villages as we pass under one of them that is active and glance up the gigantic monster that throws ash from time to time and cover the grounds of the villages. Lunch is on one of the most famous beaches of the lake, but the amazing thing besides the food are the many white troughed magpie jays ( birds) that come and literally have lunch with you. After or before lunch you will have time to walk on the beach where you can see at a distance the non threatening Maderas volcano ( not active)

Finally we shall head to a pool of natural spring water for swimming that the "Maderas volcano"( not active) makes and holds a lagoon in its crater and from this lagoon in the crater a waterfall flows on the far east side of the island, its waters unbelievable spring up at this point to make this un-passable opportunity to swim in its crystal clean and transparent mineral waters. With and Island and its two volcanoes it is difficult to stop thinking of volcanoes, not even in your sleep for the hotel we lodge in tonight after dinner is at the foot of this non active Maderas volcano. It is always an exquisite banquette at the hotel, breakfast, dinner or lunch.

DAY 4
After a great breakfast and a great sleep we have two options, we either hike the Maderas volcano (may be a bit difficult) which vegetation is similar to a cloud forest, and reach the waterfall, if lucky you can see howler monkeys, the other option is to take a boat ride on the lake that will lead you to some islands where for sure you will see all species of aquatic birds, and eventually to two islands with two different species of monkeys, the spider monkeys and the white faced monkeys.
The boat ride is a refreshing ride. And the volcano climb is an adventure.
Later that day we will head toward a Tilapia fish raising grange and see how the tilapia fish are grown and managed, a very interesting process as you see thousands and thousands of grown Tilapia being pulled from the lake nets and set in trucks to be exported from the island.

We can also see near by clear evidence of the archeological stone carvings that are on the property of a humble family willing to greet us and show us these archeological remains from our indigenous ancestors.

DAY 5
Today we leave the hotel and head to a community where there is a small museum and you can see some of the Idols that have been conserved that are relics of an indigenous past, either the goddess of fertility or the figures of stone men with heads of animals such as hawks or any other species. There are many artifacts such as ceramics, funeral earns or arrow heads. They have been saved and the museum maintains them.

Once again we enter near the territory of Volcano Concepcion (active ) as we reach our final destination, the green lagoon or green puddle. We will visit the famous and mystical green lagoon, full of flora and fauna such as howler monkeys, turtles, snakes, iguanas, and many species of birds. You may also have the opportunity to do some kayaking as a relaxation sport. We have lunch there and then after head on back to main land.

Masaya volcano and market
Say goodbye to OMETEPE as we enter the path of Masaya, the Masaya rough offers you the      opportunity to head to one of Americas most incredible volcanoes you can literally drive up to the active volcanic crater and stare down for hours at the mouth of volcanic gas and see tons of sulfuric gas being thrown into the stained blue sky.For the indigenous tribes Volcano Masaya was considered a god. This tour offers you the opportunity to visit the park museum and learn a little about the flora, fauna and the indigenous culture. Behold a land ridden in petrified lava and if you wish to venture into volcanic caverns full of bats and go underground it is optional.

  
Later we will visit the Masaya market famous for the handcrafts made by the locals and buy precious souvenirs to take home to show your family. Later visit the Apoyo lagoon and the Catarina view point. Also visit the place where the Masaya market crafts are made in the small town of San Juan de Oriente.
We will also visit a few more places in these towns known better as " THE WHITE TOWNS" and see all types of handcrafted materials such as; wooden chairs, hammocks, straw baskets, ceramic and ALOT of little beautiful garden plantations

Day 7 The Corn Islands

Corn Island and Little Corn Island are located in the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua. They are truly the greatest place in Nicaragua for snorkeling or scuba diving through the colorful coral reefs. Fly over to Big Corn Island and lodge into your hotel that is located in the best beach of Big corn island. All Time in the Corn Islands is free, do as you please we only give you recommendations that you may consider doing. Snorkeling or scuba diving is the main activity of the Islands, so be prepared to see beautiful colored coral reefs and fishes and even sharks that sometimes may appear and may gives you a bizarre sensation.
You must also try the native coco bread made from coconut oil, a very exquisite treat. You can also go deep sea fishing, horse back riding or ride around the island in golf carts. Corn Island is one of the worlds “best secret paradise destinations in the world".

 Day 8-9 Little Corn Island


Today is the day to head little Corn island, more charming then Big Corn because the only way to get around is by foot, no vehicles just paradise. We lodge into a series of small cabins not top of a Hill and take a glance at the wonderful scenery of the island and its crystalline turquoise colored water.

Day 10 We return again to Big Corn Island and get to know the island a little more. On this day we prepare to depart from the island and take our flight back to the capital, Managua.

 Day 11 Old Managua Historical Tour
 Visit the old Historical center of Managua, destroyed by the earthquake of 1972 in which few buildings still remain. Not only is it the center of the old Managua but also the heart of the political dictatorship of the Somoza family governing the country for over 40 years and being overthrown by the Sandinista revolution.

We will be able to talk a lot of who Somoza was, where the presidential palace was before and after the earthquake. Visit several buildings that survived the earthquake like; the Ruben Dario National theater, the Old Cathedral, the National Palace of Culture, the Central Park, Park of Peace and Tiscapa Hill Historical Park which offers and incredible view.

 
We will also visit the New Metropolitan Cathedral in which most of the political leaders of the country today attendmass.

End Tour
Depending on the hour of you flight we will now transfer you to the airport.