Nicaragua Hiking Tour

Nicaragua Hiking Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Managua

After completing customs and immigration formalities at Managua International Airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel Camino Real in Managua
Distance: None
Meals: None

Day 2 Explore a sliver of Nicaragua’s culture

This morning, you will be met by your guide to travel out of the capital toward the northern highlands and the fresh climate in Esteli. You will arrive at La Garnacha Community, where they follow a rural way of life, including making their own cheese and cultivating plans for traditional herbal medicines.

You will meet a member from the community to hike with you up into Tisey National Park. Get ready for stunning views over the hills.

Then, you will visit Don Alberto, who has dedicated his life to carving imaginative sculptures into the rocks surrounding his hillside home.

Travel to Saint Nichols for the night!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Saint Nicholas
Distance: 4 hours, 430m of elevation
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3 Go to the number one GeoPark in Central America

This morning, a local guide will meet you before taking you on a hike, swim, and a jump into Somoto Canyon. You will then travel to the coffee region and your hotel for the night.
Overnight Location: Lodge in La Sombra
Distance: 6 hours, 150m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Explore Tuma-La Dalia

Today will be spent exploring the nature reserve of Tuma-La Dalia. Discover roaring waterfalls and spectacular views in this remote area of Nicaragua. Return to La Sombra after your explorations.
Overnight Location: Lodge in La Sombra
Distance: 6 hours, 1750m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5 Learn about local agriculture

After leaving La Sombra, you will stop at Selva Negra. Here, you will learn about the local agriculture with a tour around the estate farm before travelling down to Leon, a historic university town. It’s also the hottest region of Nicaragua.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leon
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 Hike Telica Volcano

Your guide will take you to the Telica Volcano, which erupted last in 1948! At the top, you can peek into the crater, where you may spot lava! Keep an ear and eye out for the geothermal activity. You’ll also likely get the chance to marvel at a wonderful view.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leon
Distance: 6 hours, 1036m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Discover Pilas El Hoyo Volcano

This morning, you will drive to Cerro Negro, the only activity cinder cone volcano in Central America. You will hike up the old lava fields to the summit, where you will have a good view of Telica and San Cristobal. From there, you will descend via the pyroclastic ash fields on the leeward side. You will then hike across to Pilas El Hoyo Volcano, a dormant volcano. However, you’ll find hot pools fueled by latent volcanic heat, where you can have a relaxing soak before camping the night.
Overnight Location: Camping near Pilas Hoyo Volcano
Distance: 8 hours, 1088m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8 Reach Asososca Lagoon

On your descent, you will continue by foot to the beautiful Asososca Lagoon, a volcanic lake of crystalline water in the “Pilas del Hoyo” volcanic group, where a quick dip is a real treat! You camp at Laguna del Tigre, an idyllic place boasting an old volcano crater filled with water, surrounded by volcanoes and beautiful nature.
Overnight Location: Camping at Laguna del Tigre
Distance: 6 hours, 1088m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 Discover Chocoyero

After breakfast, you will head off to a small nature reserve near Managua called Chocoyero. Here, you will walk the path up to waterfalls and cliffs, where thousands of Pacific parakeets (chocoyos) come to roost each day. You will then continue on to Masaya Volcano National Park. Here, you will visit the information center before heading up to the volcano rim. Masaya volcano is constantly active, forcing a time restriction on how long you can spend due to the gases emitted. You will then continue your journey to the colonial city of Granada on the shores of Lake Nicaragua.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Granada
Distance: 2 hours of easy walking
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 Visit a coffee plantation

This morning, you will drive out to the dormant Mombacho Volcano. You will drive up to the summit, where you will take the Puma Trail around the old crater passing through a tropical cloud forest. You’ll see fumaroles, orchids and wonderful views on the way. You will then descend the volcano, where you will visit a coffee plantation. Here, you will have a tour of the process from bush to bean to cup, and you will have the chance to sample a local brew. You will then return to Granada.
Overnight Location: Hotel Patio del Malinche in Granada
Distance: 4 hours, 1300m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 Walk around Granada

Today, you will explore the historic centre of Granada with your guide visiting the main points of interest, including the San Francisco Convent Museum. In the afternoon, your driver will meet you to drive down to Lake Nicaragua, where you will take a boat tour around Las Isletas: the hundreds of tiny islands that are a result of an ancient volcanic explosion, and are now home to many species of birds and some notable NIcaraguans as well. You will then return to your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel Patio del Malinche in Granada
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 Depart Granada

Today you will head back to Managua for your onward flight.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast