As the largest country in Central America, Nicaragua has plenty to offer. From the rich history and culture that is present in Granada City to the impressive Masaya Volcano, this 6 day tour is sure to exceed all your expectations about this beautiful country. Visiting the sites of Granada City in a horse drawn carriage, touring the magnificent islands of Nicaragua Lake and enjoying a delicious lunch in front of Masaya Volcano are just some of the activities you can expect to do on this fantastic itinerary.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Granada, with its lakeside setting and wonderful colonial architecture
- Visit the Masaya Volcano National Park during the evening evening and observe the volcano’s lava lake at its best. You will see its eerie,orange glow and swirling steam. Standing at the wall, you will be able to peer into the crater and see the lava lake churning and splashing.
- Enjoy the creativity and a variety of Nicaragua art at the finest Handicraft Market in Masaya
- Ometepe Island with its mysterious twin volcanoes
Tailor-made suggestions for this itinerary
- Continue into Costa Rica via the tropical forests at Rio San Juan
- Visit San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua’s favourite beach resort
- Take a tropical island getaway to Little Corn Island
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1 - Managua: Arrival
Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Granada City.
Day 2 - Granada City: Granada City Tour, Masaya Volcano & the White Villages
Granada City Tour, Masaya Volcano & the White Villages
This morning, our guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to enjoy a City Tour of Granada.
On this wonderful outdoor experience you will visit places like the La Casa de los Tres Mundos, an art gallery a cultural academy. Then, go to the Convent of San Francisco church, built in 1529 and decorated with elegant paintings and pre- Columbian statues from Zapatera Island. Continue to the Iglesia La Merced, take the stairs up to the tower from where you will have great views of the city. After Iglesia La Merced, you will go to the Old Train Station located in front of Sandino Park. The last place you will visit is La Polvora, a fort where the Spanish stored dynamite and weapons in the 17th and 18th century to repel the attacks of English and French pirates. Part of the tour will take place in a traditional Horsedrawn Carriage conducted by a local driver. Morning tour duration: 3 hours approx.
In the early afternoon, you will leave Granada and will be transferred to the Masaya Areas.
Your tour will take you to Catarina, a small and characteristic village of Nicaragua where people work seedling nurseries, make handcraft and raise horses. Placed on top of the extinct volcano 520 meters above sea level this presents a very agreeable climate. The temperature veries from 22 and 27 C° (72 & 77 F°) from here you can have a magnificent view of Apoyo lagoon, Mombacho volcano, Granada and Lake Nicaragua. Enjoy lunch in nice restaurant amidst nature. After Catarina you will visit the ancient highland villages of "La Meseta" to visits the Mesa artisans workshops of San Juan de Oriente. This precious town has colonial period houses, churches and a hardworking native population. Then visit the finest Handicraft Market in Masaya where you will enjoy the creativity and a variety of Nicaraguan art at bargain prices.
Our day tour ends with the late evening visit to the First National Park created in Nicaragua in 1979, one of Nicaragua's most interesting and beautiful natural phenomena. It comprises an area of 54 km2 with more than 20 km of scenic roads and trails, leading to and around the one impressive volcano and five formidable craters; one of them currently displays gaseous activity and incandescent lava lake in its interior. Standing at the wall, you are able to peer into the crater- an incredible thing to experience first-hand! Eventually transfer back to Granada. Afternoon tour duration: 6 hours approx.
Included:
Transportation.
Bilingual guide (English-Spanish).
Lunch.
Entrance fees.
Please note that due safety restrictions, visitors are only allowed to stay 15 minutes near the crater.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 3 - Granada City: Lake Nicaragua Tour
Lake Nicaragua Tour
After breakfast, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Lake Nicaragua, where you board a boat to enjoy a relaxing adventure in a private Ecological Island.
See the most beautiful islands in Lake Nicaragua and their rich flora and fauna, discover some of the 356 islands “isletas”, a must see! The islands were formed thousands of years ago, after an eruption of nearby Mombacho volcano (now extinct). They are now covered with lush, tropical vegetation, some of them are inhabited by natives, others have vacation houses built on them, and others are still deserted. You will be able to observe some of the many species of tropical birds that live in the islands.
The inhabitants (“Isleños) live peacefully in simple yet decent conditions and dedicate themselves to fishing and small agriculture, and now to tourism too. Arrive in a private ecological island, enjoy lunch there and time at leisure. You may also go kayaking to discover more of the islands. It is a truly a paradise located amidst nature, in front of the Mombacho volcano. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred back to mainland and continue to your hotel.
Notes:
No bilingual guide today but not really needed as you will spend your time in the island (can be included on request).
This is a private tour; however, there may be more people on the island during your visit.
Included
Entrance fee.
Use of kayaks.
Lunch.
Tour duration: 9-10 hours approx. including ground transfer
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 4 - Granada City: Travel to Ometepe Island
Travel to Ometepe Island
This morning you will spend at leisure. You can explore on your own or do optional activities including a visit Mombacho Nature Reserve to hike in the cloud forest, or visit a chocolate factory in the city to make your own chocolate. In the afternoon you will be transferred to San Jorge where you will take the ferry to Ometepe Island, the world’s largest volcanic island. On your arrival on the island you will be greeted by your local driver who will transfer you to your hotel.
Breakfast included.
Day 5 - Ometepe Island: Ometepe Island Tour
Ometepe Island Tour
After breakfast, a local guide will pick you up at your hotel and then he will take you on a great tour of Ometepe Island.
Your local guide will take you to visit the main sites of Ometepe Island. Your tour will consist of visits to places like “El Ceibo” the best archaeological and numismatic museum of Nicaragua. You will also visit Charco Verde with its Green Puddles lagoon. The next spot on you tour will be the petroglyphs at Finca el Porvenir. These stones, found on the lower slopes of Maderas volcano on Ometepe, still bear the ornate carvings of the first indigenous settlers of Nicaragua. Enjoy the great views that Volcano Concepcion and Volcano Maderas have to offer. Also visit El Ojo de Agua, a natural pool of clear water supplied by a river that originates from Concepcion Volcano where you can take a dip. Lunch is included during the tour.
Transfer back to your hotel after the tour where you have the rest of the day at leisure.
Tour duration: 8 hours approx.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 6 - Ometepe Island: Transfer Out
Transfer Out
Today you will be met at your hotel by our representative who will take you to the docks to take the ferry back to the mainland. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the Costa Rica border.
Alternatively, you can be transferred to Managua Airport.
Breakfast included.
Comfort
Granada City, Nicaragua - Hotel Patio del Malinche
Ometepe Island, Nicaragua - Hotel San Juan de la Isla
Superior
Granada City, Nicaragua - Hotel Plaza Colon
Ometepe Island, Nicaragua - Hotel San Juan de la Isla
Whats included?
- Accommodation
- Hotel taxes
- Entrance fees
- English speaking guided tours
- Transfers
- Meals as specified
What’s not included?
- International and internal airfares
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Central America
Let us take you on an authentic journey throughout this rich and versatile region with its spectacular Caribbean beaches, smouldering volcanoes and lush green jungles sheltering a rich variety of fauna. Throw in its fascinating history, hidden Mayan ruins and the rhythm of Cuban salsa and we’re certain you’ll find this region is a treat to the senses.
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