The Best of Central America: Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Good to know:
• A bilingual (Spanish/English) guide will pick up passengers at the hotel for all booked tours
• All transfers are offered with driver only, in small special tourist buses with a maximum capacity of 12 seats
• Baggage restrictions: one suitcase / travel bag per person

Day 1: Arrival in Managua, Nicaragua

Arrival at the Augusto César Sandino International Airport. Greeting by our representative and private transfer to your hotel.

Lodging: Mansión Teodolinda or similar

Day 2: Managua City - Colonial City of León

Departure to visit the Capital City. You will see the Museum of Culture, the Rubén Darío Theater, the National Palace, the levee and other interesting sites. Continuation to the colonial city of León, rebuilt in 1610 after it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1609. Visit the Cathedral, the largest colonial church in Central America, the Rubén Darío Museum and the Héroes Gallery.

Lodging: Hotel Austria or similar

Day 3: Hervideros - Masaya National Park and Market - Granada City

Departure to visit the Hervideros (boiling springs) in San Jacinto. Continuation to see the two volcanoes in the Masaya Volcano National Park. Visit also the city’s famous crafts market, the largest in the country. Later, stop at the Catarina Observatory to admire the view of the lake and the volcanoes. Continuation to the colonial city of Granada.

Lodging: Hotel Alhambra or similar

Day 4: Granada - Islets of the Nicaragua Lake - Peñas Blancas [Border] - Rincón de la Vieja in Costa Rica

Visit the famous colonial city of Granada, the first founded in the continent by the Spaniards in 1524. Visit the Museum of pre-Columbian Art and the San Francisco Convent. Later, enjoy a private boat tour through the Isletas (small islands) of the Nicaragua Lake. Continue along the lake shore to arrive at the border in Peñas Blancas.  After the formalities, continuation to Rincón de la Vieja in Costa Rica.

Lodging: Hacienda Guachipelín Lodge or similar

Day 5: Rincón de la Vieja National Park and Volcano - Hacienda La Pacífica

The Rincón de la Vieja National Park has an extension of 14.084ha. It comprises an active strata volcano. Visit Las Pailas, an area with intense volcanic activity, boiling mud pools, steamy cones and sulfuric gases. Or enjoy small pools with hot springs and refreshing waterfalls in “Azufrales”. Later, departure passing by the city of Liberia to arrive at La Pacífica. This is an authentic Guanacaste cattle ranch as well as a balanced example of use and protection of the environment. The property comprises 2.000ha (4.943 acres) of land in a sustainability project, including a cattle ranch, agroecological production, and conservation.

Lodging: Hacienda La Pacífica or similar

Day 6: Palo Verde National Park - Arenal Hot Springs

Morning visit to the nearby 17.000ha (42.000 acres) Palo Verde Dry Forest National Park to see some of its 150 species of trees and 55 species of water plants. It is a paradise for bird watchers. Later, departure to La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano area), passing by the city of Tilarán and surrounding the Arenal Lake. Early evening, visit the hot springs near Tabacón, a nice resort with natural thermo-mineral water swimming pools, waterfalls and exotic ecological gardens.

Lodging: Catarata Lodge or similar

Day 7: Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge - Arenal Volcano

Departure to visit Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. This 9.966ha (24.000 acres) wildlife refuge is one of the richest primary forest reserves in the country where rivers and lagoons abound. Observe many different animals and plants. During the rainy season, you will ride by boat on the 800ha (2.000 acres) lagoon, almost empty during the dry season. The average temperature is 25ºC (77ºF). Some of the flora and fauna are in danger of extinction. Great opportunity to watch cattle egrets, wood storks, white ibis and black-bellied tree ducks among other birds. After the visit, return to La Fortuna to admire the Arenal Volcano. After sleeping quietly for more than 400 years, the Arenal erupted in 1968. On clear days, admire the almost perfect cone of the colossus.

Lodging: Catarata Lodge or similar

Day 8: Sarapiquí - Tirimbina Reserve/Chocolate Tour

Early departure from Arenal to Sarapiquí. Upon arrival, visit to La Tirimbina Rain Forest Center, which protects 346ha (865 acres) of forest. The habitats include rivers banks, island, forest edge, gardens and others. Walk through one of the largest hanging bridges in Costa Rica to admire many of the 420 species of birds, such as parrots, herons and toucans. Discover the secrets and wonders of chocolate. Learn about the history and culture of cacao and the process for making chocolate: harvesting, fermentation, drying and grinding. Taste chocolate samples of organic cacao produced by the Amazilia Women Association.

Lodging: Selva Verde Lodge

Day 9: Braulio Carrillo National Park - San José City Tour

Early departure across the Braulio Carrillo National Park, the largest one in Costa Rica. Enjoy the incredible nature of the cloud forest. Later, visit San José, the capital city. From the bus you will see the Central Park, the Cathedral, the National Theatre, the Post Office Building, the Parliament, La Sabana Park and the residential area of Rohrmoser.

Lodging: Hotel Fleur de Lys or similar

Day 10: Departure from San José

Transfer to the Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight.