Granada, or the "Gran Sultan", is one of Latin America's most beautiful colonial cities. This ancient town founded in 1524 on the shores of the mighty Lake Nicaragua and is full of history and Spanish colonial charm; it is famed to be one of the oldest European settlements in the western hemisphere. The city's precious architecture and history is unforgettable. There is not a more famous destination inside Nicaragua, with visitors coming from around the world to enjoy its timeless beauty and quiet charm. Granada is also a great jumping off point to visit numerous nature reserves, beaches, and villages in the region. The Island of Ometepe is like no other lake island in the world, and not just because it is the biggest lake island on our planet. It is more remarkable because of its shape, which is formed by two towering volcanoes wrapped in forest. It seems to rise up out of Lake Nicaragua like two magma pyramids to the heavens. The island houses an extinct volcano and an active one, as well as a very friendly rural population which lives off of banana and sustenance farming. The Maderas Volcano is in the province of Rivas and located on the Island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. At 1,394 meters above sea level, Maderas is usually draped in mist, the vital liquid of its rich cloud forest reserve. The Maderas Volcano is the sleepy twin of Concepción and home to a much more diverse and less disturbed flora and fauna that includes healthy populations of howler monkeys and Amazon parrots. There are two popular hikes on the mountain, the first a fairly easy walk up the west side of the volcano through farm land, and then cloud forest ending at a spectacular mountain cascade of more than 40 meters. Average hiking time varies from 1-3 hours up and 1-2 hours down, depending on the starting point. The second option is a summit hike that is muddy and trying, but less physical than the ascent of Concepción. Normal climbing time is 3-5 hours with a 2-4 hour descent. At the summit is a misty, ice-cold crater lake. This seemingly extinct crater can be accessed by the same rustic but charming lodging on Playa Santo Domingo located 1 hour from the cascade trailhead, and 30 minutes from the summit hike trail. A broad half-moon bay on Nicaragua's southern Pacific Coast, San Juan del Sur, has long since been discovered by international travelers, and its popularity is by and large well-deserved. The beautiful bay is good for swimming, though the water is a bit chilly by Nicaraguan standards. There are numerous lodging and eating options along the waterfront, and the town is an excellent base for exploring other lesser known beaches in the region via motorboat. San Juan is 2½ hours from Managua or 2 hours from Granada.
Nicaragua Highlights Travel Vacation Package (7N) includes:
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