Costa Rica – Nicaragua Tour
15 days of thrills and spills

Welcome to Costa Rica!

Your private driver will be waiting for you at Juan Santamaria International Airport, near San Jose, at an altitude of 1,150 meters in the heart of the Central Valley, to take you to your hotel.

overnight at hotel in San Jose

You’ll start the day by picking up your rental car directly from your hotel.

Our rental company will take the time to give you an inventory of the vehicle, provide you with all the necessary information and answer any questions you may have.

Road from San Jose to Turrialba.

In the morning, departure for the Turrialba valley, famous for its clean air and rafting.

Approximate driving time: 2 hours.

Horseback riding in the heart of the Finca.

On this ride through the Turrialba valley, you’ll pass through farms (coffee and sugarcane plantations, etc.) and a wide variety of tropical natural sites. Packed lunch on the banks of the Rio Pacuare river, where you can take a dip before setting off for the rest of the day.

In the heart of the secondary forest, your local guide will explain the workings of this unique ecosystem. From the heights of the Finca, you’ll also have the chance to observe the entire Turrialba valley.

Approximate duration: 6-7 hours, moderate level.

overnight in a superb Hacienda, totally immersed in nature

Morning rafting on the rapids of the Rio Pacuare

The white, bubbling waters of these rapids are the most famous in Latin America.

They offer a rafting descent of incredible beauty: you’ll enter an impressive primary rainforest and the river will carry you into deep gorges whose steep sides are covered with thick undergrowth and home to jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, sloths and many other animal species, as well as a multitude of birds.

Approximate duration: 6 hours, rafting class II – III, moderate.

overnight in a superb Hacienda, totally immersed in nature

Road from Turrialba to Sarapiqui.

Departure for Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, an important river port since colonial times, whose forests are home to tapirs, sloths, coatis and various monkeys.

Approximate driving time : 3 hours.

Cacao tourDiscover the secrets and wonders of one of mankind’s favorite foods: chocolate.

After crossing a suspension bridge to the cacao plantation (Theobroma cacao), you’ll discover the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree. At the plantation, you’ll learn about the process by which cocoa is transformed into chocolate, and taste the indigenous chocolate drink, as well as chocolate bars made from organic cocoa.

Approximate duration: 2 hours.

Encounter with nocturnal animals

Discover the region’s wildlife on a night hike. Your naturalist guide will help you observe snakes, spiders, frogs and other nocturnal species…

Approximate duration: 1? hours.

overnight in a charming lodge close to the Tirimbina reserve

Road from Sarapiqui to Arenal.

Back on the road towards the La Fortuna region and the majestic Arenal volcano (1,650 m), perfectly conical in shape.

Approximate driving time : 1 hour 30 minutes.

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Enjoy a kayak excursion on Lake Arenal with a breathtaking view of the Arenal volcano and its verdant surroundings. You’ll explore different areas of the lake in search of exotic wildlife, including beautifully colored monkeys and tropical birds. To further enjoy the serenity, you’ll stop at a small island where you’ll be served fresh Costa Rican tropical fruit.

Approximate duration: 4 hours.

overnight in a beautiful hotel overlooking the volcano

On the edge of sensational zip lines.

Thrills guaranteed in complete safety. You’ll explore the treetops on a zip line as you glide along a 7-cable course from platform to platform in a nature reserve bordered by Arenal Volcano National Park. Your group adventure begins from the 18-metre tower, with a crossing of a 120-metre-high canyon, offering breathtaking views of the Pino Blanco waterfall. You continue your journey over a suspension bridge to the region’s longest cable, stretching for 1 km and overlooking the famous Fortuna River waterfall.

Before setting off again, you’ll have the opportunity to meet members of the Maleku indigenous community, who will explain their history and customs in a converted cultural replica.

Travel Green: Maleku handicrafts are perfect for bringing home a unique souvenir! And all profits go back to the community.

Approximate duration: 2.5 hours.

At the end of the day, take a stroll across the suspension bridges and don’t miss a memorable sunset.

In the heart of the rainforest, you’ll witness a rare moment: the passage from day to night. The sounds change, the light softens… As you cross the suspension bridges, daytime and nocturnal wildlife intersect before your very eyes. A unique sensory immersion, between magic and serenity.

Highlights :

– The golden light of dusk in the primary forest

– Suspension bridges in a peaceful setting

– Observe species active at dusk: coatis, birds, insects, etc.

Approximate duration: 2? hours

Overnight in a beautiful hotel overlooking the volcano

Road fromArenal to Peñas Blancas. Drive to Liberia, then on to the border at Peñas Blancas. Border crossing

Approximate driving time: 4 hours.

Return your vehicle to Peñas Blancas at the Nicaraguan border.

Note : please allow for the Nicaraguan entry tax of us$13 and the Costa Rican exit tax of us$8

Picking up your rental car in Peñas Blancas

Drive to the small seaside resort of San Juan del Sur on the Pacific Ocean.

overnight in a charming hotel

Depart San Juan del Sur this morning and make your way to the port of San Jorge, Rivas. Board the ferry forOmetepe Island, the largest island on a freshwater lake. You’ll be able to see its two majestic volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas.

Note: approx. 1h drive and 1h15 crossing.

Suggestion: short hike along the Charco Verde lagoon.

Welcome to Charco Verde Nature Park, at the foot of the majestic Concepción volcano. We recommend a hike along the emerald Charco Verde lagoon. This route offers impressive views of the island’s two emblematic volcanoes: Concepción and Maderas. You can observe howler monkeys and a wide variety of tropical birds.

1-hour hike – 2.6 km – easy.

Entrance fee payable on site.

overnight in a beautiful Eco-lodge

Mirador Maderas volcano hike.

Accompanied by an experienced hiker, you’ll set off along the slopes of the Maderas volcano towards a mirador offering one of the best views on the island.

You’ll pass through different types of vegetation, from the beige of the dry plain dotted with black volcanic rock, to the greens of the banana plantations on the heights. Along the way, you’ll come across oxen and horses, as well as the local inhabitants who cultivate this very fertile land.

Once you reach the mirador, if the weather is clear, you’ll have the chance to take in the spectacular view of the « 8 » shape of Ometepe island and a breathtaking view of the cone of the Concepcion volcano just opposite.

Return to the hotel via the hiking trails.

Note: approx. 2 hrs walk out and 2 hrs walk back.

600 m ascent.

Difficulty: moderate

Kayaking on the Rio Istian.

Your guide will take you kayaking on the Rio Istian, a special ecosystem located between the island’s two volcanoes. You’ll start your boat trip on Nicaragua’s largest lake to observe the various properties that litter the shoreline.

You’ll then climb into your kayak to approach the isthmus and enter a small stream of water with lush vegetation. In this mangrove, you’ll be able to admire many birds, caimans and monkeys.

On the way back, you’ll be surrounded by two majestic volcanoes and enjoy a panoramic view of the lake.

Duration: 3 hours.

overnight in a beautiful Eco-lodge

Drive to the port of Moyogalpa and board the ferry to San Jorge, Rivas.

Once on land, drive to Laguna de Apoyo.

Free afternoon to enjoy the Laguna de Apoyo, an ancient volcanic crater now filled with fresh water.

It’s a lake formed in the submerged volcanic crater of the now extinct Volcán de Apoyo, with a depth of 200 metres – the lowest point in all of Central America!

The volcano is largely considered dormant, and a thick green forest has developed on its flanks over the years. It’s here that you can take a nature hike and observe toucans, hummingbirds, blue jays, howler and white-faced monkeys and exotic butterflies.

Enjoy a swim, a kayak outing, or simply a nap in a hammock on the edge of this relaxing setting.

overnight in a beautiful lagoon-side hotel

Day trip to Las Isletas, Isla Zopango

In the morning, meet at Port del Rayo for a day dedicated to discovering Las Isletas, an archipelago of islands off the coast of Granada.

Around midday, you’ll set off by boat to explore these islets, where Nicaraguans have now established their vacation homes. Nearly 400 of these basaltic islands have been counted, and you’re sure to enjoy excellent views of the proud Mombacho volcano, as well as numerous animal sightings.

You’ll reach Isla Zopango, a 100% natural, private island where the owners have taken great care to preserve this little piece of « floating » paradise. You can use the kayaks to explore the surrounding area and admire the fauna and flora of this archipelago up close. You’ll appreciate the calm that reigns on and around the island, so close and so far from Granada.

For lunch, you can enjoy fresh barbecued fish – a guaranteed delight.

A Robinson and Crusoe atmosphere, a chance to live like an islander for a day.

Note: from 09:00 to 16:00 approx.

Note 2: The owners of Zopango Island have been supporting the small La E speranza school in Asese Bay for almost 7 years.

overnight in a beautiful colonial-style hotel

Self-guided El Crater hike on the Mombacho volcano.

Discover the wetlands of Volcan Mombacho, overlooking Granada.

It is made up of four volcanic craters, with the highest peak reaching 1,345 meters.

Meet us at the entrance to Volcan Mombacho and take a 4×4 truck to the easily accessible hiking trails through the only rainforest on Central America’s Pacific coast.

Let’s go for a hike in the heart of this atypical ecosystem!

Nearly 150 species of orchid, 50 types of mammal and 120 species of butterfly have been recorded here.

You’ll also visit a museum depicting the volcano’s major telluric events.

Note: 1h30 marked hike; moderate difficulty.

Discover the secrets of traditional chocolate-making.

You’ll meet in a community on the slopes of the Mombacho volcano. Donald, the community leader, will welcome you into his home.

You’ll learn about and witness all the stages of cocoa processing, from the cocoa bean to the chocolate.

Duration: 1-hour workshop.

Lunch in the community included.Overnight in a beautiful colonial-style hotel

Departure from Granada. We recommend heading for Masaya, to stroll through the town’s market, one of the most important in the country and renowned for its colorful handicrafts.

You can pass by the Catarina viewpoint, which offers a panoramic view of the Laguna de Apoyo. We suggest lunch in the vicinity of the Laguna, at the restaurant el Paso del Tren.

After lunch, continue to Leon, where we suggest you take a stroll through Leon Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the shores of Lake Managua. After a stroll and free visit of the ruins, you can climb the hill overlooking the site and enjoy the view of the surrounding landscape and the Momotombo volcano.

Continue your journey and check into your hotel in Leon.

Note: approx. 2 hours’ drive.

Free time to explore Leon.

Former capital of Nicaragua until 1851, León is a must-see city in the north of the country. Seductive for its colonial style, fascinating for its rich historical and religious past, we invite you to discover this city through the places that have marked its history.

We suggest you start your visit with the indigenous district of Sutiaba, followed by a visit to the museum of Ruben Dario, the mythical child of Nicaraguan literature. Then take time to discover the imposing cathedral on the Parc Central, and admire the panoramic view from its roof. Finally, you can end your visit with a look at the revolutionary murals that decorate the city’s walls.

Museums are closed on Mondays in Nicaragua.

Ruben Dario Museum open Tuesday to Sunday 08:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 08:00 to 12:00 pm.

overnight in an intimate colonial-style hotel

Sunrise at Volcan El Hoyo and sandboarding at Cerro Negro

This experience is dedicated to the discovery of two volcanoes in the department of Léon: Pilas El Hoyo and Cerro Negro.

Your guide will pick you up around 01:30 a.m. from your hotel.

Depart early in the morning for the ascent of the Pilas El Hoyo volcano, whose summit reaches an altitude of 1050 metres. This active volcano is part of a 30 km-long volcanic chain and has a huge crater from which fumaroles escape.

Once at the top, you can enjoy the magnificent sunrise while having breakfast (included) before starting the journey to the Cerro Negro volcano.

Elevation gain + 520m (from 480 m altitude to 1000 m ) – approx. 13 km round trip

Route to Cerro Negro: Born 150 years ago, Cerro Negro is the most active volcano in Nicaragua, having last erupted in 1999. At an altitude of 725m, it lives up to its name « Black Mountain » and has a lunar appearance. Its surface is covered with black volcanic rock all the way to the summit. Fumaroles and sulphur fumes add to the scenery.

You’ll reach the summit from where you can observe the crater, then descend either on foot or by sandboard . Thrills guaranteed as you sit on your board!

Ascent: +204 m – 2km walk. Moderate difficulty

Return to León for lunch (included).

Note: allow 10 hours for the excursion in total, including 5/6 hours of moderate to difficult walking.

overnight in an intimate colonial-style hotel

Free time to enjoy the city of León. Then back on the road to Managua international airport. Three hours before departure, connection to your international flight.

Note: 100 km – approx. 2 hours drive.

return your rentalcar directly toManagua airport.