Holidays in Nicaragua: Family Tour
Upcoming Dates in 2017
March 11-19 (Spring Break) June 10-18 (Summer Vacation) 9 days, 8 nights
A special family holiday designed with the kids in mind. Join other like-minded families and make new friends. We will slide down volcanoes, climb towers, and hike in search of nocturnal creatures. We will surf, paddle, swim and zip. We'll even include some learning activities that won't feel like school at all! Kids travel at a reduced rate to make it affordable for the whole family. Space is available for 15 people. Make your reservations now so you can be a part of this one-of-a-kind family adventure! Recommended age for activities on this tour is 8 years or older. If children younger than 8 are unable to participate in the volcano hike, zip line or surfing they will still have fun cheering on siblings and parents. It's all about the journey! ITINERARY During the weeks surrounding both Easter and Christmas, Nicaragua is at its best, alive with color, music and tradition. We will include special opportunities to experience these festive occasions in a very intimate way with your family. Day 1-3 We begin by traveling from the international airport in Managua to the liberal capital of León. The city of León is a living reminder of the revolution. Vivid murals appear around every corner depicting sentiments and heroes. From the top of an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the León Cathedral, you will be able to see Volcano San Cristóbal (the highest in Nicaragua) down to Volcano Momotombo. The clean and tidy local market will impress and the quirky Museum of Myths and Legends will no doubt keep the kids guessing as to which of the stories are true and which are told just to keep them in their beds at night. Nicaragua is the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes. Active volcanoes. None as active and young as Cerro Negro. A hike up in the late afternoon will offer a spectacular view of the sun setting over the volcanic chain and an easy "run" back down. One young boy once compared it to being like the Incredible Hulk as he bounded down the volcanic slope taking giant leaps that just aren't possible on level ground. We head south to pineapple country. The undulating countryside is prolific. We’ll take you to visit with a local farmer and his family making their living off this sweet fruit. See how three generations are living in el campo (the countryside). You will get to taste the culmination of its challenges and rewards in a bowl full of the fragrant fruit. Volcán Masaya National Park was established in 1979 as Nicaragua’s first national park. We’ll spend time exploring the park’s several craters, peering into one of the country’s most visibly active volcanoes. The steep climb to Coyotepe, built as a fortress in 1893 to protect Masaya, later used as a prison, now a national landmark, offers a view that gives us some idea of just how much water and how many volcanoes make up this, the largest country in Central America. |
Day 4-6
In the conservative capital of Granada you will be enchanted by the colorful colonial architecture that abounds. This historical city will keep all your senses alert, especially "smell" and "taste" during our chocolate making class, where you will learn, hands-on, how to turn the cacao bean into a a chocolate bar. Kids will roll up their sleeves and get dirty in the best possible way. From the bustling city streets of Granada we will go in search of peace and quiet. We'll spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking, or simply floating in the thermal, crystalline crater lake waters of Laguna de Apoyo. The kids will keep entertained with open air bocce ball, ping pong and billiards. The howler monkeys may even come by for a close up look at the action. A visit to a private island in Las Isletas includes a homemade lunch with fish fresh from the sweet waters of Lake Nicaragua, swimming, kayaking, stand up paddleboard (SUP), or just lounging in a hammock in the shade of the island's natural canopy. There's something for everyone and the views from this rocky islet and tranquil bay will inspire. Volcán Mombacho rises nearly 4,400 feet above sea level, its summit hidden in a dense cloud forest. We’ll hike around one of its forest-lined craters through an amazing ecosystem, home to colorful orchids and bromeliads, curious wildlife, fascinating insects, and over 160 species of birds. After the sun goes down we'll follow the light of our headlamps in search of red eye tree frogs, owls, and the Bolitoglossa Mombachoensis salamander endemic to Mombacho. You'll also get a first-hand look at a shade-grown coffee farm and processing plant. Day 7-9 We head out of the city and we're off to the beach! Nicaragua is home to four species of sea turtles. More than 100,000 olive ridley nests are laid on La Flor beach each year between July and December. With luck we will see some as they emerge from the water and make their way up the sandy incline. And when we are not on land observing these magnificent creatures we will be in the water riding the magnificent Pacific waves. Surf lessons for all those interested will provide instructions for a safe and fun water experience on a beach with waves appropriate for beginners. The kids will find themselves at home swinging from the tree tops on our zipline adventure. For those a little less inclined to swing freely, no worries, there are plenty of local guides who will do it for you, all you need to do is hold on enjoy the ride. Really, that's the purpose of this tour... to enjoy the ride! What is included
Not included
NOTE: The conditions on this tour can be difficult due to the nature of the developing world. While accommodations are upscale for Nicaragua, there may still be issues with electricity, water, access to the internet, and Nicaraguan culture continues to run on its own schedule - that's why we adore it! |