A Cultural Pose: Yoga in Nicaragua
Upcoming Dates in 2017
Yoga Instructors can choose their own travel dates, year round. 8 days, 7 nights
This unique yoga adventure is more than just a retreat. Nicaragua is a land of Colonial architecture, volcanic heat and cool cloud forests. In addition to staying balanced, feeling good and present during our trip, you will have the opportunity to be actively engaged as we see just how life is lived in this Land of Lakes and Volcanoes. This yoga tour is designed for yoga instructors who would like to offer something special to their students, something beyond a typical, stationary retreat. Maximum group size is 16 people. Give us a call to discuss pricing and details. ITINERARY Day 1 From Managua's international airport we head straight into the heart of coffee country in the northern mountainous region of Matagalpa. Here we will spend three nights at a charming family lodge nestled into the hillside with breathtaking views. Evening yoga will help us unwind, get grounded after a day of traveling, and prepare for a restful sleep. Meals: Welcome Dinner Yoga: Evening Day 2 After our first morning yoga practice in the clean mountain air, dive into a healthy breakfast, homemade with ingredients harvested right out the front door from the host's thriving organic gardens, as will be all your meals during our stay in this magical place. We will ride, old school, on a slow moving tractor trailer to Selva Negra, a private natural reserve, for a close up look at organic farming, coffee production and land preservation. You will take a hike with a local guide along the seemingly endless trails that criss-cross this impressive landscape, learning about the native flora and keeping our eyes open for monkeys, agouti, a great variety of birds, strangler figs and sloths. This evening's yoga will release any tightness from today's hike, it will disappear along with the sun as it sets over the lush green backdrop. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Yoga: Morning, Evening Day 3 Our morning yoga is sure to invigorate you as much as your surroundings, preparing you for another active day. Cerro Apante lies just to the south of Matagalpa forming part of the city's high, protective borders. We will make our way from the center of town, through the bustling city streets, which eventually give way to the wooded path that leads to the top of this majestic lookout. From here you will see why Nicaraguans call Matagalpa, The Pearl of the North. One last spectacular sunset while striking a pose. Unforgettable. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Yoga: Morning, Evening Day 4 Today, after yoga, the morning is yours. Then, after another replenishing lunch, we depart from Matagalpa and make our way to Granada. We will make time to stop at the Masaya Volcano National Park, a volcanic complex that comprises an area of 54 km², and hike around the undulating rim of one of its five craters (an inactive one!). Then, it's on to our history lesson at Coyotepe, a national landmark. The steep climb to this fortress, built in 1893 to protect the city of Masaya and later used as a prison for political prisoners, 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. A volunteer Boy Scout will give us a sobering tour that will help you to better understand the Nicaraguan people and all that they have endured throughout the history of their country. It is a testament to their resilience and quest for peace. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Yoga: Morning, Evening |
Day 5
Say good morning to Central America’s oldest European settlement and arguably Nicaragua’s most picturesque town, Granada. Feeling refreshed after energizing flow class, we head out to explore our new city. In the conservative capital of Granada you will be enchanted by the colorful colonial architecture that abounds. We’ll show you the highlights, walk the vibrant streets, tour the market, churches and museums. 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. In the afternoon we will head to the shores of Lake Nicaragua and Las Isletas, 365 small, rocky islands formed 20,000 years ago by a massive volcanic explosion! You'll stroll out into the shallow warm waters for a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) lesson led by the young couple who introduced this fun water sport to Granada's tourists and locals alike. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Yoga: Morning, Evening Day 6 Volcán Mombacho rises nearly 4,400 feet above sea level, its summit hidden in a dense cloud forest. After giving our adventurous souls a ride zipping through the low-altitude canopy, we’ll continue to the top of this grand volcano to 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. You'll also get a first-hand look at a shade-grown coffee farm and processing plant. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Yoga: Morning, Evening Day 7 Today is your day to enjoy the Laguna de Apoyo however you see fit. Swim, dive, float in its warm crystalline waters, paddle a kayak around its rocky shoreline, get a massage, or simply lie back in your lounge chair with a cool, fresh fruit drink in hand. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner Yoga: Morning, Evening Day 8 Today you will bid farewell to your new friend, Nicaragua. But you'll be back. Nos vemos pronto! |