7 Days / 6 Nights
Day 1 - Managua
Airport greeting and transfer to Hotel Metrocentro Intercontinental in
Managua. Afternoon tour of Managua's best galleries (time permitting).
Trip briefing at hotel.
Day 2 - Managua
- Leon Viejo - San Jacinto - Leon
Breakfast at the Intercontinental. Travel north to the small village of
Puerto Momotombo located at the base of the massive volcano of the same
name on Lake Managua. This is the location of the buried city of León
Viejo founded in 1524 and just declared an UNESCO world heritage site,
explanation of the history and work at the site by a National Museum archeologist.
Transfer further north to the colonial capitol and intellectual and artistic
center of Nicaragua, León, founded in 1610. Visit to the house of one
of the Spanish language’s greatest poets, Ruben Darío and one of the most
tragic, Alfonso Cortéz. Lunch break at the Pacific beach front Suyapa
restaurant in Las Peñitas, just outside Leon. Trip to the rural village
of San Jacinto, a small settlement with beautiful and friendly children,
located in the midst of active volcanic vein. Lodging in León just one
block from central park at the Hotel Austria.
Day 3 - La
Purisima Celebrations
Breakfast at Hotel. Walking tour of this Spanish colonial city, a vibrantly
alive, architectural relic. León is home to 14 colonial churches, including
Central America’s biggest church, and to hundreds of students who live
in León to attend some of the country’s finest schools and Universities.
Observation of the decorations process for the home altars that are built
to the Virgin Mary. Lunch break at the open air restaurant on central
park El Sesteo. Night time walking tour of the La Purisima celebrations
in León with the assistance of a local cultural expert. Lodging in León
at Hotel Austria.
Day 4 - Leon
- Las Isletas - Granada
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel south past the shores of Lake Managua to
the shore of the mighty Lake Nicaragua and to one of the Western Hemisphere's
oldest European settlements, Granada. Lunch stop in Managua and the famous
traditional food restaurant of Doña Haydée. Visit to the water bound community
in Lake Nicaragua called Las Isletas. 354 little islands with lots of
children, tropical fruit trees and families of fishermen. Private boat
tour of the islands. Transfer to Granada for lodging on central park at
the Hotel Alhambra.
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning walking tour to explore this peaceful, historic town on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Founded in 1524, Granada is the oldest continually occupied, city on the continent of the America’s, still in its original location. Visit to the ancient convent of San Francisco and the impressive pre-Columbian statuary there. Lunch stop at the Spanish food treat of Doña Conchi's. Great antique shopping in Granada for those who are interested. Lodging at the Alhambra.
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to the villages of Masaya's central highland, famous for their handmade crafts, Indian folklore and history and rustic way of life, with visits to artisan’s workshops. Assistance of a local expert on the hand made crafts of this region. Each village has its own speciality like San Juan de Oriente the home of Nicaraguan ceramic traditions where 85% of the population makes kick-wheel spun earthenware or Masatepe were rustic wood shops turn out stunning rocking chairs and tables. Visit to the country’s best crafts market in the folkloric center of the country, Masaya. Lunch break in the highest of the highland villages, Catarina which is known for its baskets and decorative plants at the crater lake lookout restaurant. Lodging in colonial Granada on Central Park at the Alhambra.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport in Managua for flight home.