Nicaragua Packages - San Juan River, 9 Days


Nicaragua Packages
Back to the Nicaragua Packages
San Juan River 9 Days / 8 Nights

	The San Juan River is a timeless passageway through dense tropical forest from Central America's grandest lake to the Caribbean Sea. This historic river was the stage for great colonial period battles between the Spanish Crown and British and French pirates and later became the route of Cornelius Vanderbilt's inter-oceanic steam ship service during the California gold rush. The Rio San Juan, described by Mark Twain in his notebooks as "an earthly paradise", is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding rain forest experiences available anywhere. This boating wildlife safari travels the entire 190 km length of the San Juan River, from the inland sea of Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean. You'll savor the fabulous flora and fauna of the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, 4,000 square kilometers of virgin rain forest and wildlife. The Indio Maiz reserve has been described by University of California biologists as "the gem of Central American nature reserves". We'll explore it in depth with visits to the extraordinary Indio River, which runs into the heart of this precious nature reserve and the magnificent Caño Negro and many other of the reserve's hidden veins. The Indio Maiz Biological Reserve is home to many endangered species: howler, white faced and spider monkeys, jaguar, giant anteaters, crocodiles, toucans, parrots and a rainbow of orchid and butterflies. Over 600 species of birds live here, along with more than 300 species of reptiles and 200 species of mammals. Join us for a trip into the lungs of Central America, into the biggest expanse of rain forest north of the Amazon basin, Nicaragua's Indio Maiz Biological Reserve.

	Day 1 - Managua Airport greeting and transfer to Hotel César. Trip briefing and lodging at the hotel César.
	Day 2 - Managua - San Carlos - San Juan River - El Castillo Breakfast and transfer to airport for domestic flight to the jungle capital of San Carlos, transfer to dock to board private boat. Magnificent journey down the mighty Río San Juan with wildlife viewing. Lunch in route. Visit to the colonial Spanish fort at El Castillo. Lodging and dinner at the El Albergue lodge in El Castillo next to the fort, overlooking the river.
	Day 3 - El Castillo - Bartola River Breakfast at the hotel and boat transfer to the confluence of the Bartola River and the San Juan River. Meals and lodging at Refugio Bartola Lodge and Research Center. Hiking on some of the 14 trails in this great nature reserve.
	Day 4 - Bartola River - San Juan River - Sarapiquí River Breakfast at the lodge and early boat departure for the great journey down the Río San Juan. This part of the river is full of turtles, caimans and crocodiles as well as monkeys. Arrival to the Sarapiquí River for lodging and meals at its confluence with the San Juan River.
	Day 5 - Sarapiquí - San Juan River - Caribbean Sea - Indio River Breakfast at the hotel. Boat trip down the Rio San Juan to its spectacular finish at the Caribbean Sea. Visit to the famous sand bar where many a ship crew lost their lives in colonial times, including one from the final expedition of Christopher Columbus. Visit to the old British ghost town called Greytown, which is now covered in tropical forest and located in the giant San Juan Bay. Continue to the Indio River and the small village there, isolated in paradise, called San Juan del Norte just meters away from the crashing Caribbean Sea but enclosed by a jungle river and rain forest. Lunch and dinner in the village with lodging at the river front hotel Lost Paradise.
	Day 6 - Indio River - Caño Negro - Indio River Early breakfast and departure up the virgin Indio River for exploration in boat, into the east side of the Indio Maiz Reserve. Full day boat tour to explore this untamed paradise of rain forest flora and fauna. The Río Indio is like no other in Central America with kilometer after kilometer of thick forest filled with wildlife. Also a trip up the dark black waters of the Caño Negro where mankind and his structures are still just a concept. This kind of untouched tropical splendor can not be found anywhere else north of the Amazon. Meals and lodging at the Hotel Lost Paradise.
	Day 7 - Indio River - San Juan River - Rio Bartola Breakfast and journey up the Rio San Juan to the Rio Bartola. Meals and river front lodging and the jungle refuge of Bartola. Afternoon to hike in the wildlife reserve or relax river front in hammocks.
	Day 8 - Bartola River - San Juan River - San Carlos - Masaya - Managua Very early breakfast and private boat trip to San Carlos, transfer to airport for morning flight to Managua. Airport greeting and transfer to check in to the Hotel César. Afternoon visit to the famous native crafts market in Masaya for shopping. Special farewell dinner. Lodging at Hotel César.
	Day 9 - Managua Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to international airport for flight home.

	* End Of Our Services *

Back to the Nicaragua Packages