Cultural Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s going to be a delightful cultural surprise. While visible history is recorded in ancient rock paintings and fine pottery, even more present is a colonial heritage, well-preserved in Granada, the oldest city in the Americas and a beauty indeed with its inspiring colonial churches and historic mansions. Competitive with Granada in architecture and charm is the university town of Leon, once the nation’s capital and still the heartland of Nicaraguan arts and culture. Of course high on every visitor’s cultural menu will be discovering vibrant fine arts and crafts traditions, a tasty culinary scene to discover, and a country full of welcoming “Nicas.”

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

Managua city – Leon colonial city- Granada colonial city

DEPARTURE TIME

To check locally

RETURN TIME

To check locally

WEAR & BRING

Comfortable Clothes (shorts, tennis shoes, t-shirt) & camera.

INCLUDED

A/C Transportation, Bilingual Guide, Entrance fees to the different attractions, Daily Breakfast

NOT INCLUDED

Personal expenses, Entry & Exit from International Airport in Managua, Meals & Tours or services not specified in the itinerary, Personal and/or medical expenses, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program.

Day 1: Managua

Arrival in Managua. You will be welcomed upon arrival and transferred to your hotel.
• Accommodation: Hotel Real Intercontinental Metrocentro (Breakfast included)

Day 2: Managua – León

Start your day exploring the highlights of Managua. You will then learn the basics of Nicaraguan cuisine and even help prepare some traditional dishes. After lunch, continue your journey in private transportation to León. Along the way, you will learn how to make the popular Nicaraguan dish known as “quesillo.”
• Accommodation: Hotel El Convento (Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 3: León

The city of León, known during colonial times as “Santiago de los Caballeros de León,” is the capital of León department and the second largest city in Nicaragua. León is famous for its architecture, showcasing neoclassical, gothic, baroque, and colonial styles reflected in its homes, commercial buildings, and 16 churches.

The highlight of the city is the Basilica of the Assumption, whose construction began in 1747 and was completed 113 years later. It is the largest cathedral in Central America and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

The tomb of poet Rubén Darío, León’s most beloved son, is located beneath the central nave and guarded by a lion statue.

During our walking tour, we will also visit the Ortiz Gurdián Art Foundation Museum, considered one of the finest contemporary art museums in Central America. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will head to the Flor de Caña Rum factory, the largest distillery in the Americas. The visit includes a guided tour and a tasting session of its internationally acclaimed varieties. Back at the hotel, we will learn how to prepare Nicaragua’s national cocktail, the “Macuá,” made with rum and fruit juice.
• Accommodation: Hotel El Convento (Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 4: León to Granada

After breakfast, we will travel to the colonial city of Granada, your home for the next three nights. Along the way, we will stop for lunch in Masaya. Then, a local guide will take you to Masaya Volcano, the centerpiece of Masaya Volcano National Park. From the Santiago crater, active since 1946, you will be able to look inside.

Next, we visit the famous Masaya Market, where you can discover local crafts and perhaps do some shopping. In the afternoon, enjoy the cultural event “Thursday Festivities,” featuring food stalls and restaurants offering traditional Nicaraguan dishes. We then continue our short journey to Granada.
• Accommodation: Hotel Real La Merced (Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 5: Granada

This morning begins with a visit to a local cigar factory, where you will learn the history of tobacco, from pre-Columbian traditions to more refined Spanish and British methods. Then, enjoy the beauty of Granada, founded in 1524 and the oldest European settlement in the Americas.

Starting at the lively central plaza, you will take a short carriage ride through the cobblestone streets, followed by a walking tour visiting La Merced Church and the San Francisco Convent Museum, which displays pre-Columbian stone idols and an impressive collection of ancient sculptures.

In the afternoon, enjoy a chocolate workshop at the Chocolate Museum, where you will create your own chocolate. End the day with a relaxing boat tour through the islets of Lake Nicaragua.
• Accommodation: Hotel Real La Merced (Breakfast included)

Day 6: Granada

After breakfast, enjoy a half-day adventure at Mombacho Volcano Reserve, a dense cloud forest overlooking Granada. A park guide will lead you on a 1 hour and 45-minute hike, showcasing the flora, fauna, and history of this unique ecosystem.
• Free afternoon
• Accommodation: Hotel Real La Merced (Breakfast included).

Day 7: Granada

Today you will visit Zapatera Archipelago National Park, a lesser-known island in Lake Nicaragua with rich natural and archaeological significance. Declared a national park in 1983, it is home to important archaeological sites and local farming communities.

Depart early by boat through the islets, enjoying birdlife and views of Mombacho Volcano. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and explore the island, including the lagoon where indigenous people hid gold from the Spanish, as well as various archaeological sites with stone idols.

After lunch, relax in a hammock before continuing by boat to “El Muerto Island,” known for its volcanic rock formations and carved stones.
• Accommodation: Hotel Real La Merced (Breakfast and lunch included)