Hike through the incredible natural scenery of Nicaragua
The incredible 12-day Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour takes you on an unforgettable journey through the natural wonders of Nicaragua. You'll get to explore pristine nature reserves bursting with wildlife, stay on the volcanic island of Ometepe, follow the footsteps of the faithful on a pilgrim's route, and jump into vast canyons in the northern highlands.
Every day you'll have an experienced local guide to reveal the hidden secrets of each area and immerse you in the local culture. Each step you hike will reveal more of Nicaragua’s lush natural world. Get ready for an adventure that shows off the best of Nicaragua's hiking!
Highlights of the Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour
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Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Managua
Welcome and Bienvenido to the capital of Nicaragua, Managua. At the airport, a driver will greet you and transfer you to the Montibelli Nature Reserve, nestled in the hills about an hour from the city.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Montibelli
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Exploring Montibelli Reserve
You have a full day to explore the forest trails of the Montibelli Nature Reserve with a local guide, who will point out the many species of birds and wildlife. You'll get wonderful views of the Masaya Volcano in the distance and coffee plantations lining the hills.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Montibelli
Distance: Varies
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Farm Visit and Estate Stay
After breakfast, you'll drive into cattle country and hike into the hills to visit a local farm where you can try your hand at making tortillas and cheese. Of course, you can snack on the fruits of your labour.
You'll stay tonight at a local estate in the rustic countryside.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in El Juste
Distance: 3-4 hours, 10km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Pilgrim Path to Cuapa
Walking in the footsteps of faithful devotees, you'll follow the pilgrim's path through the mountains to a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary who appeared to a local man in a vision. This beautiful path reveals rushing rivers and pristine countryside.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Juigalpa
Distance: 6-8 hours, 22km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Mountain Hike to the “Stone Man”
Today you drive north and visit a small village to learn about traditional lifestyles and medicinal plants. You then hike up to the “Stone Man” Don Alberto, a hermit who carves fantastical sculptures out of the mountain. (Note: he does not receive visitors on Sundays.)
Overnight Location: Hotel in Somoto
Distance: 3 hours, 6km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Somoto Canyon
Hiking through the Somoto Canyon reveals the gorgeous natural scenery, geology and wildlife. Some of the route requires you to get into the water and swim across, so be prepared! You can also have a ball jumping from the canyon walls into the crystal clear waters.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Somoto
Distance: 5-6 hours, 14km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 7 Hot Springs and Telica Volcano Camping
In the morning you'll visit the bubbling San Jacinto hot springs and begin your ascent to the Telica Volcano. Near the top of the volcano, you'll get incredible views.
Set up your tent for a truly unique experience of sleeping on an active volcano.
Overnight Location: Campsite at Telica Volcano
Distance: 3 hours, 7km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 Escape to Ometepe Island
Like Tom Hanks, you survived the volcano! You descend Telica and meet the driver who takes you to the ferry, which whisks you over to Ometepe, the largest volcanic island in the world. Located in Lake Nicaragua, Ometepe is a gorgeous getaway.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse on Ometepe Island
Distance: 3 hours, 7km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 9 Maderas Volcano Climb
Wake up early to begin the 8-hour round trip climb to the summit of Maderas Volcano, passing through the cloud forest and rainforest. If this hike is too strenuous, you can take a shorter hike to a viewpoint instead.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse on Ometepe Island
Distance: 8 hours, 10km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 Carco Verde to Granada City
In the morning you have time to explore Ometepe's Charco Verde reserve and the butterfly house before taking the ferry back to the mainland. You'll travel to the gorgeous colonial city of Granada and enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic sites.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Granada
Distance: 3 hours, 6km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Mombacho Puma Trail
The dormant Mombacho volcano is home to the Puma Trail which passes through the tropical cloud forest that sits on the summit of the old crater.
In the afternoon, you have free time in Granada to simply relax, or you can try fun activities like making chocolate or rolling cigars.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Granada
Distance: 4 hours, 4km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Departure from Managua
Your amazing adventure in Nicaragua comes to an end today. A driver will transfer you to the Managua airport for your outbound flight. Have a safe trip home!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour Price and Dates
This guided hiking tour in Nicaragua is run as a private tour for your group only and the price depends on the number of participants.
Prices below are per person sharing a double room, and groups of odd numbers can either book a single room for a supplement of $112 USD (per room) or opt-out for a triple room with a $10 USD per person price reduction.
- Guided solo traveller: $2,350 USD
- Guided groups of 2: $1,625 USD per person
- Guided groups of 3: $1,350 USD per person
- Guided groups of 4-5: $1,250 USD per person
- Guided groups of 6+: $1,095 USD per person
Accommodation on the Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour
This tour is based in hotels, guesthouses, and campsites. Please note that in some guesthouses at the nature reserves, the accommodation may be dormitory-style with shared facilities. Hotels on this tour are 2 and 3-star and offer modern conveniences to make your trip more comfortable.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement of $112 USD to have a private room in a hotel where possible. There is a reduction of $10 USD for triple rooms. Solo travellers will pay the listed 1-person price.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Montibelli Lodge in Montibelli
Enjoy this simple but comfortable mountain lodge in a nature reserve with wonderful forest views and nature trails for birdwatching.
Finca El Encanto in El Juste
Spend the night at a local estate in the countryside and immerse yourself in the local way of life.
Posada la Hacienda in Juigalpa ★★
This friendly guesthouse is known for its restaurant, especially the steak.
Rual's Hotel Somoto ★★
This colourful guesthouse close to the Somoto Canyon enjoys beautiful forest views.
Campsite on Telica Volcano
Enjoy the unique experience of camping on an active volcano and wake up to see the sunrise from the summit.
Finca el Porvenir in Isla de Ometepe ★★
Surround yourself with nature at this rustic thatched roof guesthouse on beautiful Ometepe Island.
Hotel El Almirante in Granada ★★★
This classic colonial hotel in downtown Granada has a lovely courtyard pool and easy access to nearby attractions and restaurants.
What’s Included in the Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour?
Meals
11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 11 nights are included. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for you and your luggage is included throughout the tour, including to and from the airport. All private transfers by car and ferry are also included as mentioned in the itinerary.
Also Included
- Specialized local guides
- Excursions mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees
- Camping equipment
Not included
- Flights
- Nicaraguan tourist card ($10 USD per person)
- International flight departure tax ($47 USD per person if not included in airfare)
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions
Frequently Asked Questions about Guided Nicaragua Hiking Tour
Operating since 1995, ORO Travel is the pioneer tour operator in Nicaragua. Welcoming visitors with enthusiasm and professionalism, ORO allows every kind of traveller to experience the beauty and culture of Nicaragua. Their team works tirelessly to design and personalize tours to ensure unforgettable experiences. ORO’s qualified and passionate tour guides provide visitors with the best information, constant assistance, and unbeatable experiences in English, German, French, Russian and, of course, Spanish.
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