Spot plenty of rare bird species while birdwatching in Nicaragua
With more than 700 species of birds, a rich variety of habitats, and the largest protected reserve in Central America, Nicaragua is truly a birdwatcher's dream. The forests, lakes and rivers are home to an array of colourful beauties like hummingbirds, toucans, macaws, motmots, tanagers and many, many more. The 10-day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition takes you to Nicaragua's best-protected reserves to immerse you in their natural environment!
Stay in serene nature lodges and travel by boat to remote islands full of aquatic birds. Keep your eyes on the trees to catch glimpses of exotic birds at every turn. Get your binoculars and camera ready for an expedition in Nicaragua's incredible biodiversity!
Highlights of the 10-Day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition
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10-Day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Managua
Bienvenido to Managua, Nicaragua's bustling capital city. Upon your arrival, a guide will greet you at the airport to transfer you to your hotel for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Managua
Meals: None
Day 2 Transfer to El Jaguar Reserve
After breakfast, your driver will take you through the tropical cloud forests and into the El Jaguar private wildlife reserve. With some 290 migratory and local birds to admire, you're sure to enjoy the lush surroundings.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Jinotega
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 El Jaguar Reserve
Wake up early and find yourself in a forest paradise full of tanagers, hummingbirds, toucans, woodpeckers, finches and trogons. Head out to explore the reserve's best birdwatching spots- you're likely to see 50 species in just one day.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Jinotega
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Rio San Juan
After breakfast, you'll drive through the mountains to reach the Guacimo Lodge, perched on the edge of the Rio San Juan. Watch for huge flocks of cormorants and herons that frequent these waters.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Castillo
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 Indio Maiz Biological Reserve
One of Nicaragua's best nature reserves and bird watching locations, Indio Maiz is home to jaguars, pumas, manatees and more than 400 bird species, including aquatic birds that live alongside the rushing rivers. Keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Great Green Macaw and the Great Curassow.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Castillo
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Los Guatuzos
In the morning you'll travel to Los Guatuzos, a waterfront reserve on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Walk across the hanging bridges and trails to spot the Roseate spoonbill and several kingfisher species.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Los Guatuzos
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7 Mombacho Volcano and Grenada
No trip to Nicaragua would be complete without visiting one of its volcanoes. Today you go to the top of the dormant Mombacho Volcano to see its special biodiversity, and then overnight in the colonial city of Grenada.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Grenada
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 Las Isletas, Chocoyero, and Montibelli
Your day begins early with a boat ride through Las Isletas, an island archipelago home to ospreys, kingfishers, herons and other aquatic birds. After lunch, you'll visit the Chocoyero reserve, known for its large population of parakeets.
End the day at the Montibelli Reserve.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Ticuantepe
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Exploring Montibelli
To date, 152 bird species have been spotted at Montibelli Private Wildlife Reserve, including Nicaragua's national bird, the turquoise-browned motmot. Enjoy walking around Montibelli's many trails to see parrots, woodpeckers and long-tailed manakins.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Ticuantepe
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 Departure from Managua
Your birdwatching holiday comes to an end today with a transfer back to Managua. Have a safe flight home.
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast
10-Day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition Price and Dates
This birdwatching tour in Nicaragua is run as a custom tour for your group and the price depends on the size of your group.
Prices below are per person sharing a double room, and groups of odd numbers can either book a single room for a supplement of $190 USD (per room) or opt-out for a triple room with a $15 USD per person price reduction.
- Guided solo traveller: $3,950 USD
- Guided groups of 2: $2,475 USD per person
- Guided groups of 3: $1,995 USD per person
- Guided groups of 4-5: $1,775 USD per person
- Guided groups of 6: $1,550 USD per person
- Guided groups of 7+: on request
Accommodation on the 10-Day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition
This tour is based in hotels and guesthouses. Please note that in some guesthouses in the nature lodges the accommodation may be dormitory-style with shared facilities.
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 $190 USD to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers will pay the listed 1-person price. There is a $15 USD reduction for triple rooms.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Managua ★★★★
This is one of the city's top hotels with a great pool, gym facilities, restaurants and shopping nearby.
Finca El Jaguar in Jinotega
Spend the night at a guesthouse on the El Jaguar Reserve and wake up immersed in the world of wildlife.
Finca El Jaguar in Jinotega
Spend the night at a guesthouse on the El Jaguar Reserve and wake up immersed in the world of wildlife.
Refugio Los Guatazos in Los Guatuzos
Enjoy this beautiful lodge nestled in the green hills with beautiful views of the valley.
Hotel Estrada in Granada ★★★★
This beautiful adobe-style hotel is right in Granada's colonial centre, near to many attractions and restaurants.
Montibelli Lodge in Ticuantepe
Montibelli is a simple but comfortable mountain lodge with wonderful forest views and nature trails for birdwatching.
What’s Included in the 10-Day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition?
Meals
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 8 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 9 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. Private transfers by car and by boat are also included as mentioned in the itinerary.
Also Included
- English-speaking tour guide
- Specialized local guides at each birdwatching destination
- Excursions mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees at Indio Maiz, Mombacho, Chocoyero, and Los Guatuzos
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 10-Day Nicaragua Birdwatching Expedition
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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