Schedule
Day 1: We will depart from La Suerte Biological Field Station and travel to San Jorge, Nicaragua. San Jorge is located 60 Km. from the CR border and it is one of Rivas' port on Lake Nicaragua, where we will take the Ometpe Ferry boat (1hr to 45 minute boat ride), to Ometepe Island. Travel between countries takes up the first day.. Lake Nicaragua, which is one hundred miles long and forty five miles wide-the largest body of fresh water between Lake Michigan and Lake Titicaca. Lake Nicaragua image below.
Day 2: The group will hike Volcan Maderas. Ometepe means "two mountains", and that is exactly what the island consists of extinct Volcan Maderas (1394 meters), and perfectly shaped, steaming Volcan Concepción (1610 meters). The Maderas is draped in a furry carpet of tropical cloud forest. After being at La Suerte for 26 days, our legs should be ready to hike Parque Nacional Volc‡n Maderas, culminating in a crater lake surrounded by cloud forest; several hot springs are near the route to the summit.
Day 3: We will travel by kayak to Rio Istian, which is located in an Isthmus that divides the 2 volcanoes. Rio Istian drains into Lake Nicaragua and the riverbanks forms and estuary that houses many bird species (the station will provide you with free use of kayaks).
Day 4: If weather permits we will hike to the Maderas waterfall, which is a hiking distance from the station. The drainage of the crater forms an underground river that drains on the western side of the volcano forming the San Ram—n waterfall 500 meters above sea level.
Day 5: Travel by bicycle to the beautiful fresh water beaches of Santo Domingo. We will spend the day enjoying and swimming by the lake. We will have lunch at the beach and after a siesta continue our bike tour to Altagracia for a visit to Museo de Ometepe.
Day 6: We will hike the perimeter of the volcano Maderas looking for ancient Pre-Columbian statuary that decorate the Island. This day completes the island excursion.
On The Main Land Again
Days 7 and 8: In the morning of day 7 we depart to the mainland and settle in our hotel in the beautiful colonial city of Granada. Granada is a town on shore of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca), it is one of the oldest cities in the Americas and was founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. We will move around the city in horse-drawn carriages, and visit the Museum of Anthropology and History of Granada, a few of the cathedrals, convents and churches. We will also travel by horse drawn carriage to 'Las Isletas de Granada We will tour by boat parts of the 300 Island Archipelago and visit San Paulo Fort. The Fort was built to protect the city of Granada from Pirates. Nicaraguans are predominantly catholic so all towns have the cathedral as their landmark. Parque Nacional Masaya and Granada
Day 9: Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, In the morning we will travel to Masaya to see Volcan Masaya National Park. The park features two volcanoes: Masaya and Nindiri, which grew in stages. Their multiple orifices were called by the Spanish La Boca del Infierno ("The Mouth of Hell"). Masaya National Park was founded in 1974, extends over 54 square km, and was the first national park established in Nicaragua. We will visit the museum of volcanology, ethnology, folklore and ecology; hike Sendero de Los Coyotes ("Coyote Trail" ), which runs 5 km through seasonally dry tropical forest. We will pass dry lava rivers that were thrown out of the volcano in a series of eruptions that started in 1670. Its rock formations will take us to the shores of Lake Masaya (Laguna de Masaya). For Lunch we will head to Masayas city Market for a nice lunch and to do some shopping in Hand Craft market. This market features crafts from all over Nicaragua. A great place to buy beautiful pottery, and hand made hammocks at low cost. You will spend the last night in Granada.
Masaya National Park is one of Nicaragua’s most interesting and beautiful natural phenomena. Established in 1979 as the country’s first national park, it comprises an area of 54 square Km with more than 20 km of scenic roads and trails, leading to and around the two impressive volcanoes and five formidable craters. The Masaya Volcano, also known as Popogatepe, meaning the “the mountain that burns” in the language of the indigenous Chorotega tribe, emerges from the center of the Park. One of its craters, Santiago, currently displays gaseous activity and incandescent lava in its interior.
A Brief History Masaya Volcano
During the pre-Columbian age, Masaya Volcano was an object of veneration by the indigenous people. They believed the eruptions were signs of anger from the Gods and to appease them they offered sacrifices.
Later , during the Conquest, the Spaniards baptized the active volcano “La Boca del Infierno” or “The Mouth of Hell”. They then planted a cross, “La Cruz de Bobadilla”
(named after Father Francisco Bobadilla). It was placed on the crater lip in the 16th century in order to exorcise the Devil.
The volcano was visited by a number of Spaniards in search of “the gold of the volcano”. Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo in 1529 and Friar Blas del Castillo in 1538 were among the unsuccessful excavators.
In 1670, the Nindiri Vocano made its last eruption followed by the Masaya Volcano in 1772. The lava formed by this later eruption advanced like a river of fire to the area known as Piedra Quebrada or burnt rock. In 1852, a new crater, Santiago was formed between the two existing volcanoes.
Flora And Fauna
Fauna
In the Park, one may note the resurgence of life after dramatic changes caused by the eruptions. Slowly, the sterile rock has been and continues to be invaded by pioneer vegetation which opens the way to more complex forms of life. During the dry season, the Park is carpeted with thousands of colorful and aromatic flowers including many species of orchids and the national flower, the Sacuanjoche.
Most of the Park’s wildlife such as coyotes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, etc, are nocturnal, meaning that they are active at night. However, deer, rabbits, iguanas and monkeys also inhabit the Park along with playful parakeets which find refuge with in the toxic crater walls, seemingly with no ill effects. The best time to see them is in the late afternoon when they return to the crater after feeding. Other birds such as motmots, magpie jays, woodpeckers, and chachalacas also make their homes here.
The Park is open 7 days a week from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Day 10: Farewell Breakfast & drop off at the airport in the morning. Make travel arrangements out of Managua's Las Mercedes International airport.
Cost: Please contact us for pricing information per person or group.
Included: Round trip from Costa Rica to Nicaragua; all lodging; all land and water transportation within Nicaragua; all food; cooks for our camping trip to the beaches (three meals per day, including non-alcoholic beverages); entrance to all parks and museums; bus driver; the services of a bilingual guide; guide's and driver's expenses, camping equipment. Free kayaks and bikes rentals will be provided by Ometepe Biological Field Station, if you plan to kayak please bring with you a certified life vest, you will not be allowed to use the kayaks or bikes without a life vest or helmet.
Not Included: Airport departure taxes in Nicaragua ($35.00 USD per person as of 1/2000), border crossing taxes $10.00; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; personal equipment; extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service) and gratuities; lodging in Managua on the last day of the trip. If departing out of Costa Rica this fee does not include transport back to Costa Rica. Please contact us for most current tax and fee information.
Cancellaton Policy: For reimbursement on the prepaid Nicaragua trip you need to cancel 45 days prior to the class date. Trip payment is transferable to a future date. Trip Cancellation insurance highly suggested!
Please Note: This "Eco Challenge Trip" is designed for adventurous people who like to participate in challenging physical activities. Some of the planned activities include, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking rough terrain such as extinct volcanoes, swimming, local outdoor market shopping, walking around colonial cities, and going to fresh water beaches. This trip was not designed for students who are taking classes at Ometepe Biological Station because the group spends time at Ometepe Island. This is not a trip designed for inactive people. There will be plenty of time to relax and watch spectacular sunsets but a day will revolve around planned activities. Nicaragua Trip Schedule, subject to change due to weather conditions. This trip is designed for students enrolled in classes in Costa Rica. Not for students enrolled in classes in Ometepe. The group will depart from Managua, Nicaragua. |
