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Highlights
Discover volcanoes, national parks, cities teeming with exciting culture
Explore Masaya Volcano Park and hike up to the volcano rim, limiting your time spent up there but elevating the overall epic-ness of the experience all at once.
Go to the remote Tuma-La Dalia, a nature reserve with thundering waterfalls and unforgettable vistas.
Discover the historic areas of the vibrant city of Granada with your guide, while also marvelling at its stunning lakefront setting.
Camp after hiking across the dormant Pilas el Hoyo Volcano to pools warmed by the volcanic heat, where you can soak before sleeping under the stars.
Explore Nicaragua on foot with this guided Nicaragua hiking tour. Stunning regions and settings span Nicaragua, prompting an ever-present ponder of “where do I even begin?” when planning a trip here. What if we told you that the Nicaragua Hiking Tour guides you atop volcanoes, to cultural must-stops like coffee plantations, and natural wonders like Tisey National Park. This tour may be labelled a hiking adventure, but it packs a collection of activities.
Go swimming in hot pools fueled by volcanic heat, jump into Somoto Canyon, and explore the vibrant, exciting Leon and Granada, two cities steeped in history and culture. You’ll also get the chance to learn about local agriculture on day 5.
However, the guided hikes throughout the Nicaragua Hiking Tour will take you to incredible locations, such as Tumi-La Dalia, where exploding waterfalls tumble over rock faces covered in greenery. You will also hike up a few volcanoes. At Telica Volcano, you can peek into the crater, where you may spot lava. Overall, the Nicaragua Hiking Tour will please outdoor enthusiasts seeking a fusion of culture, adventure, and relaxing evenings in cozy lodges (with two nights under the stars in idyllic locations).
Explore Nicaragua on foot with this guided Nicaragua hiking tour. Stunning regions and settings span Nicaragua, prompting an ever-present ponder of “where do I even begin?” when planning a trip here. What if we told you that the Nicaragua Hiking Tour guides you atop volcanoes, to cultural must-stops like coffee plantations, and natural wonders like Tisey National Park. This tour may be labelled a hiking adventure, but it packs a collection of activities.
Go swimming in hot pools fueled by volcanic heat, jump into Somoto Canyon, and explore the vibrant, exciting Leon and Granada, two cities steeped in history and culture. You’ll also get the chance to learn about local agriculture on day 5.
However, the guided hikes throughout the Nicaragua Hiking Tour will take you to incredible locations, such as Tumi-La Dalia, where exploding waterfalls tumble over rock faces covered in greenery. You will also hike up a few volcanoes. At Telica Volcano, you can peek into the crater, where you may spot lava. Overall, the Nicaragua Hiking Tour will please outdoor enthusiasts seeking a fusion of culture, adventure, and relaxing evenings in cozy lodges (with two nights under the stars in idyllic locations).
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Nicaragua Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Managua
After completing customs and immigration formalities at Managua International Airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel Camino Real in Managua
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Explore a sliver of Nicaragua’s culture
This morning, you will be met by your guide to travel out of the capital toward the northern highlands and the fresh climate in Esteli. You will arrive at La Garnacha Community, where they follow a rural way of life, including making their own cheese and cultivating plans for traditional herbal medicines.
You will meet a member from the community to hike with you up into Tisey National Park. Get ready for stunning views over the hills.
Then, you will visit Don Alberto, who has dedicated his life to carving imaginative sculptures into the rocks surrounding his hillside home.
Travel to Saint Nichols for the night!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Saint Nicholas
Distance: 4 hours, 430m of elevation
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Go to the number one GeoPark in Central America
This morning, a local guide will meet you before taking you on a hike, swim, and a jump into Somoto Canyon. You will then travel to the coffee region and your hotel for the night.
Overnight Location: Lodge in La Sombra
Distance: 6 hours, 150m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Explore Tuma-La Dalia
Today will be spent exploring the nature reserve of Tuma-La Dalia. Discover roaring waterfalls and spectacular views in this remote area of Nicaragua. Return to La Sombra after your explorations.
Overnight Location: Lodge in La Sombra
Distance: 6 hours, 1750m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 Learn about local agriculture
After leaving La Sombra, you will stop at Selva Negra. Here, you will learn about the local agriculture with a tour around the estate farm before travelling down to Leon, a historic university town. It’s also the hottest region of Nicaragua.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leon
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Hike Telica Volcano
Your guide will take you to the Telica Volcano, which erupted last in 1948! At the top, you can peek into the crater, where you may spot lava! Keep an ear and eye out for the geothermal activity. You’ll also likely get the chance to marvel at a wonderful view.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Leon
Distance: 6 hours, 1036m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Discover Pilas El Hoyo Volcano
This morning, you will drive to Cerro Negro, the only activity cinder cone volcano in Central America. You will hike up the old lava fields to the summit, where you will have a good view of Telica and San Cristobal. From there, you will descend via the pyroclastic ash fields on the leeward side. You will then hike across to Pilas El Hoyo Volcano, a dormant volcano. However, you’ll find hot pools fueled by latent volcanic heat, where you can have a relaxing soak before camping the night.
Overnight Location: Camping near Pilas Hoyo Volcano
Distance: 8 hours, 1088m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 Reach Asososca Lagoon
On your descent, you will continue by foot to the beautiful Asososca Lagoon, a volcanic lake of crystalline water in the “Pilas del Hoyo” volcanic group, where a quick dip is a real treat! You camp at Laguna del Tigre, an idyllic place boasting an old volcano crater filled with water, surrounded by volcanoes and beautiful nature.
Overnight Location: Camping at Laguna del Tigre
Distance: 6 hours, 1088m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Discover Chocoyero
After breakfast, you will head off to a small nature reserve near Managua called Chocoyero. Here, you will walk the path up to waterfalls and cliffs, where thousands of Pacific parakeets (chocoyos) come to roost each day. You will then continue on to Masaya Volcano National Park. Here, you will visit the information center before heading up to the volcano rim. Masaya volcano is constantly active, forcing a time restriction on how long you can spend due to the gases emitted. You will then continue your journey to the colonial city of Granada on the shores of Lake Nicaragua.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Granada
Distance: 2 hours of easy walking
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Visit a coffee plantation
This morning, you will drive out to the dormant Mombacho Volcano. You will drive up to the summit, where you will take the Puma Trail around the old crater passing through a tropical cloud forest. You’ll see fumaroles, orchids and wonderful views on the way. You will then descend the volcano, where you will visit a coffee plantation. Here, you will have a tour of the process from bush to bean to cup, and you will have the chance to sample a local brew. You will then return to Granada.
Overnight Location: Hotel Patio del Malinche in Granada
Distance: 4 hours, 1300m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Walk around Granada
Today, you will explore the historic centre of Granada with your guide visiting the main points of interest, including the San Francisco Convent Museum. In the afternoon, your driver will meet you to drive down to Lake Nicaragua, where you will take a boat tour around Las Isletas: the hundreds of tiny islands that are a result of an ancient volcanic explosion, and are now home to many species of birds and some notable NIcaraguans as well. You will then return to your hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel Patio del Malinche in Granada
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Depart Granada
Today you will head back to Managua for your onward flight.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Nicaragua Hiking Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price per person depends on the group size and your travelling dates.- Group of 2: from USD2295*
Accommodation on Nicaragua Hiking Tour
This tour is based in hotels and tents. Hotels on this trip are 2 to 4-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms may have fireplaces or access to amenities such as hot tubs, steam rooms, or private decks to lounge on.
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 to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Nicaragua Hiking Tour?
Meals
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 11 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour, starting and ending in Managua, are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for you and your luggage are included throughout the tour, including transfers to and from the airport.
Also included
- English-speaking guide from days 2-11
- Local guide on day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10
- Excursions mentioned in the itinerary
- Camping equipment on day 7 and 8
- Entrance fees where applicable
Not included
- Flights to and from Managua
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
- Porter
- Tourist card entering Nicaragua (10 USD)
- International flight departure tax (47 USD)
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions
- How hard is the Nicaragua Hiking Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Nicaragua?
- Are meals included on the Nicaragua Hiking Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Managua to start this tour?
- Is the Nicaragua Hiking Tour in English?
- Where does the Nicaragua Hiking Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Nicaragua?
- Are there any travel restrictions for NIcaragua?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. Although the trails on this tour are not technically difficult, you should be reasonably fit as there are significant elevation gains and distances involved on an almost daily basis.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover activities mentioned in the itinerary. Get your travel insurance.
Fly into Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA). Someone from the tour will pick you up.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The Nicaragua Hiking Tour ends in Managua. A driver can drop you off at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA).
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
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.
