After breakfast today, choose between two full-day tour options:
Option 1: Masaya Volcano, Artisan Market, Granada City & Boat Trip on Nicaragua Lake:
This tour takes you half an hour from Granada to the first national park in the country, established in 1979, home of the Masaya Volcano. Visit the Environmental Interpretation Center to explore the volcano's geological history and its cultural importance to indigenous communities. Continue to the Santiago Crater viewpoint for an up-close look at this active volcanic site. Walk the "Comalito" trail through forested paths with fumaroles and spot native plants and wildlife. End the trail at a scenic lookout with views of Masaya Lagoon, Mombacho Volcano, and Granada. From there, visit the Masaya arts and crafts market to browse local ceramics, hammocks, and leather goods before heading to Granada City. Take a guided walking tour to explore La Merced Church, the brightly painted cathedral, and the San Francisco Convent, which houses an impressive collection of pre-Columbian sculptures. The tour concludes at Lake Nicaragua, where a chain of 354 lush islets rich in birdlife, including egrets, cormorants, and kingfishers, lies in the shadow of the towering Mombacho Volcano.
OR
Option 2: Mombacho Volcano “Crater Trail”, Granada City & Boat Trip on Nicaragua Lake
The tour begins with a 45-minute 4x4 drive up the slopes of nearby Mombacho Volcano. The surrounding cloud forest is full of lush vegetation that has regrown since the volcano was last active. At the foot of the mountain meet the park keepers and switch vehicles for the ascent to the summit. The Crater Trail is a 1.5-kilometer (0.9-mile) round-trip hike that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. With an elevation gain of 100 meters (328 feet). Along the way enjoy breathtaking views and become acquainted with the biodiversity of the region. At the summit set off on a moderate hike along the trails of the volcano. Throughout the hike, learn about Mombacho's wildlife, ancient inhabitants, and volcanic history. If the day is clear, the hike affords amazing views of the plain Pacific region of Nicaragua, neighboring Granada, as well as beautiful Lake Nicaragua. After the hike, be driven back down the mountain and then explore Granada City on a walking tour, visiting "La Merced" church, the brightly colored cathedral, and the San Francisco Convent, which features a collection of pre-Columbian sculptures in human and animal forms. Visit Lake Nicaragua to discover a chain of 354 islands by boat, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. These lush islets, made of basalt rock, are home to diverse birdlife, including egrets, cormorants, ospreys, and kingfishers, with Mombacho Volcano towering in the background.
After finishing the tour of your choice, return to the hotel in Granada and enjoy dinner on your own.
