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The Trip

The Thanksgiving holidays are a perfect time for an adventure to two fascinating countries: Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Both countries have active volcanoes, verdant jungles, and colorful birds. Wildlife and plants from north, south, east, and west all mingle in this land of incredible biodiversity. Nicaragua is fast becoming a popular destination for adventurous travelers. And Costa Rica has long been famous for its outstanding natural areas.

On this trip we will hike volcanoes, explore cloud forests, search for nesting turtles, and experience firsthand why these countries are such a magnet for nature lovers and adventurers. We will also appreciate the cultural richness of this fascinating area as we visit historical sites and meet local people who understand the value of protecting their environment. Nicaragua and Costa Rica are exciting, colorful destinations for travelers seeking an experience rather than an arm-chair tour. You just might fall in love with this “Crossroads of the Americas”!

Itinerary

This is our planned itinerary, but some activities are weather dependent, and high winds or hard rain may require us to change our plans. Also, we may adjust our schedule to take advantage of a local festival or special event in the area we are visiting.

Day 1: Our trip begins in the late afternoon at the Sandino International Airport in Managua, Nicaragua. Our private bus will meet us there to take us to our lovely accommodations in the colonial city of Granada, an historic gem of Spanish colonialism dating to the early 16th century. In the evening we meet our fellow travelers at dinner, our first meal together, and settle into our comfortable hotel for the next four nights.

Day 2: After a brief drive, we enjoy a morning hike at nearby Masaya Volcano National Park to see and learn about one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua. Lunch will be served at a delightful viewpoint over the Apoyo Lagoon in Santa Catarina, where we savor the local flavors and color. We visit the Mercado Viejo, the premier market for handmade crafts in the country, to see the works of artisans from the nearby Pueblos Blancos (White Villages), famous for their traditional festivals and unique folk arts. We return to Granada for dinner together this evening.

Day 3: This morning we take to the water to kayak Las Isletas, an archipelago formed 20,000 years ago by an eruption of Volcan Mombacho. It’s a premier place for water birds, and we may see some of the local islanders who maintain their traditional fishing lifestyle using dugout canoes, so we will take the time to enjoy our surroundings. After lunch we will have a walking tour of Granada to visit the many historical sites in this well-preserved colonial city. Tonight we will eat dinner together in Granada.

Day 4: We adventure to the nearby Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve. From the base of this dormant volcano, the park eco-mobile carries us to the biological station where we will spend the morning hiking moderate trails around the crater. The cloud forests of Mombacho protect the most important watershed of this area and are home to hundreds of different bromeliads and orchids, as well as three kinds of monkeys and many species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. After lunch at the park we will return to Granada for some free time and dinner together in the evening.

Day 5: Today we board a ferry for Isla de Ometepe, about an hour’s travel across the largest lake in Central America. Formed by twin volcanoes rising out of Lake Colcibolca, Ometepe was sacred to the Nahuatl Indians, and was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010. The island is home to troops of howler monkeys, flocks of noisy parakeets, and a number of farming cooperatives that welcome visitors. We will be hosted by one of these cooperatives as guests of their “community based tourism” and will learn how they have managed to thrive on this isolated island. We will have lunch and a swim at Charco Verde, a forest reserve providing habitat to monkeys and water birds, and popular with Nicaraguan families. Late in the day we will return to the mainland and cross the very narrow isthmus between the shore of Lake Ometepe and San Juan del Sur, a lovely beach town and fishing harbor. This will be our home for the next two nights.

Day 6: We will celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the beautiful Playa el Coco. This area is one of the major nesting sites of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle, and we will meet with a turtle conservation organization that's working with local residents to help save the species. While we cannot guarantee that we will see turtles in the wild, our visit will be during their major nesting time. Tonight we go to the beach with the hope of seeing an arribada, the mass arrival of egg-laying females.

Day 7: Today we get our passports stamped at the Costa Rican border and head for the volcanic Rincon de la Vieja National Park. This entire area was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, and protects one of the largest areas of dry forest in Central America. This is also one of Costa Rica's finest bird watching areas. Toucans, parrots, magpie jays, and collared aracaris are common. After lunch we will spend several hours hiking in the park, and add some new species to our bird list. This evening we stay at a cozy ecolodge in the gorge of the Rio Colorado, which will be our home for the next two nights.

Day 8: This morning we visit Santa Rosa National Park, where a short hike brings us to the historic Hacienda Santa Rosa, La Casona. Here the volunteer army of Costa Rica defeated the mercenary forces of William Walker in 1856, and the invasion forces of Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1955. We will eat lunch on a remote Pacific beach and swim in its warm tropical water. We return to our mountain lodge on the Rio Colorado to share our last evening together at a farewell dinner.

Day 9: After breakfast our bus will transport us to the International Airport in Liberia or onward to San Jose. We say "Adios" until next time!

Getting There

This trip begins in Managua, Nicaragua and ends in Liberia, Costa Rica, with an optional bus ride to San Jose. American, United, Taca, and other airlines have flights into Managua and out of Liberia or San Jose. If possible, please plan to arrive in Managua in the afternoon instead of at night as we will be staying in Granada, about an hour from the Managua airport. Transportation from Managua to Granada is included in the trip price.

Liberia is very well located for additional explorations of Costa Rica, including the extensive beaches of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula, and the famous cloud forest reserves of Monteverde. We also provide a complementary bus ride to San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, for those wishing to explore that part of the country, or to depart from San Jose. The leader is happy to assist those who wish to extend their stay to enjoy more of this enchanting country!

Accommodations and Food

Our accommodations are small hotels and charming ecolodges that are clean and comfortable. Rooms are double occupancy with a roommate arranged for those who are traveling solo. All meals are included and we will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional foods and abundant tropical fruits, vegetables, and local fish. Vegetarians can easily be accommodated but it may be difficult to provide a range of options for vegans.

Trip Difficulty

This is an active leisure trip, and is suitable for all who are in reasonably good health, enjoy nature, and have a good-humored and flexible approach to travel. As with all active trips, you will enjoy the trip more if you are in good physical condition for the activities described above.

Most of our hikes will be 2-6 miles, with some steep sections. Trails in Central America tend to be muddy, rocky, and with many exposed tree roots so it is easy to trip and fall. You should have adequate balance, wear hiking shoes with good treads, and consider bringing hiking poles. Our kayaking will be leisurely so we can bird watch from our boats, however wind can make paddling more difficult. Temperatures in November are likely to be in the 70s and 80s, but it can feel much hotter with the high humidity typical of the tropics. In the cloud forest we are likely to have cool mists, and we will often experience heat and chill in the same day as we move up and down in elevation. We’ll be traveling toward the end of the rainy season so we can also expect some tropical showers. All of these situations can add to the difficulty of the trip.

Keep in mind that both Nicaragua and Costa Rica are developing countries -- things don't always go exactly as planned and no specifics in our itinerary can be guaranteed to happen exactly as presented in this brochure. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Americas and standards may not be what we are used to. Again, a flexible attitude and sense of adventure will add to your enjoyment of this trip!

Equipment and Clothing

You will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the trip date, but visas are not required. No specific vaccinations are required for the areas we will be visiting, but check with your doctor or the CDC for current recommendations. You must have a current tetanus booster, and vaccination for Hepatitis is advised.

Our trip is toward the end of the rainy season, so you will need rain gear and hiking shoes with good treads as trails are wet, muddy, and slippery. Packing light in soft-sided luggage is recommended because our bags may be carried on top of the bus. If your luggage is not waterproof we recommend bringing a large waterproof bag or pack cover to protect it from rain. A detailed packing list and other information will be provided by your leader.

References

• Coates, Anthony G., Central America, a Natural and Cultural History.
• Foster, Lynn V., A Brief History of Central America.
• Kricher, John C., A Neotropical Companion.
• Pariser, Harry S., Explore Costa Rica.
• Lonely Planet guidebooks for Nicaragua, Costa Rica.
• Nicaragua map and Costa Rica map, International Travel Maps Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.

In both Nicaragua and Costa Rica we will get an up-close look at conservation in action. We will have opportunities to see both pristine and developed areas, and to discuss their impacts on local communities. As in the U.S., Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans are challenged by balancing environmental protection with economic development.

Costa Rica is a more prosperous country with a long history of peaceful democracy. It has been better able to protect natural areas and to reforest its land, and is now receiving substantial economic benefit from ecotourism. However, many areas have also been damaged by traditional tourist development, especially along the Pacific Coast.

Nicaragua, on the other hand, has faced dictatorships, revolutions, and major earthquakes and hurricanes. Logging and farming are a way of life for many Nicaraguans. Even so, great natural beauty and abundant wildlife still exist. Nicaraguans want to protect their natural areas, but often there isn’t the money or training for protection. Our visits and tourist dollars will demonstrate the value of these resources and will help encourage Nicaraguans to preserve their valuable ecosystems.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Mary Menconi fell in love with Central America on her first trip, and has returned many times since then. It's partly the amazing nature, and partly the friendly people that draw her back time after time. An amateur naturalist, she particularly enjoys tropical environments. She has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, and has led Sierra Club trips to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She brings a lively humor and a passionate interest in the natural world to her trips.

E-mail: marymenconi@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback