Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nicaragua on this full-day trip to Catarina, Masaya and Granada with a knowledgeable guide. Learn about the cultural influences, natural landscapes and colonial architecture of this colorful country as you admire volcanic features from Catarina viewpoint, visit the Masaya market, see the unique Islets on Lake Nicaragua by boat and travel by horse-drawn carriage through Granada.
Highlights
- 10-hour tour of Nicaraguan attractions from Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- See Apoyo Lagoon and Mombacho Volcano from Catarina viewpoint
- Visit El Mercado de Artesanías (the craft market) in Masaya
- Tour Lake Nicaragua by boat and see some of its 365 small islands
- Take a ‘volanta’ (horse-drawn carriage) along cobblestone streets in Granada
- Learn about Nicaragua’s unique geology, culture and colonial history
- Typical Costa Rican breakfast and Nicaraguan lunch included
Useful Information
Visit the Colonial City of Granada
After pickup from your hotel in Guanacaste, enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast at El Zaguan in Liberia, located in the northwest region of the country. Then, re-board your coach to cross the border into Nicaragua.
First, stop at Catarina viewpoint, one of the highest hills surrounding the Apoyo Lagoon. Look out across the water to adjacent Lake Nicaragua and admire Mombacho Volcano, which borders the lake.
Next, head to the nearby town of Masaya and walk through El Mercado de Artesanías, a craft market located inside the stone walls of the mercado viejo (old market). It’s an interesting place to search for souvenirs, including textile and ceramic handicrafts along with goods made of leather and wood.
Continue to Granada, established in 1524, and hop inside a volanta for a 45-minute horse-drawn carriage ride. Learn about the city’s colonial history and architecture as you pass the colorful homes and squares along the palm-lined streets. Pass attractions such as Parque Central, a central park popular with local residents, and admire the 12 stained-glass windows of Granada Cathedral, housed within its borders.
Enjoy a leisurely a la carte lunch at Los Chocoyos restaurant before heading to the islets of Granada, southeast of the city center. On board your boat for a 45-minute tour, you’ll cruise past some of the 365 islands created when Mombacho erupted into Lake Nicaragua 10,000 years ago. Keep an eye out for native birds and a population of island residents who paddle, fish and farm around the lake.
Your tour ends with transport back to your hotel in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
