Following pickup at your hotel in Managua, board your comfortable vehicle for the 18-mile ride to Masaya.
Arrive at Masaya National Park, founded in the 1970s as Nicaragua's first national park, to stand on the lip of the active volcano crater. Visit the Ecological Museum with your guide to learn about the geological, cultural and ecological history of the region.
Travel to the town of Masaya to peruse the extensive selection of ceramics, clothing, jewelry and art at the crafts market. Masaya is the largest crafts market in Nicaragua and a great place to pick up souvenirs.
Drive to Granada, the colonial city on the banks of Lake Nicaragua. Learn about the city's culture and history from your guide as you stroll the cobblestone pedestrian street of La Calzada among the pastel-painted colonial buildings. Taste the local specialty, vigoron, made from a plantain wrap filled with cabbage and pork (own expense). After a break for lunch (own expense) visit Independence Plaza, the 16th-century Cathedral of Granada and the Convent and Museum of San Francisco. Stop by Casa de los Tres Mundos, a beautiful mansion that houses a foundation supporting cultural projects in Nicaragua.
At the end of your day exploring Masaya and Granada, return to Managua for drop-off at your hotel.