osta Rica & Nicaragua: Pure Magic

15 days / 14 nights
Begins at San Jose International airport and ends at Managua International Airport.
Visit Arenal, Nosara, Habitarte Natural Reserve, Volcanoes Masaya and Mombacho; colonial cities of León and Granada.

On this tour you will enjoy an environment designed to meet all your relaxation needs. You can experience the benefits of nature and its powerful healing effects. We guarantee you will experience life from a different perspective and feel recharged and happy.

Explore the tranquility of the tropical forest.
Visit the amazing Arenal Volcano.
Take a bath in the healing hot springs of Tabacón.
Enjoy the local culture and the beach in Nosara.
Relax with hot stone massages and yoga sessions with serene landscapes.
Visit the largest cathedral in Central America.
Explore the youngest volcano in Nicaragua.
Discover the colonial city of Granada, one of the oldest cities in America.
Enjoy the tropical paradise in the Isletas, an archipelago of 365 islets on Lake Cocibolca.
Swim in an old crater in the Laguna de Apoyo.

DAY 01 San Jose Airport – Alajuela

Welcome to Costa Rica! At the airport, in Customs, please look for the personnel with your name in a board and identify yourself with them. They will assign a porter to assist you with the bags and escort you outside for your transfer to Alajuela, the second largest province in Costa Rica. Its warm climate, public art displays and friendly citizens make it a great representation of the Costa Rican people and culture.

DAY 02 Alajuela – Arenal

After breakfast, transfer from Alajuela to Arenal. La Fortuna is best known for its naturally heated thermal springs that originate from the depths of Arenal volcano, so you will get the chance to be surrounded by nature while soaking and relaxing on the mineral waters.

First, we will go to Arenal Mistico Park, where you can enjoy 15 haging bridges from 5 to 100 meters long, with a friendly design along 3 km of rain forest circuit. After our hike we will drive to Tabacon Grand Spa, which offers the unique combination of Arenal Volcano, the heat of the Tabacon Hot Springs and the purity of the surrounding rainforest.

DAY 03 Arenal Volcano National Park

To discover the marvelous natural wonder that is Arenal Volcano, this excursion will take you on two hikes through Arenal Volcano National Park and on a boat tour on Lake Arenal. A naturalist guide will tell you about the history of the Volcano and the park, as well as the different plants and animals you encounter on your hike.

DAY 04 Arenal – Nosara

Transfer from Arenal to Nosara in Guanacaste. Nosara has it all and more: beautiful hotels, a convenient downtown with variety of restaurants and juice bars, artsy shops and wonderful waves for surfing, a refreshing ocean to go swimming and amazing sunsets. Today you can enjoy a hot stones relaxing massage.

DAY 05 Nosara

Yoga class

DAY 06 Nosara

Picnic at San Juanillo Beach.

DAY 07 Nosara – Peñas Blancas – Habitarte

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Peñas Blancas Border. After the border procedures, our representative will be waiting for you to welcome you to Nicaragua and to take you to Habitarte – El Bajo Ecological Reserve.

Habitarte – El Bajo, located 25 minutes from Managua, is an ecological boutique hotel immersed in a natural sanctuary in the heart of a wonderful forest, which is part of a fragile network of ecosystems that serve as the lungs for our planet and as a home for rare and endangered species. Habitarte was designed in harmony with nature, integrating earth friendly living, healthy nutrition and the best of organic cuisine with a balanced complement of activities – including yoga, spa and spectacular trails.

Check-in and time at leisure.

DAY 08 Habitarte

Breakfast at Habitarte. Day at leisure to explore the property.

Habitarte has created an environment designed to satisfy your every need so you may feel free to experience the bounties of nature and its powerful healing effects. Here, the sounds of the forest will lull you into serenity. Whatever activity you choose, we guarantee you will experience life from a different perspective and leave Habitarte feeling recharged and happy.

Hiking
Mind/Body Exercises
Luna Spa
Cycling/Jogging
Organic Garden

DAY 09 Habitarte – Cerro Negro – Leon – Habitarte

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Cerro Negro Volcano Reserve. Located in the Cordillera de los Maribios, Cerro Negro is one of the youngest volcanoes in Central America.

We will start climbing to the top of the volcano and then descend with our boards. The volcanic stone path is steep, but the view will be a pleasant reward. You will be able to observe much of the Los Maribios volcanic chain and the crater of Cerro Negro. Upon reaching the top we will give you some safety instructions and a small demonstration of how to handle the boards and then start the descent.

After this exiting experience we’ll continue to the colonial city of Leon, founded in 1610.

We will visit the Cathedral of Leon, one of the most beautiful temples of the continent and the biggest one in Central America, recently declared as a World Heritage Site.

Then we will visit Ortiz Gurdian Art Gallery where you will find an interesting collection that includes works from noted Nicaraguan artists as well as renowned international artists.

We will also visit Ruben Dario Museum, located in the house where the great poet lived for 14 years. Return to Habitarte in the afternoon.

DAY 10 Habitarte

Breakfast at Habitarte. Day at leisure to enjoy the hotel activities.

DAY 11 Habitarte – Masaya – Catarina – Managua – Habitarte

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we will visit Masaya Volcano National Park, where a paved road takes us to the edge of the active Santiago crater. Then, we will visit the city of Masaya and go to the local market, where you will find beautiful crafts made of wood and ceramics, as well as traditional clothing and jewelry.

We will continue to Catarina, a popular artisan’s town that stands out for the gardens with ornamental plants and for its incredible viewpoint from where you can see Apoyo Lagoon, Mombacho Volcano and Granada.

Back in Managua we will explore the capital. We will start the tour with a visit to the Loma de Tiscapa Historical Park to learn about the interesting history of this place and enjoy a fabulous view of the Tiscapa and Managua lagoon. We will continue with a tour of the Historic Center of the city where, among other buildings, the Old Managua Cathedral and the National Theater are located.

DAY 12 Habitarte – Granada – Islets – Habitarte

After the breakfast, we will depart to Granada, the oldest colonial city in the western hemisphere of the Americas that still remains in its original place of construction. The city was founded in 1524 on the shores of Lake Cocibolca.

We will start with a boat tour of Granada’s famous Isletas, an archipelago of more than 360 islets formed by an ancient volcanic explosion, just off the shore of Lake Cocibolca. While you listen to your guide’s commentary about the history of Lake Cocibolca, admire views of Mombacho Volcano and keep an eye out for native birds like tanagers, hawks, jays and warblers.

Back in Granada, we will visit the museum at San Francisco Convent, which houses an important collection of historical artifacts and paintings, like the 28 pre-Columbian statues from Zapatera Island, dating from the years 800 to 1200 AD. Then, you will have the chance to enjoy the city from a different perspective at the top of the bell tower of La Merced Church. During the city tour, you will get to see Calle Atravesada, Xalteva Church, the Cathedral and the Church of Guadalupe.

Transfer back to Habitarte in the afternoon.

DAY 13 Habitarte – Mombacho – Apoyo Lagoon – Habitarte

After breakfast, we will go to Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve. Its highest point measures over 1,300 meters, creating a unique microclimate for the region with a thick cloud covered forest. We will drive from the tropical dry forest region, through coffee farms and into the cloud forest humid conditions. Arriving at the top, we will do the 1-Km trail, along which we will observe an unusual collection of orchids, ferns and butterflies. If the weather conditions are clear, we will enjoy fantastic views of Granada, the Isletas and the surrounding countryside.

Afterwards, we will continue to Apoyo lagoon, an ancient crater lake located in the dry tropical forest of Nicaragua, which is home to Howler monkeys and a variety of tropical birds. Here you can swim or kayak on the pristine waters of the lagoon. Whatever you choose, there is no doubt you will enjoy the tranquility of a very special place. Transfer back to Habitarte.

DAY 14 Habitarte

Breakfast at Habitarte. Day at leisure to enjoy the hotel activities.

DAY 15 Managua – Airport

Transfer to Managua International Airport according to your flight’s departure time. We recommend being at the airport 02 hours earlier.

Package Includes

Private transportation in vehicle with air conditioning.
01 night in Alajuela / Prima Villa
02 nights in Arenal / Suite Room
03 nights in Nosara / Jungle Room
08 nights in Managua / Standard Room
Daily breakfast
03 lunches (days 03, 05 and 06)
02 dinners (days 02 and 14)
Hanging Bridges Tour
Tabacón Hot Springs (with Dinner)
Arenal Volcano National Park Tour, peninsula and lake
Hot stones relaxing massage
Yoga Class
Picnic in San Juanillo Beach
Yoga and Hiking in Habitarte on free days (days 08, 10 and 14)
Sandboarding at Cerro Negro Volcano.
City tour of Leon.
Visit to Masaya Volcano National Park.
Visit to Masaya Crafts Market.
Visit to Catarina.
City tour of Granada.
Boat tour in Granada’s Islets.
Visit to Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve.
Visit to Apoyo lagoon.

Contact us for more information