3 weeks in Costa Rica and Nicaragua

22 days – from €5,840 per person

culture – driving – nature – active – beach

Day 4 | La Fortuna

In the morning, you’ll be picked up from your hotel again to go canyoning past various waterfalls! Today’s spectacular trip begins with a journey of about 30 minutes by 4WD jeep, taking you out of the town of La Fortuna and into the tropical rainforest. Here, you’ll go on a lovely guided walk that takes you past some of the country’s highest waterfalls. The first waterfall you come across is the one you’ll be abseiling down, from the top into the valley! There are around five descents during this trip, four of which are next to a waterfall and one next to dry rocks. You will then walk out of the canyon and be taken back to the hotel. An active, spectacular trip!
Overnight stay: Hotel Noah’s Forest | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | La Fortuna – Monteverde

(approx. 113 km | 3-hour drive)
Today you’ll continue your journey to the cloud forest in Monteverde, situated at an altitude of 1,400–1,700 metres. The National Park is home to around 400 species of birds, more than 100 mammals, 490 species of butterflies, 2,500 plant species and thousands of insects. In Monteverde, you’ll soon feel as though you’ve stepped into a fairytale setting, thanks to the mist that often hangs here. In the evening, your private guide will take you on a special excursion. You’ll head to a small plantation, where you’ll take a walk through the rainforest with torches. Once the sun has set, the animals that are active during the day go to sleep, whilst the nocturnal creatures come to life. And that is exactly what you and your guide will be looking for. The walk will take around two and a half hours.
Overnight stay: Cloud Forest Lodge | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Monteverde

Today you’ll be going on a special zip-line adventure. Before the trip, your guide will give you an explanation and some safety instructions, before you descend via the zip-line. You’ll be suspended from a cable by a harness and will ‘glide’ through the rainforest in this way. This unforgettable experience will make you feel as though you’re flying over the rainforest, with the lush green world of the forest stretching out below you. In the afternoon, you’ll join your guide for a walk through the treetops along a trail of suspension bridges. From these bridges, you’ll have plenty of time to take in the natural surroundings at a leisurely pace and spot wildlife.
Overnight: Cloud Forest Lodge | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Monteverde – Peñas Blancas – Granada

(approx. 290 km | 5-hour drive)
Today, you’ll drive for about 3 hours to Peñas Blancas, the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. You’ll return your rental car here and then cross the border. Once you’ve been through customs at both the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan border posts, you can collect your rental car for the coming days in Nicaragua. You’ll continue your journey, driving for about 2 hours to the colonial city of Granada. You’ll be staying in a hotel situated on the city’s main square.
Overnight stay: Hotel Plaza Colón | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Granada

Today you’ll take a walking trip of the historic centre of Granada. Granada, the colonial jewel of Central America, was founded in 1524 by Hernández de Córdoba, making it the oldest colonial city on the Latin American mainland. For a long time, it was the most important city in Nicaragua, and the city is rich in architecture from the colonial and neoclassical periods. You will visit the San Francisco Church and Monastery, built in 1529. You will also visit La Merced Church, which you can climb to enjoy the magnificent views over the city, Lake Nicaragua and the Mombacho volcano. The final stop is in the oldest part of the city, where you’ll visit the Xalteva Church and the old city walls.
Overnight stay: Hotel Plaza Colón | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | Granada – León

(approx. 135 km | 3-hour drive)
Today you’ll travel on to León. León is a beautiful colonial city dating back to the 1600s and, as a former capital, has a turbulent history. You’ll be staying in a hotel built in a former monastery, situated in the centre of León. On the way, you can stop off in Masaya, which is best known for its folklore, to visit the National Handicrafts Market. At the market, you’ll find beautiful hammocks, items made from leather, wood and cane, and clothing. The market is housed in a beautifully restored building and surrounded by high walls. Masaya is also very well known for its hammocks; you can easily visit one of the houses where the art of knotting is practised. One family has even won an award for the best-quality hammock in the world!
Accommodation: Hotel El Convento | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | León

In the morning, you’ll discover the fascinating history of one of Nicaragua’s oldest and most influential cities. Accompanied by a guide, you’ll take a walking trip of the city. León is regarded as the historical, cultural, educational and religious capital of Nicaragua. The city was once situated elsewhere, but was demolished and rebuilt at its current location because the previous site was regularly hit by volcanic eruptions and raided by pirates. For a long time, León was regarded as the country’s capital, but eventually had to cede this title to Managua. During your walk, you will visit the murals, which tell the story of the revolution of the 1970s and 1980s. You will visit the Baroque and Neoclassical cathedral and a museum housing internationally renowned works of art. You will also visit a local market and the historic building that housed Nicaragua’s first university. You will climb one of the cathedral’s towers, treating yourself to a magnificent view of the city’s historic centre, surrounded by volcanoes in the distance.
Overnight stay: Hotel El Convento | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | León

Early in the morning, you’ll set off with your private guide to the foot of the Cerro Negro volcano. From here, the walk begins, taking you to around 700 metres above sea level. Walking across the lava field, you’ll reach the crater, where you’ll encounter various natural colours: yellow, red, green and white. These colours are caused by the constant release of gas. From here, you can see the volcanic chain stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The descent takes about 30 minutes; a fun way to get back down is by sliding and scrambling over the fine volcanic sand. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend as you wish.
Overnight stay: Hotel El Convento | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | León – Laguna de Apoyo

(approx. 140 km / 3-hour drive)
Time to continue your trip. Today you’ll drive to the crater lake Laguna de Apoyo, where you’ll have time to relax and unwind. The lake is situated in a volcanic crater, which means the water is clear and very rich in minerals; according to the locals, this is excellent for healthy, beautiful skin and is even said to have medicinal properties. The water is generally calm and peaceful, and ideal for swimming or kayaking. You can also take a short walk in the natural surroundings near your hotel whilst enjoying the calls of the monkeys and the songs of various tropical birds.
Overnight stay: Casa Marimba | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Laguna de Apoyo – San Jorge – Isla de Ometepe

(approx. 110 km | 3.5-hour drive)
Today you’ll continue your journey towards San Jorge. Here, you’ll take the ferry to the village of Moyogalpa on the island of Ometepe. Once you arrive, you’ll drive on to your accommodation on the island. The island lies in one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, Lake Nicaragua. Isla de Ometepe, once the ‘promised land’ of the Aztec explorers, consists of two imposing volcanic cones rising from the western part of Lake Nicaragua. These volcanoes offer a magnificent view as you arrive by boat. Ometepe has been inhabited for thousands of years thanks to its fertile volcanic soil, and evidence of its past can be found at archaeological sites scattered across the island. Most travellers come here for the sandy beaches, the clear water, the diverse wildlife and the stunning landscape, with countless forests, waterfalls and springs in the centre of the island. Ometepe is beautiful, unique and one of Nicaragua’s lesser-known highlights.
Accommodation: Finca San Juan de la Isla | bed and breakfast

Days 15 & 16 | Isla de Ometepe

Over the next few days, you can explore this beautiful island. We highly recommend visiting the museum, the indigenous sculptures and the petroglyphs in the town of Altagracia. At Ojos de Agua, you can take a lovely dip in the natural waters whilst enjoying the stunning surroundings. Of course, there are also lovely canoe trips to take across the lake, or you can visit the San Ramón waterfalls. You can also climb the Maderas or Concepción volcanoes, go horse-riding, hire a bike or simply relax on the beautiful beach. According to an indigenous legend, Lake Nicaragua was created by the tears of an indigenous girl. On the island of Ometepe, with its two volcanoes, Maderas and Concepción, this legend is reflected in poetry, prose and sculptures. You can visit all these places and enjoy these activities yourself in your rental car, but if you’d prefer, we can arrange various excursions for you on Ometepe.
Accommodation: Finca San Juan de la Isla | bed and breakfast

Day 17 | Ometepe Island – San Jorge – Peñas Blancas – Tamarindo

(approx. 235 km / 5-hour drive)
After spending two days on the relaxed, lush island of Ometepe, you’ll be travelling back to the mainland today. You’ll take the ferry from Moyagalpa back to San Jorge, from where it’s just under an hour’s drive to the Peñas Blancas border crossing. Here, you’ll return your rental car before crossing the border. On the Costa Rican side of the border, another rental car will be waiting for you to continue your journey. From Peñas Blancas, it’s about a 3-hour drive to Tamarindo, situated on the coast of Costa Rica. You’ll have a few more days here to round off your trip in a relaxed manner.
Accommodation: Cala Luna Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast

Days 18 to 20 | Tamarindo

Free time to spend in Tamarindo. The area where you’ll be staying boasts plenty of beaches and national parks with stunning natural landscapes. During these days, you can explore the unique surroundings and beautiful beaches at your leisure. Tamarindo and the surrounding area are a paradise for scuba divers, snorkellers and surfers. Just south of Tamarindo beach, you’ll find the slightly less crowded Playa Langosta, and to the north of the town lies Playa Grande.
Accommodation: Cala Luna Boutique Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 21 | Tamarindo – San José – Amsterdam

(approx. 245 km | 4.5-hour drive)
Today marks the end of your unique journey through Costa Rica and Nicaragua. You’ll drive to San José airport, where you can return your rental car. You’ll then board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 22 | Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.