This active adventure in Nicaragua begins with a scenic visit to the ruins of Old Leon at the foot of Momotombo Volcano . Then visit the majestic churches of the colonial city of Leon. In Granada you will ride on a covered boat among Lake Nicaragua's tiny volcanic islands and see the city in the traditional manner – by horse-drawn carriage. Finally to Ometepe Island, where you will climb Maderas, one of the island's two nearly perfect cone-shaped volcanoes, and see the mysterious rock carvings made by the island's ancient inhabitants.

Day 1: Arrive Managua.
(We will get together for dinner and after dinner, your guide will give a short orientation about the activities and destinations you will visit. Overnight at Hotel ????
A guide and driver will pick you up outside the baggage claim and immigration area at the international airport and take you to your hotel.

Day 2: Managua / Leon (B,L,D)
After an early breakfast, gear up for the 40-mile ride to Old Leon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ride will take you past Lake Managua and El Ollo (nearby mountain with a perfectly round crater blown out of it). At the foot of the Momotombo Volcano, Old Leon was established in 1523 by Spanish Conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba. You will walk through the ruins of the settlement, beginning with La Merced Church. This is the site of Hernandez de Cordoba’s original tomb, which lies next to that of his murderer and archrival Pedrarias Davila. Old Leon was abandoned in 1610 due to frequent earthquakes, lack of labor and an economic downturn. Continue to Leon in van (about two hours). Overnight at Hotel ????

Day 3: Leon / Granada (B,L,D)
This morning we will climb the steep steps of the tower of the Leon Cathedral, the city’s largest church (and the largest in Central America), founded in 1747 and containing masterpiece religious art. If you are lucky during your visit, the three-ton bell dedicated to 19th century Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario (whose tomb is also in the church), may be rung by hand. Leon has 13 churches, some of them connected by underground tunnels. These tunnels were used as escape routes in case of pirate attack. Although no longer accessible, the blocked entryways can be seen in the Cathedral’s crypts. In the afternoon, you will visit the market town of Masaya and the “white towns” of Katarina and San Juan del Oriente, the heart and soul of Nicaraguan arts and crafts. Continue to Granada, where you’ll arrive in the evening (45 mins.). Overnight at Hotel ???

Day 4: Granada (B,L)
Morning guided covered boat tour on Lake Nicaragua among the Isletas, 365 small islands where many of Granada’s wealthy families maintain weekend homes. Look for caiman, turtles, migrating swallows, Ringed Kingfisher, Neotropic Cormorant and other species. Return to Granada to continue your exploration of the area on bike and in horse drawn carriage. Granada is at once both the oldest city on the continent and the most developed tourist destination in Nicaragua. Founded in 1524, it has been the stronghold of Nicaragua's landed aristocracy and, after independence from Spain in 1821, the country’s conservative center. Because of its wealth, Granada was repeatedly attacked by French and English pirates in the 1600s. You will visit several sites, including the San Francisco Convent, where an archeological museum is housed, the railway station (no longer working) and La Polvorera Fort, built in 1748 to store the city’s gunpowder. The fort later served as Somoza’s political prison. Overnight at Hotel ???

Day 5: Granada / Ometepe Island (B,L,D)
Early morning departure with your guide for the drive (two hours) to the ferry in San Jorge, then to Ometepe Island (one hour in boat). In 1867 Mark Twain described Ometepe this way: “Out of the midst of the beautiful Lake Nicaragua spring two magnificent pyramids, clad in the softest and richest green, all flecked with shadow and sunshine, whose summits pierce the billowy clouds.'' You're likely to find the description fitting as your ferry approaches the island. Today you will explore with your guide on bike a place that takes you back in time, where the means of transport for most people is by foot, horseback or bicycle, and the rivers are still the laundromats. See petroglyphs carved in Volcanic Rock by the Nahual Nicarao Indians around 1700 years ago and Charco Verde, a scenic lagoon. Overnight at Hotel ???

Day 6: Ometepe Island / Maderas Volcano (B,L,D)
Today you will take in the views of Ometepe Island from atop Maderas Volcano. The climb starts at Finca Magdalena at nearly sea level and goes up 4,573 ft. (1,394 m), passing cultivated farmland, tropical forest and an occasional petroglyph. Some four hours later, you will reach a plateau not far from the crater rim where you may rest and take time to appreciate the views of the Concepcion Volcano, Maderas’ twin to the North, and the island below. The return hike takes approximately three hours. Overnight at Hotel ???

Day 7: Ometepe / Granada (B,L,D)
This morning you will take a short hike to a group of mysterious rock carvings and petroglyphs near Finca Magdalena. The images depict serpents, scorpions, mermaids and swirls and were reportedly made by the Nahuatl people centuries ago. Afterward catch your ferry back to the mainland - and the 21st Century. Drive to Granada (two hours). Overnight and dinner at Hotel ????

Day 8: Departure (No meals.)
Drive to the Managua Airport for your international departure flight