Nicaragua small group trips

December to April, the dry season, when we run this trip. Rain is rare on the Pacific side and the roads and ferries are reliable. It gets hotter towards April, especially in León, so we start the volcano days early. Holy Week fills the beaches and ferries, and May to November brings afternoon storms.

Answer for Nicaragua: León, Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur

Moderate fitness is enough. The hardest hour is the climb up Cerro Negro on loose gravel in the heat; you can stay at the bottom instead. The Mombacho trail is about 1.5 km and the Ometepe walk about two hours. Every busy day has an easier choice written into it.

Answer for Nicaragua: León, Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur

Solo travellers are welcome. You can share a room at the twin-share price, or have a room of your own from CAD 415 more, shown up front when you request to book. There is no other solo charge, and dinners on free evenings are as social or as quiet as you like.

Answer for Nicaragua: León, Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur

The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That is small enough to fit in one van with room for bags, to take a single small boat through Las Isletas and to sit round one table at dinner. The other Nicaragua trips we compared run to 16.

Answer for Nicaragua: León, Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur

Choose your start date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 2,450 per person sharing, taxes included; the only extra cost on arrival is the US$10 tourist card.

Answer for Nicaragua: León, Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur

Canadian, US, UK and most EU passport holders do not need a visa. You buy a tourist card for about US$10 in cash at immigration, and your passport should be valid for at least six months. Drones are not allowed without a permit. Rules change, so check them for your own passport before you book.

Answer for Nicaragua: León, Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur

December to April, the dry season, when we run this trip. Rain is rare in León, Granada and Guanacaste, and the roads, ferries and border run reliably. It gets hotter towards April, so we start the volcano days early. Arenal and Monteverde can be cloudy or wet in any month. We do not run departures over Holy Week, when ferries and the border are busiest.

Answer for Nicaragua and Costa Rica: León, Granada, Ometepe, Arenal and Monteverde

Moderate fitness is enough. The hardest hour is the climb up Cerro Negro on loose gravel in the heat, and you can stay at the bottom. The other walks are 2 to 4 km on forest paths, plus about 500 steps at La Fortuna Waterfall. You carry your own bag across the border. Every busy day has an easier choice.

Answer for Nicaragua and Costa Rica: León, Granada, Ometepe, Arenal and Monteverde

Solo travellers are welcome. You can share a room at the twin-share price, or have a room of your own for CAD 680 more, shown up front when you request to book. There is no other solo charge, and the free evenings are as social or as quiet as you like.

Answer for Guatemala to Costa Rica: the Central American volcano trail

Canadian, US, UK and most EU passport holders need no visa for either country. Nicaragua charges about US$10 to 13 on arrival for the tourist card and a municipal fee, and about US$3 to 4 to exit at the land border. Costa Rica asks for proof of your flight home. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. Check the rules for your own passport before you book.

Answer for Nicaragua and Costa Rica: León, Granada, Ometepe, Arenal and Monteverde