Self-drive Nicaragua: Adventures by road
14 days from £2,350
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
Managua is a vibrant modern city hugging the southern banks of Lake Nicaragua. There is little evidence of its colonial past – the result of a devastating earthquake which virtually flattened the capital in 1972. It is a confusing, sprawling metropolis but offers excellent shopping, good restaurants and a boisterous nightlife.
This tranquil colonial-style hotel comes as a bit of a surprise, situated in a rather smart, upmarket residential district of Managua and close to the modern financial and commercial centre.
The guest rooms aren’t large, but they have plenty of character being individually decorated, with exposed wooden ceilings and antique style beds. A buffet breakfast is served beside the patio and there is a small restaurant offering French cuisine. There are also numerous eateries nearby as well as bars and shops.
The shady garden, replete with tropical foliage, is a nice place to enjoy a cocktail, and there’s a pool accessed through a rather grand arch.
You will set off on your road trip across Nicaragua from the capital, and over the next 2 weeks our suggested route covers approximately 800km with the longest single journey about 4 hours. However, chances are you will be intrigued by a detour, or pause to enjoy a coffee or a picnic in a beauty spot.
Our local partners will be on hand to help with the collection of your vehicle. A standard 4×2 SUV is suitable for the route covered, but upon request we can upgrade your vehicle to a 4×4 if you prefer.
Set off north towards Matagalpa. This busy city is set within a valley surrounded by hills shimmering with the polished green of the coffee plantations. Matagalpa is at the heart of Nicaragua’s coffee industry although eco-tourism has also become an important cog in its economy. It serves as a gateway to the country’s most picturesque mountains and the Selva Negra Cloud Forest Reserve with its many hiking possibilities
Just 15km beyond the city you reach the cool cloud forest air of Selva Negra and your lodge on a working coffee estate.
Selva Negra Lodge has a rich history and its owners are fifth generation German coffee producers.
The lodge blends perfectly into its natural surroundings as each room is protected and insulated by a bed of tropical cloud forest. The smart timber bungalows and chalets have polished wood interiors, while the restaurant sits beside a tree-shaded lake. There’s also a wooden fairy-tale chapel, built for a family wedding.
Selva Negra is still a thriving coffee estate with its own protected reserve full of walking trails, an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area on foot or horseback. The lodge produces organic coffee and organic beef, as well as composting, waste reduction, methane generation for cooking fuel and hydropower for electricity. The working farm produces much of what is eaten at the lodge and a cheese factory produces first class Gouda and Manchego.
Staying at Selva Negra Lodge on the coffee estate itself, you are well positioned to explore a landscape of cool misty forests of pine and oaks strangled by bromeliads, which create a fairytale environment through which wind over a dozen marked trails. Birds flit between the 30 secretive creeks and around the coffee plantation itself. You may even spot the elusive but dazzling Resplendent quetzal.
The estate is a monument to sustainability and organic flowers and vegetables grown here are served in the lodge’s restaurant.
Selva Negra Lodge has a rich history and its owners are fifth generation German coffee producers.
The lodge blends perfectly into its natural surroundings as each room is protected and insulated by a bed of tropical cloud forest. The smart timber bungalows and chalets have polished wood interiors, while the restaurant sits beside a tree-shaded lake. There’s also a wooden fairy-tale chapel, built for a family wedding.
Selva Negra is still a thriving coffee estate with its own protected reserve full of walking trails, an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area on foot or horseback. The lodge produces organic coffee and organic beef, as well as composting, waste reduction, methane generation for cooking fuel and hydropower for electricity. The working farm produces much of what is eaten at the lodge and a cheese factory produces first class Gouda and Manchego.
The total journey total time to Nicaragua’s second city of León is 3-4 hours if you drive direct, a distance of 155km. Descending from the highlands, you’ll pass coffee plantations and spot roadside stalls laden with orchids and bromeliads. Approaching the hot coastal plains around León, the volcanic scenery is impressive with views of Momotombo across the rice fields.
León was founded in 1524 and moved to its present site 35km away after being devastated by an earthquake in 1610. Formerly Nicaragua’s capital, it has retained much of its ecclesiastical and intellectual heritage. Many of the building walls are daubed with colourful Sandinista and anti-American murals and ridden with bullet holes – a poignant symbol of Nicaragua’s turbulent past.
Hotel El Convento, an atmospheric former convent enjoys a prime location just a stone’s throw from the main square and cathedral. It retains a sense of the city’s colonial past without being stuffy, mixing a carefully chosen collection of antiques with more modern furnishings and works of art.
Room décor is rustic yet contemporary with white or exposed brick walls, wood-beamed ceilings and cool terracotta tiled floors. Many original architectural features of the 17th century building have been retained and the simple white and jade colour scheme allows them to shine.
Landscaped gardens lie within the confines of the large courtyard (once the convent’s cloister), with grand palm trees rising high above the tiled roofs and shady colonnaded walkways. There is a small pool overlooked by tropical greenery, and a pleasant restaurant and bar area.
León is Nicaragua’s most ebullient city, with a lively university and a thriving intellectual and cultural life.
Your guided walking city tour will reveal the history of the modern day city, a colonial masterpiece rivalled only by Granada, with the trademark adobe colonial façades, narrow streets and pretty squares, dominated by a number of grandiose churches (many connected by tunnels). These include the imposing cathedral, the largest in the Americas, which took over 100 years to build. The city has a history of alliance to revolutionary causes and you’ll see what remains of some of the 1970s anti-Somoza murals.
Hotel El Convento, an atmospheric former convent enjoys a prime location just a stone’s throw from the main square and cathedral. It retains a sense of the city’s colonial past without being stuffy, mixing a carefully chosen collection of antiques with more modern furnishings and works of art.
Room décor is rustic yet contemporary with white or exposed brick walls, wood-beamed ceilings and cool terracotta tiled floors. Many original architectural features of the 17th century building have been retained and the simple white and jade colour scheme allows them to shine.
Landscaped gardens lie within the confines of the large courtyard (once the convent’s cloister), with grand palm trees rising high above the tiled roofs and shady colonnaded walkways. There is a small pool overlooked by tropical greenery, and a pleasant restaurant and bar area.
Your journey time is about 3 hours (134km). Taking the Pan American Highway you’ll be following volcanoes all the way back to Managua – the chain is only broken by the vast Lake Managua. You can visit the town of Masaya and the spectacular crater of Masaya Volcano en route or on your free day in the city.
Finally, arrive at Granada, founded in 1524 and the oldest city in the New World. It lies at the foot of Mombacho Volcano. The city became very rich on the back of the gold trade but was regularly plundered by pirates and completely razed by American mercenary William Walker at the beginning of the 19th century.
However, Granada has since been wonderfully restored and its colourful colonial houses and cobbled streets that run down to the shores of Lake Nicaragua are a delight.
The attractive colonial mansion housing this lovely hotel has a prime location right on the tree-shaded Plaza Mayor and facing the exquisite golden cathedral in Granada, probably Nicaragua’s most evocative city. Families stroll through the square while the famous horses and carriages line up waiting to take you trotting round the s streets, so evocative of the prosperous Spanish colonial era.
You can watch all this activity from the hotel’s terrace, which has a plush wine bar at one end and a more casual café at the other. There are 27 guest rooms wrapped around a central courtyard with large plants, water features and an attractive swimming pool. All are spacious and first floor rooms have the added advantage of a balcony, some overlooking the square. There is no restaurant as such but there are numerous eateries within walking distance of the hotel.
On a guided city tour visit Granada’s colonial churches, strolling down the narrow streets and passing graceful colonial houses. Many of the places of interest are within the vicinity of the main square. These include the beautiful baroque La Merced church, the Casa de Los Tres Mundos – now a cultural centre for local musicians and dancers; and the 16th-century San Francisco convent.
Later, embark on a small launch for a relaxing boat ride in the sheltered waters around the peaceful Isletas, hundreds of tiny, bright green and thickly forested islands created by eruptions from the bulky Mombacho Volcano which looms over the region. Small fishing communities thrive here and some islands host impressive weekend retreats owned by wealthy Nicaraguans.
The attractive colonial mansion housing this lovely hotel has a prime location right on the tree-shaded Plaza Mayor and facing the exquisite golden cathedral in Granada, probably Nicaragua’s most evocative city. Families stroll through the square while the famous horses and carriages line up waiting to take you trotting round the s streets, so evocative of the prosperous Spanish colonial era.
You can watch all this activity from the hotel’s terrace, which has a plush wine bar at one end and a more casual café at the other. There are 27 guest rooms wrapped around a central courtyard with large plants, water features and an attractive swimming pool. All are spacious and first floor rooms have the added advantage of a balcony, some overlooking the square. There is no restaurant as such but there are numerous eateries within walking distance of the hotel.
A free day to further soak up the photogenic charms of Nicaragua’s showpiece city.
At sunset we take you on a private (guided) adventure to Masaya volcano set within Nicaragua’s first national park, 28km from Granada. We drive up to the rim of the volcano’s crater with views into the steaming, sizzling orifice itself, where the boiling, incandescent magma is an impressive sight. You should be able to observe green parakeets which approach the volcano to roost. The exhilarating experience includes a visit to a viewpoint where you can spend a few minutes looking down at the red and glowing lava in the fiery depths of the crater mouth.
Please note (March 2024): Masaya volcano is currently closed to visitors due to heightened volcanic activity.
The attractive colonial mansion housing this lovely hotel has a prime location right on the tree-shaded Plaza Mayor and facing the exquisite golden cathedral in Granada, probably Nicaragua’s most evocative city. Families stroll through the square while the famous horses and carriages line up waiting to take you trotting round the s streets, so evocative of the prosperous Spanish colonial era.
You can watch all this activity from the hotel’s terrace, which has a plush wine bar at one end and a more casual café at the other. There are 27 guest rooms wrapped around a central courtyard with large plants, water features and an attractive swimming pool. All are spacious and first floor rooms have the added advantage of a balcony, some overlooking the square. There is no restaurant as such but there are numerous eateries within walking distance of the hotel.
It’s about 2 hours to the ramshackle lakeshore port at San Jorge, a drive of around 75km from where, local ferries operate to the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. Boarding a ferry in Nicaragua will feel like a very different experience when compared with the ferries we’re used to in Europe but our local partners will be available at the port to assist.
It’s around an hour to the port of Moyogalpa on Ometepe and then a short drive to your lodgings for the next couple of nights where you can park up, settle in a get used to your new, slower paced surroundings.
Ometepe is a relaxed, tranquil island rising majestically from Lake Nicaragua. It’s dominated by twin conical volcanoes and is partially blanketed with lush jungle vegetation populated by monkeys and a plethora of bird species. Life here has been unchanging for decades if not centuries. Take care where you drive as only one road has been fully paved, but this has helped preserve this special island’s enduring feeling of remoteness.
In splendid isolation in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the dramatic forested island of Ometepe is dominated by the peaks of two volcanoes and fringed by beautiful white-sand beaches.
Accommodation on the island is simple and in our opinion the friendly, family-owned Villa Paraíso is still among the most inviting of Ometepe’s guesthouses. The property enjoys a secluded spot on Playa Santo Domingo, where its cosy cabins sit within a landscaped garden.
Most have private bathrooms with hot water; some also have a kitchen. All come with air-conditioning and a front porch with hammocks and chairs to relax in. There’s also a thatched bar and restaurant serving traditional Nicaraguan fare. A variety of activities can be arranged including volcano hikes, trips to the petroglyphs and bike rental.
Enjoy island life with the freedom of your hire car. Or you can park up and let us take you on an island tour, including the luxuriant nature reserve at Charco Verde, alive with the call of howler monkeys and birds. There’s a calm lagoon covered in mangroves and fallen trees, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere. The tour continues to the village of Altagracia to view the pre-Columbian statues in the courtyard of the oldest church on the island. You’ll also visit a coffee and cacao plantation before stopping off at Ojo de Agua, a forest-fringed natural swimming pool with a café for a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters. Alternatively, for the very active, we can arrange guided hikes up Ometepe’s volcanoes, Maderas or Concepción.
In splendid isolation in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the dramatic forested island of Ometepe is dominated by the peaks of two volcanoes and fringed by beautiful white-sand beaches.
Accommodation on the island is simple and in our opinion the friendly, family-owned Villa Paraíso is still among the most inviting of Ometepe’s guesthouses. The property enjoys a secluded spot on Playa Santo Domingo, where its cosy cabins sit within a landscaped garden.
Most have private bathrooms with hot water; some also have a kitchen. All come with air-conditioning and a front porch with hammocks and chairs to relax in. There’s also a thatched bar and restaurant serving traditional Nicaraguan fare. A variety of activities can be arranged including volcano hikes, trips to the petroglyphs and bike rental.
It’s time to drive back to the port and board the ferry. After heading back across the lake to San Jorge it’s only an hour or so to the Pacific coast resort of San Juan del Sur.
As visitors returned to Nicaragua in the 1990s, San Juan’s charms were soon rediscovered by backpackers and surfers and it remains justiably popular for its laid-back vibe and pretty bay, and the shoreline is decorated with a necklet of tiny demerara-coloured sandy beaches. We’ve arranged a 2-night stay here, and extra nights can be added if you wish to extend it.
Across the road from the beach, set at one end of San Juan del Sur’s sweeping bay, Hotel Victoriano captures the essence of a traditional Caribbean plantation house. The hotel has an intriguing history (once even playing host to Mark Twain) and a distinct seaside vibe.
Cosy, well-equipped guestrooms lead out onto balconies with ocean views, while teak furniture and hibiscus print curtains add to the tropical ambience.
At the front of the hotel is a small pool and terrace where breakfast is served; opposite is a row of restaurants serving some of the best seafood dishes you’re likely to taste in Nicaragua.
San Juan del Sur is a tranquil Pacific coast fishing village at the head of a horseshoe-shaped bay peppered with small, private yachts and fishing boats. The laid-back, rustic village has clapboard Victorian houses, open air beach-side restaurants and brilliant sunset views from its tiny bays. Understandably, plenty of European and American ex-pats have put down roots here.
Other visitors are drawn to the area’s unspoilt beaches and it has also become an established spot for surfers. Fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and mountain biking are other popular pursuits you might have a go at – there are local agencies which organise trips. Olive Ridley turtles hatch on the beaches just south of town between September and April – a spectacular sight.
Across the road from the beach, set at one end of San Juan del Sur’s sweeping bay, Hotel Victoriano captures the essence of a traditional Caribbean plantation house. The hotel has an intriguing history (once even playing host to Mark Twain) and a distinct seaside vibe.
Cosy, well-equipped guestrooms lead out onto balconies with ocean views, while teak furniture and hibiscus print curtains add to the tropical ambience.
At the front of the hotel is a small pool and terrace where breakfast is served; opposite is a row of restaurants serving some of the best seafood dishes you’re likely to taste in Nicaragua.
It’s around 3 hours’ drive from San Juan back to the car rental office at Managua international airport. Hand over your car and proceed to the terminal building to check in for your international flight (not included).
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
Nicaragua - Matagalpa and the north
Swap beaches and volcanoes for cool cloud forest and coffee-growing hills in Nicaragua’s mountainous north. Matagalpa, where cloud forest creates perfect conditions for shade-grown coffee and pulls in birdwatchers and hikers. It’s a slower, greener side of Nicaragua, and one of the most rewarding additions you can make to an itinerary.
Nicaragua - Leon
León is Nicaragua’s intellectual and cultural capital – grand colonial architecture, revolutionary history and a thriving artistic community make it one of Central America’s most fascinating cities. It’s known for its red-tiled buildings, elegant plazas and the powerful role it’s played in Nicaragua’s political and cultural identity.
Nicaragua - Granada
One of Central America’s most beautiful colonial cities is on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Granada is one of the oldest cities in Central America, and it’s still one of our favourite places to send travellers in Nicaragua – colourful streets, cobbled squares and Mombacho Volcano watching over it all.
Nicaragua - Ometepe Island
Ometepe is one of Central America’s most remarkable landscapes – two volcanic peaks rising dramatically from the waters of Lake Nicaragua to form the world’s largest freshwater island. Relaxed and tranquil, it offers a unique mix of natural beauty, rural life and outdoor adventure.
Nicaragua - Pacific coast
Golden beaches and jungle-covered cliffs set the scene for Nicaragua Pacific Coast holidays. It’s one of the wildest, least developed stretches of shoreline in Central America. Close to the Costa Rican border, the little fishing town of San Juan del Sur draws surfers from all over. Learn to surf, watch pelicans, or simply to unwind.
Nicaragua is one of Latin America’s remaining true adventure destinations. Although its civil war ended in 1990, this friendly country still feels relatively off the beaten track, especially when compared with its near neighbours. And this is exactly where Nicaragua’s appeal lies: gorgeous rural scenery, crossed by sometimes empty roads where you are more likely to come across cattle being herded by cowboys or rickety overloaded buses than queues of cars. You’re never far from a hammock or rocking chair and age-old traditions survive.
As roads and infrastructure improve, more adventurous self-drivers have begun to discover Nicaragua. Whether driving west or east over the continental divide you are never far from a spectacular volcanic view. The landscape is peppered with colonial cities, tropical forest reserves and defined by a rugged stretch of golden Pacific coastline. In your pre-booked hire car you can drive at your own leisurely pace, with the freedom to stop off at interesting little market towns or a panoramic viewpoint and still be at your next pre-booked hotel in plenty of time for a sun-downer on the terrace.
Our 2-week self-drive holiday connects cloud forests of northern Nicaragua with Granada and Leon – twin cities with very different histories, before crossing Lake Nicaragua by ferry to Isla de Ometepe. Finally there’s time to unwind on the Pacific shores of San Juan del Sur. Our route covers some of the most enjoyable attractions of this land of soothing scenery, tropical warmth, and low-key towns where a genuine welcome is extended by local people to visitors passing through.
Mary Anne Nelson
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Transport
Airport transfer upon arrival, 13 days car hire. Your trip is based on a standard 4×2 SUV (suitable for maximum 3 passengers with reasonable luggage). Premium (4×4) vehicles can be arranged on request.
- Accommodation
You will be staying in small, mid-range properties (two are in characterful restored colonial buildings); and an ecolodge on a coffee estate.
- Meals
Breakfast daily.
- Guides
Our self-drive holiday includes several guided excursions to help you find your feet in Nicaragua. We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by the latter on their return.
- Summary Of Nights
14 days, 13 nights: Managua 1; Selva Negra 2; León 2; Granada 3; Ometepe 3; San Juan del Sur 2.
- Currency
The unit of currency in Nicaragua is the córdoba.
- How To Take It
Cash machines are available in Managua airport, and in Granada and León: taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip and in the more upmarket shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, or the phone line to the bank may be down, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds. You might authorise your bank first, and withdrawals may be limited.
We recommend that you take a reasonable quantity of dollar notes (no more than is covered by your insurance). Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused.
- Daily Spend
For essential expenses a budget of around US$50 per person daily should cover the cost of meals, drinks and fuel.
- Tipping
Tips are welcomed and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.
Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.
Tipping guidelines can be found in our Briefing Dossier.
- Insurance
Travel insurance is essential. Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
For details of insurance relating to your car hire please speak to your Travel Expert. - Airport Taxes
If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.
- Journey Grade
Generally this holiday is suitable for confident drivers and able, reasonably fit travellers i who accept the sometimes uncertain and rudimentary nature of travel to remote places.
There is minimum of around 800km of driving over the holiday, spread over 13 days, more if you make detours. There are several days at leisure dotted throughout so you won’t have long days of driving on consecutive days. Main roads are paved, other rural roads are dirt and traffic is generally light though coast roads can be busy in the summer.
If you have a disability which we should be aware of, please contact us.
- Climate
This itinerary takes you to tropical climes where the sun is strong and temperatures high – often over 30°C. It’s cooler – springlike – in the cloud forest region around Selva Negra. Those travelling between May and October should encounter higher temperatures (around 35°C) and high humidity. The ‘official’ rainy season is May to October.
- Clothing Special Equipment
Bring plenty of light clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes. A waterproof jacket is also advisable. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper, and sensible to have long sleeves for areas where mosquitos may be lurking. Sandals are a good informal option for evenings. Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellent are essential and you should bring swimwear. A daypack is useful for carrying sunblock, guidebook, water and any extra layers.
Please note Nicaragua prohibits certain items, including binoculars with night vision capability. Whilst it’s our understanding that you can bring a pair of normal binoculars into the country, some travellers have experienced delays upon entry whilst these are checked by customs.
- Vaccinations
Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following; typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. For specific requirements you must consult your GP.
You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.
- Visas
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
- When is the best time to visit Nicaragua?
Situated well within the tropics, Nicaragua has a typical tropical climate with high temperatures all year round at low altitudes. Temperatures are significantly modified by altitude – higher up it can be very cool at night. May-Nov is rainy season, but places on the eastern coast, the Caribbean side, tend to be rather wetter, and to have a longer rainy season, than those on the Pacific coast to the west. There’s a risk of tropical storms or hurricanes Jun-Nov.
- What is the official language of Nicaragua?
The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish.
- What is the official currency of Nicaragua?
The official currency of Nicaragua is the Córdoba. Notes can be obtained from exchange houses and also from banks which will supply advances on a debit or credit card. There are ATMs in large towns where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have to ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave UK, and amounts may be limited. ATMs allow you to choose between dollar or córdoba notes but the latter come in large denominations – try to break them down when you can. There are few ATMs outside of the main cities: bring cash with you for rural areas.
- What is the time difference between the UK and Nicaragua?
The time difference between the UK and Nicaragua is GMT-6 hours.
- Do I need a visa for Nicaragua?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need for Nicaragua?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What countries does Nicaragua combine well with?
A visit to neighbouring Central America countries, such as tiny, friendly El Salvador and wildlife-rich, slickly organised Costa Rica.
- What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events in Nicaragua?
Semana Santa, (Easter, throughout Nicaragua). Processions inspired by biblical stories. Popular traditions include “the donkey procession,” on Palm Sunday; a procession of pilgrim carts that come from all parts of Nicaragua and gather in Granada; San Lázaro’s pet dog blessing in Masaya; and San Juan del Sur’s beach party celebration.
Fiestas de Masaya, Masaya, end of Sep for 3 months. A celebration on Sundays of parades and tamarindo music. It includes the Fiesta del Toro and Fiesta de los Aguisotes in late Oct and ends with the Procesión de San Jerónimo on the first Sunday of Dec.
International Poetry Festival, Granada, second week of Feb annually. Over 150 poets from all parts of the world congregate at this week-long event to recite their best poetry.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Explore the historic treasure trove of one of Latin America’s oldest and most beautiful cities.
Visit Matagalpa to experience the local culture and take a tour of a chocolate factory for an insight into the production process and the chance to sample the finished product.
Drift past the volcanic ‘isletas’ that dot the vast surface of Lake Nicaragua, mirroring the colours of the sunset.
Discover the fascinating history of Nicaragua’s former capital, a city of red-tiled roofs, narrow cobbled streets and crumbling colonial architecture.
Soak up the authentic atmosphere at a colourful Indian market beneath a spectacular volcano.
Walk to San Ramón waterfall on the slopes of Maderas volcano, admiring the natural landscape and views out over Lake Nicaragua.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
Beachfront hotel in the style of a traditional Caribbean plantation house, with an intriguing history and a distinct seaside vibe.
Plaza Colon is an attractive colonial-style hotel on the delightful main square in Granada.
Atmospheric 17th century convent transformed into an enchanting, art-filled hotel with landscaped gardens enclosed by a tranquil courtyard.
Papagaio
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