Your arrival to Costa Rica will begin with a relaxing overnight
stay in the San Jose area. The next morning we'll motor north
on the Pan American Hwy. We pass through Grecia, voted the cleanest
city in Central America and the quaint artesian village of Sarchi.
In Liberia, the gateway city you'll see small a glimpse of Nicaragua
on Calle Real, the old historic area. Residences are reminiscent
of the Spanish colonial architecture that is so typical in NI.
A small museum displays farm and household articles of the old
country life style. After obtaining the required vehicle permits
in order to cross the border, we drive approximately one hour
north. Please note that crossing international borders can be
somewhat bureaucratic but we'll try to make it as easy as possible.
Generally this process takes about an hour.
Once we enter Nicaragua
we'll have an excellent road system to tour the country. We'll
pass through the town of Rivas long ago a stagecoach stop for
the gold rush seeker enroute to California. A side trip to San
Jorge on the shores of Lake Nicaragua provides a closer view
of the large island Ometepe and its two volcanoes. Onto Granada,
founded in 1523, it is the oldest city in the Americas. As a
center of commerce and conservatism, it remains the crown jewel
of the country. Here there are many old mansions, churches, convents,
and cultural centers. It is located on the shore of Lake Nicaragua,
the 10th largest fresh water lake and only one in the world with
sharks. A short drive to nearby Puerto Asese
affords us to see some of the 356 islands created 20,000 years
ago when the volcano Mombacho exploded. The latter can be seen
in the background some six miles away as we look across a tranquil
lagoon complete with blooming lily pads, breadfruit, mango and
palm trees. Other options are the main cathedral, numerous churches,
the Convent of San Francisco now an anthropological museum, and
the cemetery with many interesting mausoleums and beautiful angelic
statues.
Within a short distance of Granada are
the towns of Catarina and San Juan del Oriente. At Catarina there
is a "mirador" or look point of the Laguna Apoyo, a
water filled crater with Granada seen in the distance beyond.
The streets of Catarina are cobblestones and lined with over
30 family owned nurseries. Each one is a different garden of
paradise and they sell almost very kind of local tropical plant.
The neighboring pueblo is San Juan del Oriente that specializes
in indigenous ceramics. Another nearby town Masatepe is know
for its fine furniture making. These small villages are the home
of Nicaraguan arts and crafts. They truly typify the traditional
life style of the people and should not be overlooked. Definitely
some of the best buys for handicrafts. You'll have the option
to see more villages depending on time or use a direct route
to Managua, which is less than an hour.
Upon our arrival in Managua
we'll check into the hotel; after a short rest we take a tour
to get acquainted with this unique capital city. See Tico Times
article Things are Booming in La Nueva Managua.
The city tour includes: Plaza de la Republica, Presidential Palace
and National Palace (museum), "malecon" or lakefront
walk, Plaza de Fe Juan Pablo II, Ruben Dario Theatre, Dennis
Martinez Stadium, Old and New Cathedrals, Plaza Inter and Metrocentro
Malls.
The next morning we continue the city tour. Later
we head to Leon using the scenic route Past Lake Managua, seeing
the near perfect peak of the volcano Momotombo and picturesque
farmlands along the way. We'll arrive in Leon a little over an
hour later. This is the intellectual and liberal center of country.
Poet Ruben Dario, considered the father of modern Spanish literature
is entombed in the main cathedral, which is the largest in CA.
There are many old churches and historic places here as well,
including the Ruben Dario Museum. The colorful open-air public
markets are certainly worth seeing.
We leave Leon looping back south to Masaya for dinner and
an overnight stay. The next morning you'll visit the volcano
at Masaya National Park. We'll drive to the active crater some
1900' high and see gases spewing into the air whilst birds fly
through. One trail is wheelchair accessible and a guided nature
tour is available. Afterwards you'll have a city tour of Masaya,
including Coyotepe, an infamous historic fortress and see the
old market, which has now been restored and has 200 souvenir
shops.
On our return we'll stop
overnight at the small seaside resort of San Juan del Sur. Very
popular with locals as well tourists. It is now a port of call
for the first cruise ships arriving in Nicaragua. This is an
excellent place to R&R before our return to Costa Rica.
Once we enter Nicaragua
we'll have an excellent road system to tour the country. We'll
pass through the town of Rivas long ago a stagecoach stop for
the gold rush seeker enroute to California. A side trip to San
Jorge on the shores of Lake Nicaragua provides a closer view
of the large island Ometepe and its two volcanoes. Onto Granada,
founded in 1523, it is the oldest city in the Americas. As a
center of commerce and conservatism, it remains the crown jewel
of the country. Here there are many old mansions, churches, convents,
and cultural centers. It is located on the shore of Lake Nicaragua,
the 10th largest fresh water lake and only one in the world with
sharks. 
A short drive to nearby Puerto Asese
affords us to see some of the 356 islands created 20,000 years
ago when the volcano Mombacho exploded. The latter can be seen
in the background some six miles away as we look across a tranquil
lagoon complete with blooming lily pads, breadfruit, mango and
palm trees. Other options are the main cathedral, numerous churches,
the Convent of San Francisco now an anthropological museum, and
the cemetery with many interesting mausoleums and beautiful angelic
statues.
Within a short distance of Granada are
the towns of Catarina and San Juan del Oriente. At Catarina there
is a "mirador" or look point of the Laguna Apoyo, a
water filled crater with Granada seen in the distance beyond.
The streets of Catarina are cobblestones and lined with over
30 family owned nurseries. Each one is a different garden of
paradise and they sell almost very kind of local tropical plant.
The neighboring pueblo is San Juan del Oriente that specializes
in indigenous ceramics. Another nearby town Masatepe is know
for its fine furniture making. These small villages are the home
of Nicaraguan arts and crafts. They truly typify the traditional
life style of the people and should not be overlooked. Definitely
some of the best buys for handicrafts. You'll have the option
to see more villages depending on time or use a direct route
to Managua, which is less than an hour.
Upon our arrival in Managua
we'll check into the hotel; after a short rest we take a tour
to get acquainted with this unique capital city. See Tico Times
article 
The next morning we continue the city tour. Later
we head to Leon using the scenic route Past Lake Managua, seeing
the near perfect peak of the volcano Momotombo and picturesque
farmlands along the way. We'll arrive in Leon a little over an
hour later. This is the intellectual and liberal center of country.
Poet Ruben Dario, considered the father of modern Spanish literature
is entombed in the main cathedral, which is the largest in CA.
There are many old churches and historic places here as well,
including the Ruben Dario Museum. The colorful open-air public
markets are certainly worth seeing.
On our return we'll stop
overnight at the small seaside resort of San Juan del Sur. Very
popular with locals as well tourists. It is now a port of call
for the first cruise ships arriving in Nicaragua. This is an
excellent place to R&R before our return to Costa Rica.