nicaragua & el salvador - eldertreks · nicaragua & el salvador come and visit 2 of central...
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Detailed Itinerary
US/CAN 1-800-741-7956 UK 0808-234-1714 INTL. 001-416-588-5000 www.eldertreks.com
Nicaragua & El Salvador
Come and visit 2 of Central America’s least visited
countries. El Salvador and Nicaragua!
In El Salvador, visit the ancient Mayan sites of
Joya de Ceren, Tazumal and San Andreas. Enjoy
the relaxing pace of the indigenous colonial towns,
coffee plantations and markets of Ruta de Las
Flores (Flower Route). Visit a turtle sanctuary and
help to tag resident turtles. Enjoy a scenic flight
over active San Miguel volcano enroute to remote
Perquin, the former mountain headquarters of
the communist guerrillas during the Civil War. We
will learn about what really happened including
shameful government massacres of civilians. You
will meet our local guide, a former communist
guerrilla at the age of 10. His story is sad, shocking
and yet inspiring!
We leave El Salvador by private ferry to Nicaragua.
Our first 4 nights are shared between 2 of the
Facts & Highlights• 15 land days • Maximum 16 travelers • Start in San Salvador, finish in Managua • All meals included • Enjoy the colonial gems of Leon, Granada and Suchitoto • Experience close encounters with several volcanoes including a flyover of San Miguel volcano • Explore the colonial charm of the Flower Route • Search for monkeys, sloths, turtles and a myriad of birdlife • Visit beautiful Omotepe Island on Lake Nicaragua, formed by its 2 volcanoes • Spend a very insightful and shocking day with a former communist guerilla fighter in the remote former headquarters of Perkin • Visit Museum of the Revolution and Place of the Massacre • Explore 3 Mayan sites • Journey to Masaya market and volcano
Departure Dates & PriceMar 31 - Apr 14, 2017 - $4495 USDMar 09 - Mar 23, 2018 - $4695 USDActivity Level: 2Comfort Level: Some long drive through mountain roads.
Accommodations: Comfortable hotels with private bathrooms.
Oct 05/16
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most beautiful colonial cities in
the Americas; Leon (the oldest
city in America, est. 1525) and
Granada. We visit Masaya Volcano
and market and enjoy local cuisine
during a cooking lesson. Enjoy time
on Omotepe island, formed by 2
volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua. We
visit pre-Colombian petroglyphs, a
butterfly farm and a local church
that has its own ‘indigenous Jesus’.
On the Pacific coast, we visit a
turtle sanctuary which has several
major turtle migrations to lay eggs between July
and January each year. If we visit during a major
migration, the site is truly magnificent! If the beach
has no turtles, we can learn about the turtles and go
for a swim at this pristine white sand beach. Always
keep an eye out for monkeys! Our last stop is the
capital of Managua, where we enjoy a city tour and
our farewell dinner.
DAy 1 ArrIvAl IN SAN SAlvADor, El SAlvADorUpon arrival in San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital,
we are met and transferred to our hotel. This
evening, we have our welcome dinner.
Overnight in San Salvador.
DAy 2 SEñor romEro, WAr HIStory muSEum, 2 mAyAN SItESTToday we visit the church were Señor Romero, the
Archbishop of San Salvador was giving mass when
he was assassinated. He spoke out against poverty,
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social injustice, assassinations and torture. He was
made a saint by the Catholic church on May 23, 2015.
The War History Museum gives a government-biased
view of military victories in suppressing communist
insurgents. This is in stark contrast to the political
and military views which will be expressed during
our visit to the former communist headquarters in
the remote mountains of El Salvador.
Our next 2 visits will take us to the Mayan sites of
Joya de Ceren and San Andreas. Joya de Ceren is
particularly interesting in that this pre-Columbian
Mayan farming village is well preserved as it was
protected under layers of volcanic ash. It is often
referred to as the “Pompeii of the Americas”.
Overnight in San Salvador.
DAy 3 CoAtEPEquE ‘volCANIC’ lAkE, ColoNIAl SANtA ANA, mAyAN SItEWe leave the capital and set out in the direction of
colonial Santa Ana. Our first stop is the stunning
Coatepeque ‘Volcanic’ Lake. We can enjoy a coffee
while taking in the view.
We continue to the beautiful colonial city of Santa
Ana where we have lunch and then enjoy a city tour
that includes the cathedral, opera house and classic
old abandoned school.
We will then visit our final Mayan site of Tazumal,
the Pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in
Chalchuapa.
Overnight in Ahuachapan (Flower Route).
DAy 4 rutA DE lAS FlorES - INDIgENouS toWN & mArkEtS, CoFFEE PlANtAtIoNRuta de Las Flores, or Flower Route, is a 36km-long
winding trip through brightly colored indigenous,
colonial towns famed for their picturesque landscape
set against mountains and volcanoes. The region is
home to the country’s first coffee plantations, some
of its finest indigenous artisans and excellent coffee
shops.
We visit a coffee plantation followed by the museum
depicting the massacre in 1932 when more than
30,000 indigenous villagers were massacred by
government troops. After lunch, we finish our
picturesque day with a visit to an indigenous market
and a stop at a coffee shop in the town’s main
square.
Overnight in Ahuachapan (Flower Route).
DAy 5 to PuErto BArIllAS, moNkEyS AND turtlESToday we descend to the ocean and follow the coast
to Puerto Barillas, part of a UNESCO Biosphere
Reserve. This region offers some of El Salvador’s
most untouched natural beauty and hosts the
largest abundance of coastal-marine birds in the
country. It is also a critically important hawksbill
nesting site, hosting approximately 40-45% of
the known hawksbill nesting in the entire eastern
Pacific.
Here our lodge is a haven for birds and wildlife.
We visit a local man who has befriended Spider
monkeys in the area. These monkeys were almost
extinct and he has helped rejuvenate the Spider
monkey population in this area. The locals say he
has acquired the respect and affection of the local
monkeys.
We also have a rare opportunity to learn about and
participate in the tagging of local turtles. Finding
the turtles can only happen when the tide is low.
Our schedule will be determined by the schedule
of the tides. You have the opportunity to help spot
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wildlife or participate in helping to find and tag one
of the local turtle species. Once a turtle is spotted,
a net is dropped in a large circle around the turtle
and slowly pulled in until the turtle is temporarily
trapped, tagged and then released. During our
visit, ElderTreks also contributes to help fund the
research used to help save the local turtles.
Overnight in Puerto Barillas.
DAy 6 ColoNIAl SuCHItoto, BoAt ExCurSIoN to BIrD ISlANDWe once again travel inland passing impressive San
Vicente Volcano at almost 2,200 m and ominously
towering over the town below. We continue to El
Salvador’s most beautiful colonial city of Suchitoto.
We explore the beautiful old buildings on foot and
have the opportunity to see the ever present smiles
and greetings of the local people.
After lunch, we take a boat ride to Bird Island with
its massive flocks of birds.
Overnight in Suchitoto.
DAy 7 PrIvAtE FlIgHt ovEr ACtIvE SAN mIguEl volCANo to rEvolutIoN HEADquArtErS oF PErkINThis morning we drive to the domestic airport
where we board our helicopter (or small airplane
if helicopter is unavailable) and fly to the remote
mountain town of Perquin (also spelt Perkin).
During our scenic flight, we pass several volcanoes
including the impressive and active San Miguel.
Perquin was the headquarters of the communist
guerrillas during the Salvadoran Civil War and is
home to the Museum of the Revolution containing
artifacts and exhibits related to the war. Exhibits
include a recreation of Radio Venceremos, a civil
war-era opposition radio station that would
broadcast throughout the country and re-broadcast
via short wave radio throughout the world during
the 1980s.
In Perquin, we are met by our local guide (Serafin)
who was a communist guerrilla at age 10, having
lost much of his family during the The El Mozote
Massacre on December 11, 1981. Here at the ‘Place
of the Massacre’, the Salvadoran Army killed more
than 800 civilians during the Salvadoran Civil War.
In December 2011, the El Salvador government
apologized for the massacre.
Overnight in Perquin.
DAy 8 to lA uNIoN, PrIvAtE BoAt to NICArAguA, to lEoNThis morning we depart early as we once again
descend from the mountains to the ocean. In La
Union, we complete passport formalities as we say
goodbye to El Salvador. We board our small ferry
as we pass islands, lined with fishing boats and will
stop for lunch on one of these islands. After lunch,
we continue to Nicaragua, landing at Potosi, where
we must take care of immigration formalities before
driving to the colonial city of Leon.
Overnight in Leon.
DAy 9 lEoN - olDESt CIty IN tHE AmErICAS (ESt. 1525)Not only is Leon a beautiful colonial city, it is
also the oldest city in the Americas, established
in 1524. We will enjoy a breathtaking view of the
Momotombo volcano and Lake Xolotlan. We
explore several churches and historic buildings and
also stop at a wall of murals which depict some of
the most important symbols, stories and political
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statements from Nicaragua’s past and present. We
will also see the birdhouse of Ruben Dario, the
“Ortiz Gurdian” art gallery and the “El Convento”
hotel and its colonial architecture. During the
walking tour get to know the historic murals of
the city and understand the role played by Leon
in the social, economic and political development
of Nicaragua. We will also visit the “Hervideros
de San Jacinto”, and be able to get really close to
the heat coming up from the interior of the earth.
The boiling mud inside these craters, is a very
impressive spectacle to observe.
Dinner and overnight in Leon.
DAy 10 mASAyA volCANo & mArkEt, CookINg lESSoN, to grANADAWe set out for the (still active) Masaya volcano,
where we will witness the influence that volcanic
activities have had in the shaping of the zone, as
well as the flora and fauna of this wildlife refuge.
We then visit the pleasant and interesting Masaya
market, known for for local ceramics, hammocks,
wood and leather souvenirs, before stopping at a
local restaurant for a cooking lesson on Nicaraguan
specialties. For dinner, we will enjoy some of the
cuisine we learned about during our cooking lesson.
We continue to the colonial city of Granada where
we will have a sightseeing tour by horse carriage
and arrive at the main plaza for our walking tour
of the surrounding area. You will finish your day
with a relaxing boat ride around some of the islands
formed by the impressive Mombacho volcano.
Overnight in Granada.
DAy 11 grANADA SItES, momBACHA volCANo HIkE, lAguNA DE PoloyAThis morning we explore the most impressive sites
of Granada, arguably Nicaragua’s most impressive
colonial city. Mombacha volcano is our next stop.
We transfer to more powerful trucks as we drive
up the steep road to the summit. Notice the drop
in temperature and an increase in lush greenery as
the top portion of the volcano is often shrouded in
mist, creating a cloud forest. If clear, you can see
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the lake and city below. We can enjoy a moderate 1
hour hike to several viewpoints. We stop for lunch
by Laguna de Poloya, one of the most beautiful
lagoons in Nicaragua which has an abundance of
flora and fauna. After lunch, we can relax and enjoy
the view or cool off with a refreshing dip in the lake.
Overnight in Granada.
DAy 12 to omotEPE ISlAND, lAkE NICArAguAAfter breakfast, we depart Granada as we drive
towards Lake Nicaragua. We take a ferry to the
heart of Omotepe island. This stunning island was
formed by 2 volcanoes, Conception (1,610m) and
Maderas (1,394m). The volcanoes are joined by a
low isthmus that form one island in the shape of
an hourglass. Sites we visit include a butterfly
farm, petroglyphs and even a local church, which
has its own indigenous Jesus. We will visit a Pre-
Columbian Museum where we will learn about the
culture of the different ethnic groups or tribes that
inhabited the island of Ometepe, and then we will
be passing through different rural villages to reach
the natural reserve of Charco Verde, a natural lake
within the vegetation. In the late afternoon, we can
relax on the beach or go for a swim. Lake Nicaragua,
although a fresh water lake, looks and feels more
like the ocean and even has bull sharks; however,
they are rarely seen.
Overnight on Omotepe island.
DAy 13 to SAN JuAN DEl Sur, ZIPlINE, turtlE rESErvEEnjoy a relaxing morning before we depart by ferry
for the ocean, leaving this special island behind. On
our way, we make a stop and transfer to specially
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made dirt road buggies (with incredible suspension)
and drive to a viewpoint where we can see San Juan
del Sur looking westward and Omotepe and Lake
Nicaragua if we look towards the east.
You can enjoy the view or for those who would like
a bit of an adrenaline rush, you can zip line. Keep an
eye out for howler monkeys, lizards and a myriad
of birds and toucans. We continue our drive to a
protected beach, La Flor Wildlife refuge where one
can find thousands of turtles that come onto the
shore to lay eggs between July and January each
year. There are 7 large migrations that happen during
this time period and several smaller ones, also during
this time. We continue to our historic ocean-side
hotel in San Juan del Sur, built in 1902 and features
one room that was the favourite room of Mark
Twain.
Overnight in San Juan del Sur.
DAy 14 to mANAguA
After a relaxing morning by the ocean, we drive back
to the capital city of Managua. Enjoy a tour of the
city’s main sites including the palace and cathedral
which was destroyed during the 1972 earthquake.
The area was devastated and almost abandoned
but has seen a revival including a recent lake front
development of restaurants and parkland where
local families can visit and relax. We will also learn
about national hero Augusto Cesar Sandino and
the Somoza dictatorship. We will see the ruins of
the old presidential palace, also destroyed by the
earthquake that leveled the city. We will see the
monument to Simon Bolivar, in the avenue of the
same name and also the National Theater Ruben
Dario, New Presidential House, Palace of Culture
and other buildings.
This evening we enjoy our farewell dinner.
Overnight in Managua.
DAy 15 DEPArt mANAguAOur Central American Adventure concludes with a
transfer to Managua International Airport for your
departure flight.
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questions & Answers1. How big are the groups?Each group is limited to 16 participants. Small groups are an important ingredient in adventure travel. They al-low for more interaction and more personalized service throughout the itinerary.
2. What is included in the tour price?All accommodations throughout; all meals, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour); bottled drink-ing water throughout the trip; all internal transportation; airport transfers on day 1 and departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour); all day trips and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary; tips for hotels (porterage), national guide, and bus driver, restaurants and spot guides; services of a trip leader.
3. What is not included in the tour price?International flights, tips to ElderTreks tour leader, alcoholic drinks, visa’s and travel insurance.
4. Are these “educational” tours?Yes, in the broadest sense of the word, “educational”. We visit cultural centers and historical sites, and have talks and discussions on many aspects of history, culture and nature. But this is only a portion of the educational experi-ence. We believe that it is equally educational to meet local people on a non-commercial basis, visit their homes and even try to learn a few words in the native language. Some-times the most “educational” moments are spent sipping a cold drink in a street market or trying some newly learned Spanish phrases.
5. How do we travel during the tour?All local transportation is included in the land price of the trip. We use minivans or bus for our land travel and we take several boat journeys during our Central American adventure.
6. What are our accommodations like?We always stay in good accommodations — both hotels and lodges, where rooms have a private bath or shower.
7. What about the weather?The two distinguishable seasons are the wet season and the dry season. The best time of the year to visit the region is during the dry season (generally from November through May) when the humidity is relatively low. Average
temperatures during these months are 82°F (27.7°C) for the highs and 69 °F (20.5) for the lows. While rain is not common during this time be prepared for the chance of precipitation anytime.
8. When is payment due?A non-refundable deposit of $500 or £300 GBP (plus in-surance if you require it) is due at time of booking and will reserve your place on the adventure. Payment of the full land cost is due 100 days before departure. Cancellation charges are applicable and are outlined in the “Terms and Conditions” section of our brochure.
9. Is medical insurance required?Insurance coverage is not included in the cost of your trip. Please note that medical insurance is not required for this adventure but is recommended. ElderTreks offers comprehensive travel insurance and we are happy to provide you with a quote if you call our office. If you are purchasing insurance elsewhere, please ensure you provide the details to ElderTreks as soon as possible. *Please note those travelers with pre-existing medical conditions must take out travel insurance at the time of deposit
10. What should I take on the tour?There is a detailed “What to Take” list in our Trip Kit, which we will send to you after you have booked the trip.
11. What meals are included?All meals during the itinerary are included, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on depar-ture day. We eat a variety of local foods prepared in a wide range of settings. In many cases, we simply order a num-ber of dishes and share, allowing you to sample new foods.
12. Can you arrange my flights?We would be happy to take care of your air arrangements. ElderTreks offers personalized flight itineraries — not group flights. Stop over en route, come in a few days early, or extend your stay. Call us for a customized itinerary.
13. What if I would like more information?If you have any further questions about the trip, please do not hesitate to contact our office for additional informa-tion. A Trip Kit containing further details on the destina-tion will be sent to you once you have booked the trip.