Central Nicaragua Holidays from £181

Central Nicaragua Holiday Packages

Discover the delights of cloud forests, waterfalls and hot springs, and the taste of Nicaraguan coffee, in this little-explored region.

Central Nicaragua is far from the radar of mass tourism. Leave the backpacker trail behind and venture inland where you will be rewarded with natural beauty and a lush, varied landscape that includes rolling pastoral hills, cloud-covered forests and the dramatic Rio Grande.

To the north of the region, the highlands provide a cooler climate that is perfect for growing coffee and tobacco, while forested mountain slopes hold great opportunities for hiking and ecotourism amid exotic wildlife. Follow the trails through the misty cloud forests of the Penas Blancas Massif to see immense waterfalls, wild orchids and rare bird species, and rest overnight in tiny mountain hotels. With parts of the region reaching heights of 3,000 feet (914 metres) above sea level, you’ll also enjoy spectacular views over the surrounding countryside as you ascend the slopes.

No trip to Nicaragua would be complete without sampling its bold-tasting coffee. Delve even deeper and see how the coffee is grown and harvested in the shade forests surrounding Matagalpa, a town where coffee has been cultivated for more than a century. The city of Estelí, meanwhile, is famed for tobacco production, and is home to cigar factories and plantations. While you’re in town, enjoy the city’s many restaurants and bars.

Head south to explore the Boaco region, with its rolling landscapes and livestock farms. Though the area isn’t known as a tourist destination, it boasts natural attractions. Sink into the hot springs at the Embalse de las Canoas and see the caves and waterfalls around the city of Camoapa, which is also famous for its old city ruins. To the south, the region borders the vast Lake Nicaragua.

Find the Rio Grande even further south. Venture down the legendary river, either by public or private boats known as “pangas,” or even by kayak, to reach the scenic town of El Castillo. This town contains an old colonial fortress, which sits next to the enormous Indio Maiz Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important tropical rainforest conservation areas in the country. Use local “chicken buses” or tourist-oriented shuttle buses to get around Central Nicaragua.