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Attractions, Accomodations and Tour Information

button Centro Ecoturistico La Maquina

La Maquina . La Maquina . La Maquina .

This beautiful area located just East of the Pacific Ocean (at Km. 58 on the paved La Boquita Road that goes East from the Pan Am Highway in Diriamba) is a welcome change from the heat and less than perfect air in Managua and along the main roads. Be sure to take your bathing suit (skinny dipping is, apparently, not yet tolerated) as you enjoy splashing in the abundant and said to be clean water coming over the rocks and while you relax in the calm pools directly below the falls. You may also choose from several hiking trails throughout the forest and along the river. A limited menu restaurant is available as well as the usual cervesa and mixed drink offerings. Rest rooms are acceptable and there is even a camping area available.

La Maquina is open from 8:00AM to 6:00PM and there is a small entry fee. For further information, call (505) 278-0871 or (505) 0887-0141 (cell).

The Hotel Lupita near Casares is located nearby (turn towards the Pacific Ocean and follow the signs) for overnight accomodations offering clean rooms, good food and a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean (don't worry about by the road or surroundings... it WILL turn out OK). This hotel is, by far, not a resort and should be considered as acceptable accomodations of the local Nicaraguan style only if you do not wish to travel immediately back to a larger town (DO NOT attempt driving on the road to Deriamba from Casares at night).

button Mombacho Canopy Tours... One of Nicaragua's best kept secrets can be found near the summit of the Mombacho Volcano located a few miles west of Granada. You, too, can swing through rain forrest trees by the use of wire cables and with the help of tour assistants who stop at nothing to assure your safe travel from one tree to another and your final thrilling decent to the ground.

Southern view from Mombacho . Mombacho Canopy Tour . Mombacho Canopy Tour

NicAmigo cannot, of course, guarantee that you would not receive injuries at this or any other attraction in Nicaragua; but, the guides were extremely careful, well trained and instilled full confidence in their expertise.

Mombotour's package deals (including horseback riding and a tour of the facilities) may include a shortened version of the canopy tour... the full version may be added for an extra charge. There are two canopy tours on Mombacho. The one NicAmigo recently visited was the one on the North side of the volcano which also included an extremely interesting walking tour at the top (no horses were available). You can get information about each tour in their respective offices or from the several tour operators in Granada.

Mombacho Canopy Tour . Mombacho Canopy Tour . Mombacho Canopy Tour

If you're in the San Juan del Sur area, the Flying Frog Canope Tour and Horseback Riding is reported to be a "top notch" attraction. According to a reliable source, their tours enjoy high marks for guides, health of horses, professionalism, etc.

Hotel Alhambra in Granada button While visiting in the Granada area, we suggest staying at the recently refurbished Hotel Alhambra for excellent accomodations and a relaxing look at the many attractions in and around the town. We have stayed at this hotel many times while refurbishing our own small piece of colonial Granada and have many fond memories of our visits. Just thinking about the many friends we've met on their famous front veranda over the years is reason enough to have extreme bouts of nostalgia about the country in general and this city in particular.

Alhambra lobby There are other fine hotels and less expensive accomodations in Granada that are, in themselves, exemplary and worthy of your business; however, the Hotel Alhambra was one of the originals and historically noteworthy.

For additional information, visit the Hotel Alhambra website. We think you would be happy with this choice of accomodations.

Old Masaya Market button The Markets at Masaya provide an excellent assortment of supplies and souveniers and can be an interesting experience. But, there are some things you should know to make your visits enjoyable. There are two markets: one that is primarily involved in supplying the day-to-day needs of the local residents and the second much more tourist friendly facility with many vendors offering a good assortment of Nicaraguan crafts at reasonable prices. The later market is known as "The Old Market" and is located within refurbished fortress type walls (pictured above) very near the center of town.

Both markets have English speaking young boys who will provide translation services and assistance in negotiating prices. Your guide will expect a tip after your visit and may get a little agressive at this stage of the experience... especially at the regular market.

Nicaraguan merchants generally do not negotiate prices and the first price quoted may be close (probably within 10%) to the price that you will eventually pay.

Stang's Hideaway button Michael and Cathy Stang own a beautiful home at the Marsella Beach Resort located about 9km from the picturesque tourist/fishing village of San Juan del Sur. It is nestled above the resort overlooking the Marsella and Los Playones beaches. The view from the house is breathtaking encompassing in excess of 200 degrees of ocean view with monoliths and crashing surf. Visit their web site Stang's Hideaway which also includes additional photos and rental information.

NOTE: Michael indicates that a section of their property is now being newly transformed into condominium units by the Marsella Beach Development company. Their home is, apparently, still available for vacation rentals and, according to Michael, is not affected by the developement activities going on in the area. For further information, please visit their website or send email to "mstang@emirates.net.ae".

Piedras y Olas Hotel and Resort button Piedras y Olas (including Pelican Eyes Sailing, Piedras y Olas Hotel and Resort as well as the La Cascada Bar and Restaurant ) is another interesting place to stay while enjoying the San Juan del Sur area. As you will read on their website, " Piedras y Olas Hotel and Resort offers a distinctive blend of gracious hospitality, local charm, architectural flair, and community commitment, all within a unique setting that blends harmoniously with the natural environment and local culture". Join Chris for a cocktail in the pool by the waterfall at sunset! You'll probably not be disappointed with the accomodations and surroundings.

And, while in San Juan del Sur, ask for information about a sailboat charter aboard the 42' "Pelican Eyes" sailing sloop.

button Grant and Cathy Peeples have a wonderful little hotel on Little Corn Island called Casa Iguana that should satisfy anyone who would care to visit a remote tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean. Talk about a dream vacation! Ask them about snorkeling and diving opportunities available in the area. Photos!

Exterior photo button The home in Granada (photo to the right) owned by the NicAmigo webmaster is available to rent and may be the only facility of it's type available for short-term rentals. Due to it's central location, it could serve as your "base of operations" while touring the southwestern part of Nicaragua. For more information, go to Granada Home Rental to learn more about this beautiful colonial style home in the antique district of Granada.

Waterfall button Relax under the cooling mist of a rainforest waterfall (photo to the right) while watching the playful parrots in the nearby clifts at Refugio El Chocoyero located on the La Carretera a la Concha located about 20 miles South of Managua (is, quite literally, in the "boonies"... 4WD required if road is wet or in the rainy season). The hike to the site from the parking lot should be easy (for most people) as well as interesting and the walk back while soaking wet from standing under the waterfall (next time you might want to bring a bathing suit) is also exhilerating. If you have kids along, bring 'em (although, if young, should be carefully monitored in and around the unguarded streams).

button Excellent accomodations on an island in the Isletas near Granada: Nicarao Lake Resort and Tours with free transportation for registered guests (Web site en espaņol and English). Yes, you read that right... a hotel on a little island just outside Granada in Lake Nicaragua! The rooms and food were very enjoyable during our visits. Call for reservations before you go. Nicarao also provides many tour options for travel throughout Nicaragua.

Selva Negra Resort button Plan for a adventure-filled multi-day tour of Nicaragua from Tours Nicaragua. Their web site gives full details about many available itineraries which can take you from one end of the country to the other and then some! Several different and reasonably priced tour packages are available. A NicAmigo recommended service!

button Montelimar Resort is an "all inclusive" resort in Nicaragua providing luxurious accommodations, first class meals and enjoyable entertainment. The circular pool around the bar is particularly inviting as is the Pacific Ocean beach immediately adjacent to the resort. Tours to many Nicaragua locations can be arranged for you by the knowledgeable and friendly staff. Montelimar Resort is a first class, although somewhat expensive, operation that will provide an unforgetable experience for you and your guests.

button Nicaragua's Travel Net offers many tours of the country and provides an excellent review of Nicaragua tourist attractions on their Web page. A detailed analysis of travel information is also featured.

button Beautiful Selva Negra Mountain Resort and Coffee Plantation is your host for an interesting vacation in the mountains of Nicaragua. Go fishing, horseback riding and hiking on 14 different trails or just plain relax. Conference room is also available for group meetings.

church . pond . cottage

The mountain views in this area of Nicaragua are magnificent. Even though the Selva Negra facilities could use some updating, the little cabins for overnight lodging are unique... where else would you find plants growing on your roof! Take along a sweater or light coat because the evenings are quite cool.

UPDATE August 2006 The facilities were disappointing as they are still primative (beds were extremely uncomfortable in our pond view cottage although the room was clean). Meals were very good in the clubhouse. The children's playground was very dirty and the local wild ducks freely wandered the grounds leaving their "marks" that were never removed by the mangement. The tours of the coffee plantation were not available due to "equipment failure". Much of the premises appeared to be needing serious updating and overall maintenance.

More NicAmigo recommended places of interest:

Granada Cathedral Granada for it's colorful colonial architecture, excellent accomodations and fine dining (horse drawn carriages available for local tours), Leon for colonial architecture and a magnificent cathedral, San Juan del Sur for oceanside fun and offshore fishing or sailing, Masetepe for beautiful handmade wood furniture, San Juan de Oriente for handmade pottery, Ometepe Island (a highly recommended short-term destination) for a tour around a live volcano ... overnight accomodations are available (see Trip Advisor) and ferry service is now operating from Granada to San Carlos with an interim stop at Ometepe, San Juan River Tour (from San Carlos), Pueblos Blancos for handmade ceramics, and Corn Island located in the Caribbean off the East coast of Nicaragua to enjoy the crystal clear water and a unique tropical island adventure.


NOTE: NicAmigo does not receive any remuneration from these establishments or tour operators and, although none are anticipated, is not responsible for any problems you may encounter with them. Most of the above descriptions are based on personal experiences and may no longer be accurate.


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