FEATURE NICARAGUA
and Leon and a visit to San Juan del Sur on the Pacific Coast.
TRAVELSPHERE – 0844 567 9961
www.travelsphere.co.uk A 17-day twin-centre Natural Wonders package is priced from £2,735pp including return flights to San Jose (Costa Rica), 12 nights’ accommodation, including three in Nicaragua, excursions to state parks and nature reserves, a boat trip on Lake Nicaragua and trip to the Masaya Volcano National Park and a Travelsphere tour guide and English speaking local rep.
that was 15-20 years ago. The people
are so keen to meet visitors and are so friendly: they genuinely welcome tourists with a freshness that you don’t get in developed countries.”
TOM HARARI country director Steppes Travel “Nicaragua is my favourite
country in Central America and it’s a place which has a really nice atmosphere. It’s very poor, but it’s safe to visit and travel around. “I’d recommend Granada, on the
shores of Lake Nicaragua, for its beautiful colonial architecture. There’s a real tropical, languid feel to it and you’ll see a lot of people on rocking chairs outside their homes, just taking it easy. “Leon is another city worth a visit.
Both played big parts in the civil war: Leon was the socialist stronghold, and people go here to get their revolutionary fix. Granada was conservative. I would recommend the Jicaro Island Eco-Lodge which is built on one of the islands of Lake Nicaragua.”
SASKIA HODSON Original Travel “I think Granada is a fascinating place to visit
because it’s one of the last colonial cities of Central America to be ‘cleaned up’ and as a result the ambience is quite raw. Poverty is played out on the streets, but not in a horribly depressing manner but a realistic one.
24 June 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com “Venders mill around the plaza, couples
relax on benches in the shade, and children of all ages play football across the cobbles. “The centre of Granada is dominated
by its iconic cathedral whose walls are brightly painted with yellow and white and topped off with burnt-orange domes. Radiating out from the main square are narrow cobbled streets lined with pastel coloured low-rise buildings. "For such a poor city, the overall effect is incredibly attractive.”
KELLY BROOKS UK sales manager Star Clippers “We spent three days in
Nicaragua visiting the main highlights including Granada, a beautiful colonial city overlooking the magical Lake Nicaragua, the impressive five-crater Masaya Volcano and the cultural university city of Leon. “A holiday in Nicaragua is for an experienced traveller who wishes to discover local culture and traditions, nature walks, the most breathtaking scenery, and for the more adventurous types, hikes up volcanoes for example.”
Where To Book It STEPPES TRAVEL - 01285 885 333
www.steppestravel.co.uk A 15-day holiday is priced from £2,450pp including return flights from the UK. It includes a night in Managua, a visit to the coffee- and tobacco-growing highlands bordering Honduras, stays in Granada
NICARAGUA Top Selling Tips...
• It’s how the Caribbean once was… “After touring the mainland, chill out for a few days on the Corn Islands on the Caribbean, a true tropical paradise of white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters”
PILAR CANO CEO, CATA
• It’s perfect for a twin centre... “Most people have to fly into Costa Rica to get to Nicaragua so suggest your client combines the two”
ADAM COULTER Travel writer
• It’s the only place in the world where you can go volcano boarding... “You climb the 675m to the top of the Negro Volcano and then slide on the sand and descend to the bottom of the volcano in a very safe wooden board. It’s an adrenalin and emotion mixture that can only be felt in Nicaragua”
MARÍA ESTHER SELVA CÁRDENAS Nicaraguan Tourism Board
JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA 020 8747 8315
www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk A 13-day holiday to Costa Rica and Nicaragua starts from £2567pp (not including flights, which start from £820pp) including accommodation, transfers, internal flights and excursions and a stay at a coffee plantation in the Costa Rican Central Valley, the Osa Peninsula, Granada and the luxury eco- lodge Morgan’s Rock.
Room Report Barceló Managua: Modern, upscale hotel in downtown Managua.
Hotel Contempo: A boutique hotel in Managua with 18 rooms.
Jicaro Island Ecolodge: This multi- award-winning property is the realisation of a dream by London-based entrepreneur Karen Emanuel. It is in a breathtaking spot on a private island in Lake Nicaragua, just a short boat ride from Granada with stunning views of the Mombacho Volcano. It has nine private casitas and offers a series of wellbeing courses and nature trails.
Aqua Wellness Resort: A yoga and wellbeing retreat and eco-resort located on the Pacific Coast. It offers sea turtle tours, yoga courses and volcano tours.
Who Flies There From the UK there are NO non-stop flights: AMERICAN AIRLINES –
www.aa.com BRITISH AIRWAYS –
www.ba.com via Miami CONTINENTAL AIRLINES –
www.continental.com via Houston DELTA AIRWAYS –
www.delta.com via Atlanta IBERIA –
www.Iberia.com via Madrid and San Jose, Costa Rica •
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