Detailed Itinerary

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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.

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