RIO SAN JUAN OF NICARAGUA

NAME: RIO SAN JUAN OF NICARAGUA 

DATES: 14-16 April, 2012  

Places to visit: 

• The Fortress of San Carlos
•  Home of the primitivist painters of Solentiname
•  Solentiname’s artisans and their balsa wood crafts
• The Guatusos Wildlife Refuge Site
•  Fortress of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – El Castillo
• Reserve Río Indio Maiz-Bartola

 

Description: 

Rio San Juan is a treasure waiting to be discovered! 200 km in length, it channels the waters of Lake Cocibolca and other tributary rivers to the Caribbean Sea, creating large deltas, marshes and lagoons

 

First Day

7:00 a.m.

Depart overland to San Carlos, Rio San Juan, crossing the central region of Nicaragua, an area important because of cattle ranching.

 

12:30 a.m.

Arrive in San Carlos and have lunch.

 

After touring the small town of San Carlos, we will board a boat to the Archipielago of Solentiname, better known as "The islands of Art", a protected area of valuable natural and cultural wealth. We will learn the origins of the “peasant mass”, inspired by poet Ernesto Cardenal; we will also see the primitivism arts and crafts which are typical of the area. We will visit the local museum and we will see the sights of the San Fernando island, Mancarrón and Venada island, home of a community of artists and artisans. Dinner and over night stay in Solentiname.

 

 

Second Day

7:00 a.m.

Breakfast

 

8:00 a.m.

Depart to the Wildlife Natural Reserve of the Guatuzos. Crossing the river Papaturro, we will appreciate the natural habitat of birds, monkeys, turtles and alligators and we will visit an ecological center. We will head back and have lunch in San Carlos, then continue our journey, traveling over 60 miles down the river San Juan and appreciate the biodiversity of flora and fauna in this natural treasure. We will visit a few hotels located on the bank of Rio San Juan.

Third Day

7:00 a.m.

Breakfast

 

8:00 a.m.

Departure to the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception known as El Castillo, a seventeenth century Fort, built by the Spanish to defend their territory from English piracy. We continue our journey down the Rio San Juan until we reach the natural reserve of Bartola where the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve begins. After exploring parts of this unexplored virgin rainforest, we will head back towards the town of San Carlos, where we will have lunch before returning to Managua. We will leave behind the natural beauty and history of this corner of Nicaragua. Arrive in Managua and drive to our hotels.

 

Fourth Day

Transport to Managua International Airport.

 

Recommendations

 

Weather: Tropical dry - rainy season (May to October)

 

Clothing:

Pants and shorts

T-shirt

Tennis shoes

Cap

Swimwear / optional

Rain Jackets

 

Other Recommendation

 

Entry Requirements to Nicaragua

Passport valid for at least six months.

Tourist Card Payment: U.S. $ 10.00 per person, which is granted by the immigration officer when you enter the country.

 

Hope to see you in Nicaragua!