About This Trip
- Enjoy an authentic Caribbean experience as we visit Nicaragua's spectacular Corn Islands—still relatively untouched by tourism.
- Spend 2 days in the charming colonial town of Granada, nearby cloud forest and
the active Masaya Volcano. - Snorkel beautiful coral reefs, with multiple opportunities to snorkel at a variety of sites.
For the seasoned eco-traveler, this itinerary will remind you of how the Caribbean was 30 years ago, before the cruise ships and sanitized tourism. The focus of our adventure will be to explore the beautiful and rich marine ecosystems of the Corn Islands, where we'll spend 4 nights and parts of 5 days.
The Corn Islands are a throwback to the Caribbean of yesteryear, and boast some of the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean. We'll stay at a lovely boutique hotel on Little Corn Island, which is famous for its easy-to-access and good snorkeling reefs that can be reached by boat or straight off the beach. We'll make the most of our days here with boat-based snorkel excursions, options for nature walks, yoga, and more.
Our last 2 days will be spent in the charming city of Granada, renowned for its colorful and well-preserved colonial architecture. We'll not only explore the city, but also its beautiful surroundings that include an active volcano and a biodiverse cloud forest set amid a dormant volcano. Don't miss this unique eco-adventure!
This trip can also be done on custom dates between May and November for groups of 4 or more. Contact us to arrange your custom dates.
Notes on Trip Costs
Trip prices do not include international airfare. Limited single supplement available at $995. Click here for our full expedition terms and conditions.
Conservation Impact
Founded in 1969, Oceanic Society is America’s oldest 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation. As pioneers of “eco travel,” our expeditions have been designed to directly support our mission. They not only positively impact our travelers, but also the people, places, and wildlife we go to see. Your expedition costs include fees that support conservation and promote sustainable livelihoods in the communities we visit, and Oceanic Society's earnings are invested back into our global research and conservation programs. In 2019, we also established our Expedition Impact Fund (EIF) as a way to grow our impact. The fund is seeded annually with money earned from our expeditions, and supplemented by donations from Oceanic Society travelers. Through the EIF, we award grants to our partners for their on-the-ground efforts to protect ocean habitats and the wildlife and human communities that depend on them.
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Nicaragua (D)
Your guide will meet you upon arrival to the international airport in Managua (MGA). Take a short transfer to the nearby Hotel Camino Real for welcome dinner, introductions and general orientation. Overnight at Hotel Camino Real.
Day 2: Corn Islands (B/L/D)
Getting to Little Corn Island can be an adventure itself, however the moment you step on the island you realize that the journey was all worthwhile.
Our flight from Managua to Big Corn Island departs early in the morning and we are scheduled to arrive in Big Corn Island at approximately 07:30 AM. We then have an exciting and splashing water taxi to Little Corn Island. We will relax and enjoy our new setting for the next four nights. We’ll be staying in the nicest accommodation in the island, Yemaya Reefs. Located on the north shore of the island, Yemaya consists of 16 oceanfront casitas (little houses) steps away from the beach with intuitive design, A/C, and all amenities you may need to make our stay more pleasant while we explore this side of the ocean.
Day 3-5: Beaches, reefs and marine ecosystem exploration (B/L/D)
Little Corn is the exact opposite of most Caribbean island vacations, as it remains uncrowded and calm with local style houses and small apartment buildings. We’ll spend four full days on the island exploring the best snorkeling sites with short boat rides. We are surrounded by a beautiful Caribbean reef system that host diverse marine wildlife, that may include sea turtles, reef and nurse sharks, rays, school fish, dolphins, octopuses, sea horses, squids and the list goes on and on.
Sunrise yoga or nature walk will be an option for early risers. Other possible activities are a local fishing experience and the opportunity for artisanal fishing. Overnight at Yemaya Reefs.
Days 6: Colonial city of Granada (B/L/D)
This morning we depart towards Managua and then to the colonial city of Granada, where we will spend two more nights. On our way to Granada, we will detour to visit the Pueblos Blancos (white towns). Here we will get a taste of Nicaraguan culture on mainland, and will be visiting local artisans to understand and learn how pre-Columbian art is still alive in Masaya. These colorful towns are full of flowers, plants and local souvenirs.
To make your day even better, we’ll be visiting the active Masaya Volcano, called “the mouth of hell” by the Spaniards due to its vast crater and continuous explosion. The impressive and imposing volcano also offers incredible views of the surroundings and of its two other craters. While our visit will be short, we will get a flavor of Granada’s colonial past and some cultural history of Nicaragua. Overnight at Plaza Colon or equivalent.
Day 7: Granada’s islets and the Cloud forest of the dormant Mombacho volcano (B/L/D)
We’ll start with early tour in the Isletas de Granada, an amazing ecosystem that will allow us to see many birds and possibly monkeys. Next we’ll explore the Mombacho volcano, which is one of the two cloud forests on the Pacific side of Nicaragua. Extinct long ago, this volcano is completely covered with vegetation, forming a unique ecosystem that is home to around 52 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, at least 12 amphibians, 36 reptiles, about 100 types of butterflies, and 765 species of flora. Overnight at Plaza Colon or equivalent.
Day 8: Chocolate tour and Isletas de Granada (B/L/D)
We will have an interesting introduction to the history of chocolate, its process and of course some tasting!
Later in the afternoon we will take a boat tour, perfect for birdwatching and enjoying the beauty of the islets around the lake. A good chance to finish with a magic sunset!
Day 9: Departure (B)
After breakfast, transfer (approx. 1 hour) to the international airport in Managua (MGA) for your return flight home.
Accommodations
Throughout our program we have selected quality hotels that offer a combination of convenience, access to nature / activities, comfort, and value. In Managua, we'll stay at the highly-rated Hotel Camino Real, located just 5 minutes from the international airport. In Little Corn Island we'll stay in the nicest accommodation in the island: Yemaya Reefs, located in the north shore of the island, with 16 ocean front casitas (little houses) steps away from the beach with intuitive design, A/C and more amenities. And in Granada, we'll stay in the charming Plaza Colon or equivalent.
Travelers stay in oceanside casitas at Yemaya Reefs, the nicest accommodations on Little Corn Island. © Yemaya Reefs
Naturalist(s)
Your expedition will be led by one or more of the following expert naturalist guides:
