Simmering Volcanoes, Lush Rainforests & Pristine Lakes

Chicks Only ~ March 15 - 25, 2025

“What Costa Rica was 30 years ago…”

Day One, March 15
Set your compass for adventure and wing your way south into the velvety tropical night of Central America. We’ll land in Nicaragua’s capital city in the late evening and be whisked to our hotel, where we’ll turn in, full of anticipation for the coming delights.

Meals & Lodging: Elements Hotel Boutique.

Day Two, March 16
Sleep in and then rise for a nutritious breakfast, brimming with energy for our first full day in Nicaragua. Soak in the sunshine on a walk around the neighborhood or a quick dip in the hotel pool.

In the afternoon, we’ll embark on a tour of Managua, where we’ll see the historic centers of the city, the verdant parks and Tiscapa Crater Lake. In the evening, let’s gather for a pre-dinner cocktail and a book exchange, so bring a favorite paperback for a friend! Then, it’s dinner and convivial conversation together.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Dinner; Elements Hotel Boutique.

Day Three, March 17
Rise and shine, Sirens, for we are off to the green heart of Nicaragua with its mysterious cloud forests and misty mountaintops. We are headed for Matagalpa, the “Pearl of the North” where farmers raise coffee beans, villagers live in the shadow of towering hills and waterfalls abound.  

When we arrive, we’ll check into our mountain lodge, which is renowned for the flora, fauna and wildlife, including sloths and monkeys and wildcats, that surround it.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Lunch; Hotel Selva Negra.

Day Four, March 18
Rise early and sip some fine Nicaraguan brew as we prepare for a bewitching morning trail walk in search of tropical birds. Our guide will teach us how to spot and listen for birds and we’ll discuss the conservation of the cloud forest habitat. 

The afternoon and evening are free for a multitude of activities, including hiking, sustainable agriculture tours and an optional nighttime safari walk. (Extra charge.)

Let’s chat about a book from our reading list  over lunch together! Your evening meal is yours to choose.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Lunch; Selva Negra

Day Five, March 19
Sleep in this morning and take a leisurely breakfast as we plan our mid-morning departure for an artisan village in the mountains. Catarina is one of Nicaragua’s “pueblos blancos,” a group of white towns that feature magnificent views and artist workshops.

We’ll snap photos from the magnificent viewpoint and leave plenty of time to shop for local handicrafts and art.

When we’ve given the local economy a boost, we’ll lunch together and then head for our lodge which perches at the edge of a volcanic crater now filled with water.

Take a dip in the lodge pool or walk the forest trails as you breathe deeply of the sweet mountain air.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day Six & Seven, March 20 & 21
Rise and shine, Sirens, because we are headed by car and ferry to one of Nicaragua’s most intriguing islands. Ometepe Island features not one, but two, volcanoes that thrust skyward from Lake Cocibolca and one of them is active!

Sweeping cloud forests and meadows of lush grasses cover the island and the history here is fascinating. The Chorotega, Nahuatl and Mayans regarded this as sacred ground and left artifacts and petroglyphs behind.

During our stay in Ometepe, we’ll take guided walks and visit a community-run coffee plantation. We’ll also spend time at a nature reserve and a sparkling spring that is perfect for an afternoon dip.

You’ll have free time to relax in the late afternoons. Then, let’s gather on Thursday evening for a pre-dinner cocktail, dinner and a book discussion.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Lunch, Cocktail & Book Discussion (Thursday) Breakfast, Lunch (Friday.) Hotel Villa Paraiso.

Day Eight & Nine, March 22, 23
We are exchanging trilling bird calls and the rustle of the forest canopy for the sounds of one of Latin America’s most splendid cities. 

Granada was founded in the sixteenth century on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and is listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

We’ll use it as a base for exploring the historical treasures of the city but also the stunning countryside that surrounds it.

On our first day, we’ll explore Masaya Volcano National Park, where we’ll climb (by car) to the summit and peer into the crater. Then it’s off to the Artisan Market where we’ll peruse the handicrafts for gifts and souvenirs.

In the late afternoon, we’ll retreat to our hotel for some time to relax and we’ll make sure you have excellent recommendations for dinner.

On Sunday, it’s a city tour of Granada and an expedition by boat to the Isletas de Granada, an archipelago of volcanic islands that are covered by dense forests. We’ll stop at a historic fortress and seek out the birds and animals that live on the islands and in the clear water that surrounds them.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Lunch. Hotel Plaza Colon.

Day Ten, March 24
We can’t let you leave Nicaragua without a 4x4 climb up the flank of a volcano! We’ll take in the lovely forest canopy that comprises the Mombacho Nature Reserve and keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths and extraordinary birds.

When we’ve reached the volcano’s summit, let’s savor the view, the fresh air and the wonderful camaraderie of this adventure.

In the evening, let’s gather for dinner and conversation about our favorite parts of the expedition.

Meals & Lodging: Breakfast, Dinner. Hotel Plaza Colon.

Day Eleven, March 25
It’s breakfast and bon voyage to our fellow Sirens as we head for the airport, aglow with the friendship and wonderful experiences of this trip.

Meals: Breakfast