Leon’s architectural elements are both gothic and neoclassical and can be seen from street to street or in a single structure. The Cathedral of Leon, which houses the tomb of the famous Nicaraguense poet Ruben Dario, took on both eras of architecture during the 113 years it took to build.

When you combine the young, vibrant culture with walking tours of the incredible historical architecture with the amazing street food you get a true view of Nicaragua life.

As you glide into the depths of the isletas look for mango trees, a popular eating fish called guapote and the only freshwater sharks in the world. Enjoy the contrast of enjoying the incredibly wild, untouched ecology around you with the athleticism, alertness and consciousness required to successfully stay on the water and not in it!

This city tour is one of our more tame tours, but don’t expect to be sitting much! Granada is best explored on foot, exploring the narrow streets, peeking into the gorgeous colonial homes, wandering the market for fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish (maybe finding something good for the evenings dinner).

Cerro Negro Volcano, Laguna El Tigre, and León Viejo.

Hike Central America’s youngest (and one of the most active) volcano, Cerro Negro. The climb to the summit is like walking the surface of the moon: devoid of plant life, spewing sulfuric gases, crumbling beneath your feet. The only thing you’ll miss is the weightlessness.

After hiking Cerro Negro, a refreshing dip in Laguna El Tigre will feel like heaven. Enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch and take in the beauty of this pristine crater lake, whose name actually refers to a jaguar due to misnaming by the Spanish.

Restored from Asososca we head to León Viejo, or “Old Leon”, to experience what is let of the second oldest city in Nicaragua. Abandoned in fear of a volcanic eruption which never happened, the city was gradually buried by expulsions of ash and volcanic stone. What we see today is a result of excavation that began in 1967.

Finally, there’s no better way to end an epic day of adventure, culture and history than to top it off with an incredible dinner and one a mariachi singer whose voice will tug at your heart whether you speak Spanish or not. The best of Leon tour will send you to bed satiated physically, mentally and spiritually.

Our highly trained staff is dedicated to showing you our environment in a safe eco-friendly way and educating you on our flora, fauna, and wildlife. This ultimate adrenaline rush will definitely get your heart pumping.

The history, culture, geography, and environment of Nicaragua will come alive by serving the country and it’s people. Whether it’s an add-on as part of your regular trip to help us host english programs or clean up the local communities or beachs, or larger projects to create clean water sources, or new schools and cultural centers Nicaragua Eco-Adventures can helo customize your experience into one you’ll never forget.

Contact us now for more information!

Cerro Negro means ‘Black Hill’, and it is the perfect description of this truly unique volcano. The Cerro Negro volcano was formed less than 160 years ago (in 1850) and that makes it the youngest volcano of Central America. The volcano’s young age and constant volcanic activity have made it impossible for trees and plants to grow on the steep, black slopes. Some slopes are covered by huge volcanic rocks, others by fine volcanic sand.

The most recent eruption of the Cerro Negro took place in 1999. Glowing lava violently erupted from the volcano, as well as rocks and ash. The ash caused damages in the city of León, 25 kilometers away. A new crater was formed during recent eruptions. The Cerro Negro is one of the most active and most interesting volcanoes in the region.

One of the most significant landmarks in Nicaragua is the Momotombo Volcano. This almost perfect cone-shaped stratovolcano can be seen from many places, including Nicaragua’s capital city Managua as well as the northern city of Matagalpa, over 100 kilometers away. The Momotombo has erupted several times in the last couple of centuries, most recently in 1905. There are several settlements close by that have been and continue to be threatened by the volcano’s eruptions of lava, smoke, and ash. For more than a century the volcano has been relatively quiet, although gases are continuously emitted and the temperatures of certain parts of the volcano exceed 500°C. A geothermal plant has been set up at the base of the volcano, producing electricity from the volcano’s heat.

Bring your hiking shoes, as these volcanoes are the real deal. If hiking is your thing, or you would just like to enjoy the best view in Nicaragua, ask us about our volcano tours when making your booking.

The nature within the reserve also has a lot to offer. There are several trails that take you to different types of forest and vegetation. With an abundance of water Chocoyero is always green and wildlife flourishes. Two types of monkeys inhabit the park: howler and white-face monkeys. The howler monkeys are bigger and black and (no surprise) howl a lot. They can be heard from far, but you will also have a good chance of spotting them from close by. Taking the Congo trail increases your chances of seeing those monkeys even more. The white-face monkeys are seen less frequently, but come down from the mountains in the afternoon and can then be seen from the regular trails.

Chocoyero also houses lots of birds. The reserve is famous for its chocoyos, green parakeets that all nest right next to a waterfall and can be seen in big numbers in the morning when they leave, and in the late afternoon when they return. The best time to see the birds is around 6:00 am or around 4:30 pm. Throughout the day they browse the area looking for food. There are numerous other birds and by hiring a guide you will be able to see more than only the easily recognizable ones like hummingbirds or motmots. The guides often spot animals you missed and they can tell a lot about the nature.

The trails in Chocoyero have different lengths and difficulties. The adventure trail leads up the mountain and takes six hours to complete. You will, however, have great views of the reserve and the surrounding area. There are even some cities you can see from atop (Managua included)! The other trails are shorter and lead to the waterfalls. There are two waterfalls: Chocoyero and El Brujo. The trail to El Brujo is steep but not that long. The Chocoyero waterfall is maybe 30 minutes away from the entrance, and you don’t need to climb in order to get there. This is where the chocoyos nest.

The waterfalls are small but worth the hike. The water comes from rain further up in the mountains, and is collected to be used as drinking water in the communities nearby.