Green World Tour 2017

Your Spanish-speaking driver will pick you up at Managua International Airport to take you to the colonial jewel of your trip: Granada. Affectionately known as the "Great Sultana," it is one of the oldest colonial cities on the American continent. You will spend your first night in this authentic and multifaceted country. Nicaragua welcomes you warmly.

After breakfast, your tour guide will be waiting for you at the reception. Together you will explore the historic center of Granada on foot and visit the most important monuments of this impressive colonial city. You will then travel to the nearby village of Catarina, a traditional town with a wonderful view of the "Laguna de Apoyo."
After this visit, you will continue to the neighboring village of San Juan de Oriente, known for its artisans and in particular for its high-quality ceramics. There you will have the opportunity to talk with a local artist, ask questions, and learn more about their inspirations and techniques.
At the end of the day, you will travel to Masaya National Park. There you will find the impressive lava field from the 1772 eruption, which, together with the spectacular views, offers ideal photo opportunities. From the museum terrace, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the surrounding landscape and gain a vivid impression of the extent of previous volcanic eruptions.

Before leaving Granada, you will take a relaxing boat tour on Lake Nicaragua through the tropical "Isletas" of Granada. Here you can enjoy the lush vegetation and observe numerous bird species in their natural habitat.
You will then head south along the famous Pan-American Highway to Rivas, the city of mangoes. From there it is only a short distance to the port city of San Jorge, located on the shores of the largest lake in Nicaragua and all of Central America. Here you change to the ferry and enjoy a journey of approximately one hour to the volcanic island of Ometepe, in Lake Nicaragua.
After arriving in Moyogalpa, you will continue to your hotel, located directly on a black sand beach of volcanic origin. You will check into your room and then have the opportunity to visit the legendary Charco Verde Lagoon. Sunset is the perfect time to enjoy the tranquil natural landscape and observe animals in their natural environment.

You can organize your morning as you wish:
If you want to take it easy, relax by the pool or take a refreshing dip in the seemingly endless Lake Nicaragua.
If you prefer to start the day more actively, you can take a volcano excursion with your guide. After a short drive to Finca El Porvenir, you will discover impressive petroglyphs, stone evidence of the original indigenous population. Your guide will provide you with fascinating information about the meaning of these centuries-old petroglyphs. You will then walk through various plantations to the viewpoint on the eastern slope of Volcán Maderas. The climb, lasting about two hours, is rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of the majestic Concepción volcano and Lake Nicaragua.
In the afternoon, another highlight awaits you with your guide: a kayaking excursion on Lake Nicaragua. The starting point is Playa Caimán. From here, you will paddle along the shore to the mouth of the Istián wetland. You will follow the narrow channels inland, where you can observe herons, kingfishers, and many other bird species up close. Finally, the dense vegetation leads you to a point that invites you to turn back. (Duration: approx. 2-3 hours)

Before leaving the island, you will visit the El Ceibo Museum in the morning, which offers interesting information about Nicaragua's pre-Hispanic history. Then take the rustic ferry back to the mainland.
Back on the mainland, you will continue south to the Peñas Blancas border, where you will leave this pristine and diverse country.
After border formalities at Peñas Blancas, the journey continues to the cloud forest paradise of Monteverde. At Las Juntas begins the approximately 35-kilometer road, sometimes full of potholes, that leads to one of Costa Rica's most famous cloud forest reserves. Along the way, you will enjoy impressive views of the green mountains and the Gulf of Nicoya. You will then check into your hotel room.

Today you will visit the famous Curi Cancha reserve, where a 2 to 2.5-hour hike on well-maintained trails is planned. This region is famous for its lush vegetation and extraordinary variety of birds. With a little luck, you may spot the colorful quetzal, the bird of the Mayan gods.
Next, you will continue your journey to La Fortuna. The route will take you along the scenic Arenal Lake, a reservoir that blends harmoniously into the surrounding landscape and offers impressive views along the way.
Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a bath in the hot springs.

After breakfast, you will take an excursion through Arenal National Park, always with views of the majestic volcano. The trail will take you through a small section of forest to an impressive lava field formed during the 1968 eruption.
Afterwards, more adventurous guests will have the opportunity to participate in an optional canopy excursion (not included in the price, please check with your guide).
Late in the afternoon, you will embark on another exciting excursion, a night walk with cultural exchange. Experience the fascinating diversity of the tropical rainforest at night. Together you will search for colorful tree frogs, lizards, insects, birds, and other nocturnal animals. Midway through the tour, a delicious refreshment awaits you: freshly squeezed sugarcane juice and its derivatives, which will give you new energy to continue discovering. Finally, you will enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared with care in a wood-fired oven.

Today the day starts very early. You will depart around 05:30. The journey will take you through Puerto Viejo and Horquetas to Guápiles, where you will enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast at a restaurant around 8 am.
Afterwards, you and other international guests will depart on the lodge bus to La Pavona and Caño Blanco. Along the way, you will learn interesting facts about banana cultivation that characterizes this region, including interesting perspectives on the opportunities and challenges surrounding the yellow fruit.
From there, the boat transfer to the lodge begins, which will take you through an extensive network of rivers and channels amidst lush nature. You will arrive at your accommodation for the night around lunchtime, a jungle lodge where a delicious lunch awaits you.
In the afternoon, you can choose to relax by the pool or visit the village of Tortuguero with your guide. There you can visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy museum (entrance USD 2 per person, not included), dedicated to protecting endangered sea turtles. Enjoy a drink at one of the small typical restaurants of the country (known as sodas) before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Between July and September, you can participate in an optional sunset beach walk to observe sea turtle nesting. An unforgettable experience. Please wear dark clothing, as turtles are very sensitive and may decide not to approach the shore or turn around and disappear back into the sea at the slightest disturbance.
Info: The Tortuguero National Park excursion (days 8, 9, and 10) includes other guests in addition to your group.

Early in the morning, you will depart in small boats with your tour guide to explore the narrow channels of Tortuguero National Park. The lush vegetation is so dense in some places that it is as if you are traveling in a boat through a green tunnel. With a little luck, you may spot crocodiles, monkeys, sloths, iguanas, freshwater turtles, sleeping bats, and numerous waterfowl. The flora also delights with an almost inexhaustible variety.
After this nature experience, you will return to the lodge, where a delicious breakfast already awaits you.
After breakfast, another boat excursion through the channels is planned. Weather permitting, you will be able to spot monkeys, sloths, turtles, iguanas, and numerous bird species amid the lush vegetation. Lunch will be served at the lodge. In the afternoon, a walk through the lodge gardens is scheduled.

The boat will take you back to the departure port, La Pavona or Caño Blanco. At the restaurant, where you will also have lunch, you will change to the comfortable tourist bus, which will take you further along the Caribbean coast. The route passes through the port city of Limón, where you may be lucky enough to see ocean liners or cruise ships. The journey continues along the coast to Puerto Viejo de Limón, a small town with a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.
After checking into your hotel room, you will have the afternoon free. Enjoy a drink at a reggae bar and soak up the atmosphere. There are numerous local restaurants in the town for dinner, which you can discover individually. The beaches on the Caribbean coast are also perfect for enjoying the tropical climate and the relaxed atmosphere of this unique region.

After breakfast, we will load your luggage back on the coach and take you to a cacao plantation over 100 years old. During an informative guided visit, you will learn everything you need to know about cacao fruit cultivation and will also be able to taste it fresh. You will discover historical machines that now adorn the small museum as exhibits and gain a fascinating insight into the entire production process, from fruit to finished chocolate. Of course, you will also be able to try some!
Next, travel through Bribrí to the border at Sixaola (approx. 14 h). The tour guide will assist you with border formalities. You will cross the Sixaola River to Panama on foot via a bridge. In Guabito, the journey continues to the port city of Almirante. Here we will load the luggage back onto a boat and travel about 30 minutes to the main island of Colón, in the small town of Bocas del Toro, where we will stay in our room.

Bocas del Toro is a collection of numerous idyllic islands, bathed by the transparent and fish-rich Caribbean Sea. On the main island, Colón, with the small town of Bocas del Toro, you will find cozy bars, restaurants, souvenir stands, and shops. The atmosphere is relaxed, typically Caribbean. The main attractions are the secluded beaches of the main island or the outlying islands, as well as the underwater world, perfect for diving or snorkeling. Afternoon free.

Today a boat excursion awaits you. First, the boat will take you through small waterways that wind between mangrove-covered vegetation. Keep an eye out for waterfowl. Next, we head to Coral Cay, where the sea is calm year-round and is therefore suitable for divers of all ages. Local restaurants built on stilts over the water offer a wide variety of seafood (not included).
Later, the boat journey continues to Bastimentos Island. The island is covered with mangroves everywhere and surrounded by nature and fresh air. Bastimentos Island is still largely formed by jungle, with no roads or landing strips, so it can only be reached by boat.
Bastimentos Island is not just for adventurers or nature lovers, as it is home to one of Bocas del Toro's most famous beaches, "Red Frog Beach," named after the red poison dart frogs. The beach is popular not only with tourists but also with surfers. Within the island, there are many roads and trails through the jungle that invite exploration. The most popular activity, however, is "simply letting your mind wander" and listening to the sounds of the sea. Return to the main island in the afternoon.

Transfer to Colón/Bocas del Toro airport and a flight of approximately one hour to Panama City. Next, a city tour. The first stop will be at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal. Here you will get a first idea of how the famous Panama Canal works and its dimensions. The terrace offers a unique view of the locks and ships passing through on their way to the Pacific or Atlantic. The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important waterways. Approximately 14,000 ships pass through it each year and about 6% of world trade passes through it. At the museum you can learn many interesting facts about the canal.
The tour continues along the waterfront to the old town. Here today are the oldest facilities and buildings of the modern city; the neighborhood is known locally as Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo. On a walking tour, you will see many unique colonial buildings, some of which are largely preserved in their original state and others have been lovingly and colorfully restored. The historic district, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has become in recent years the center of art, design, and cultural renaissance in the country. Many new bars, terraces, restaurants, and hotels have opened here. A stop at the Cinta Costera waterfront or Punta Pacífica is also a must. Here you will find Panama City's famous skyscrapers. Finally, visit the ruins of 16th-century Panamá Viejo (closed Mondays), which were destroyed by pirate Sir Henry Morgan in 1671.
In the afternoon, check in and settle into your hotel room, located right in the city center with numerous shops, restaurants, and bars nearby.

Discover up close one of the most impressive engineering achievements in the history of mankind: the Panama Canal! It is no coincidence that this artificial waterway, more than 80 kilometers long, is often known as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
The excursion begins with a pickup at your hotel and a short drive to Amador Port. There, you will board the ship and begin your journey. During the cruise, lasting approximately 4 hours, you will travel a section of the Panama Canal from Panama City to Gamboa. Along the way, you will pass through the Miraflores Locks, Miraflores Lake, the Pedro Miguel Lock, and the Culebra Cut (also known as the Serpent Cut), the narrowest section of the canal and the connection to Gatún Lake - and thus to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, you will enjoy impressive scenery and countless photo opportunities. It is a truly unique experience that leaves a lasting impression on all travelers.
After lunch served on board and arrival at Gamboa Port, you will return by bus to Panama City, on the Pacific coast.

Transfer to Panama City International Airport for your return flight.