Rickshaw Travel

ABTAATOL Protected

  • Destinations
  • Family holidays
  • Travel guides
  • About us
  • Blog
My Travel Plan
Loading...

Your travel plan is empty!

Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan. Click on 'My Travel Plan' to see what you've added and send it to us. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day.

Get started!

Added so far...

We'll create your dream holiday

    Next, review & send us your travel plan for your quote

    Request your quote

    Or view/email a copy of your travel plan

    View your travel plan
     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

    • Destinations
      • Asia
        • Bhutan
        • China
        • India
        • Japan
        • Nepal
        • Sri Lanka
        • Tibet
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Laos
        • Malaysia
        • Myanmar
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
      • Central America
        • Belize
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Guatemala
        • Mexico
        • Nicaragua
        • Panama
      • South America
        • Argentina
        • Bolivia
        • Brazil
        • Chile
        • Ecuador & Galapagos
        • Peru
      • View all destinations
    • Family holidays
      • Asia
        • India
        • Sri Lanka
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
        • USA
      • Central America
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
      • South America
        • Peru
    • Travel guides
      • Travel guides by destination
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Ecuador
        • Galapagos
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Japan
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Vietnam
      • Family Holiday Guides
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Malaysia
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Thailand
        • USA
        • Vietnam
      • Inspiration
        • Beaches
        • City stopovers
        • Diving and snorkelling
        • Food & drink
        • Honeymoons
        • Self drive
        • Trekking
        • Unique experiences
        • Wildlife & safari
      • Where to Go When
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
    • About us
      • Discover more
        • Our values
        • Meet the team
        • How we work
        • Work with us
        • Customer reviews
        • In the news
        • Contact us
      • Responsible travel
        • Responsible travel
        • Animal welfare
        • Local projects
        • Our Responsible Travel Policy
        • How to be a responsible traveller
      • Travel Advice
        • Accommodation
        • Covid-19
        • Flights
        • Honeymoon Gift Service
        • LGBTQ+ travellers
        • Refer a Friend
        • Travel insurance
        • Visas & passports
    • Blog
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth AmericaView all destinations
    BhutanChinaIndiaJapanNepalSri LankaTibet
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaMyanmarThailandVietnam
    Canada
    BelizeCosta RicaCubaGuatemalaMexicoNicaraguaPanama
    ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileEcuador & GalapagosPeru
     
     
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth America
    IndiaSri Lanka
     
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaThailandVietnam
     
    CanadaUSA
     
    Costa RicaCuba
     
    Peru
     
    Travel guides by destinationFamily Holiday GuidesInspirationWhere to Go When
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador
    • Galapagos
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Vietnam
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • USA
    BeachesCity stopoversDiving and snorkellingFood & drinkHoneymoonsSelf driveTrekkingUnique experiencesWildlife & safari
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
    Discover moreResponsible travelTravel Advice
    Our valuesMeet the teamHow we workWork with usCustomer reviewsIn the newsContact us
    Responsible travelAnimal welfareLocal projectsOur Responsible Travel PolicyHow to be a responsible traveller
    AccommodationCovid-19FlightsHoneymoon Gift ServiceLGBTQ+ travellersRefer a FriendTravel insuranceVisas & passports

    Rickshaw Ramblings

    • Browse by Destination
    • Argentina
    • Bhutan
    • Bolivia
    • Borneo
    • Borneo for Families
    • Brazil
    • Brighton
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia for Families
    • Canada
    • Canada for Families
    • Chile
    • China
    • Costa Rica
    • Costa Rica for Families
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador & Galapagos
    • Family
    • India
    • Indochina
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia for Families
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Mexico
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Nicaragua
    • Panama
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka for Families
    • Thailand
    • Tibet
    • USA for families
    • Vietnam
    • Vietnam for Families
    • Browse by Theme
    • 24 hours in...
    • Competition
    • Cultural
    • Customers stories
    • Family travel
    • Food and drink
    • Friends of Rickshaw
    • History
    • Responsible travel
    • Top tips
    • Wellness
    • Wildlife

    6th August 2015 • 5 min read

    Land of Volcanoes - Alanna's Nicaragua Highlights

    pin Nicaragua

    Share:

    ceri sitting on a temple

    Speak to our Nicaragua specialist

    Enquire now

    In June this year our Projects Manager, Alanna took a well needed break from launching the new Rickshaw website (no biggie) and headed off to the sunny climes of Nicaragua. Her first time in Central America, Alanna packed in as much as possible, zipping through cloud forests and spending a night with a local family.

    Glorious Granada

    My two week Nicaragua itinerary began in the colonial town of Granada, a colourful town full of historical buildings and churches. A horse drawn carriage picked us up at the Granada Central Park and we embarked on a city tour to take in the sights with a local guide. I’d recommend climbing the Merced Church tower for an amazing view over the whole of Granada, the surrounding Mombacho volcano and further on to Lake Nicaragua.

    Crater and canopy walk

    As an additional trip on the way to Ometepe, I ventured to my first active volcano! Mombacho has two craters in a cloud forest which is great for bird spotting and indigenous flora. The drive up to the crater was a bit steep at times so if you suffer from travel sickness, I would suggest planning ahead. The views towards Granada are breathtaking, even on an overcast day you can see across to Las Isletas.

    Zipping through the forest

    After a cup of locally grown coffee, it was time for the next adventure – zip lining! With seven different lines, including a swing and drop line this wasn’t for the faint of heart. I did however feel completely safe the whole time as the guides were very reassuring and ensured safety came first. I would heartily recommend doing it as there is something quite liberating about zipping through the jungle with the wind in your hair!

    Discover Ometepe Island

    I’ve been fascinated by volcanoes since learning about them as a child, so a visit to Ometepe was high on my list when planning my itinerary. Ometepe is an island of two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua with a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for chilling out for a couple of days.

    nicaragua-ometepe-landscape-volcanoes2

    Travelling in rainy season was going to have its draw backs at some point, but actually the rain added to the sense of adventure during a waterfall hike. We hopped in the back of a pick-up (normally you would walk) and drove the 2km to the track. From here we walked up, down and around the forest of Maderas volcano towards the waterfall. Apparently the waterfall is beautiful, but because of the amount of rain we weren’t able to get to it. The track became flooded and we ended up having to wade our way through to get back! I felt like Indiana Jones, but without the cool hat…

    girl making torillas at Nicaraguan homestay

    At home with the Nicos

    As my first home stay I was unsure as to what to expect when I went to stay with the Nicos, a two day trip staying a local family in San Ramon. I was pleasantly surprised to find my hosts were very friendly and eager to teach me about their daily lives. The co-operative where the family live has 600 inhabitants who farm the local area as well as open their homes to visitors. During my stay I learnt to roast coffee beans, make tortillas and medicinal tea from the flowers of local plants.

    The colonial charm of Leon

    Leon has to be my favourite place in Nicaragua, after Ometepe. The atmosphere is relaxed and it is easy to get around. Whilst in Leon, I tapped into my adventurous side again with volcano boarding excursion. Climbing up Cerro Negro was pretty steep but worth it for the fantastic surrounding views and seeing how the land around the volcano has adapted since the last eruption with the greenery now blooming.

    nicaragua-leon-cerro-negro-end-of-montain-boarding-staff-alanna-mcwade

    Walking up to the crater was a bit of a slog due to the heat and having to carry a heavy board. The trip down the volcano was equally terrifying and thrilling! It was over fairly quickly, but well worth it. The mountain is covered in black ash so you are given protective clothing and glasses for the ride down.

    Surf’s up in San Juan

    San Juan del Sur is a surfers paradise and draws in a younger backpacker crowd with its colourful buildings and bustling restaurants. The beach is too busy for surfing so we were taken to a bay nearby which had the perfect waves for a novice. I’m really glad I tried surfing, as I now know I probably will never do it again!

    Glowing lava under the stars

    Managua is a big, busy city, which was a real difference after the smaller cities I had visited during my trip. My trip to Masaya volcano is the main reason why most people visit Managua. At certain times you can look into the active volcano and see the bubbling lava, but don’t rely on this. The gases emanating from the crater are enough to make you feel like you’re in Mordor.

    nicaragua-managua-attractions-masaya-volcano-view-cross

    Alanna chose our 14-day Land of Volcanoes itinerary and tweaked it slightly to create her perfect trip.

    Discover our Nicaragua itineraries
    Central americaCookery classHomestay

    Comments

    Next Article

    Cambodia in November | Where to go for winter sun

    Previous Article

    At home with the Headhunters in Borneo

    Other articles you may like

    Top tips

    Find out about our new meaningful India experiences

    18th August 2016 by Marek

    Find out about Rickshaw's brand new India trips (and go off the usual tourist trail...)

    5 min read

    Read More - Find out about our new meaningful India experiences

    Cultural

    The best bits from Joanna Lumley in Cuba

    11th March 2020

    From tobacco hills to hole-in-the-wall rum bars, follow in Joanna Lumley's footsteps and discover some of our favourite places to visit in Cuba.

    10 min read

    Read More - The best bits from Joanna Lumley in Cuba

    Family travel

    6 reasons you should be taking your kids to Costa Rica

    15th January 2020 by Friends of Rickshaw

    Costa Rica is the perfect place to take your kids for a family adventure - with diverse wildlife and endless nature. Take a look at our top 6 reasons to go.

    9 min read

    Read More - 6 reasons you should be taking your kids to Costa Rica
    Back up

    As featured in

    • the guardian logo
    • wanderlust logo red
    • Lonely Planet
    • National Geographic Traveler
    • Psychologies
    • The Daily Telegraph

    Information

    • Contact us
    • Booking conditions
    • Financial protection
    • Health and safety
    • Your Package Holiday
    • FCDO travel advice
    • Blog
    • Coronavirus updates

    Get in touch

    We're a friendly bunch and always ready for a chat so feel free to get in touch.

    Call us: 01273 322 398

    Email us: hello@rickshawtravel.co.uk

    Contact us

    Connect with us

    FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubePinterest
    ATOL Protected ABTA Travelife

    © 2008 - 2021 | Rickshaw Travel

    Privacy Policy  |  Cookie Policy  |  Sitemap

    Call us Phone us

    Please give us your consent to use cookies

    We use cookies to ensure our website works, to give you an enhanced experience while browsing, and to enable us to use 3rd party tools that are connected to us. Read our Cookie Policy for more information.

    What are your holiday plans?

    • Our travel specialists know everything there is to know about your chosen destination. Please tell us what you're looking for below and we’ll get back to you very soon (usually within 24 hours).

    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • If you'd prefer us to call you, please enter your phone number here
    • If you can, please share with us how many people are travelling, when you’d like to go, what you’d really like to experience, what you love doing on holidays, your rough budget, and when's best to contact you.
      By signing up to the email newsletter you consent to receive promotional emails from us. You can unsubscribe at any time. We genuinely care about you and treat your data securely and respectfully. We tell you all about it in our Privacy Policy.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.