Nicaragua Holidays - Bird Watching in Nicaragua

For the bird watcher this is a truly memorable experience. Birding Nicaragua is not only the first and only tour of its kind in Nicaragua, but also one of the most diverse nature watching experiences available anywhere. What's more, your visit does not just benefit your own bird list, but also that of the scientists working here in Nicaragua. Nicaragua's bird life is the least studied in the region and you can help to uncover this wealth of diversity and airborne beauty. Last counts from Sibley and Monroe's checklist put the species at 688 from 59 families, but you can be sure there are much more. Note that Nicaragua has more "specialty" birds (those which can be found only in Central America), a total of 19, than any other Central American country. This program lead by a famous ornithologist, one of the leading researchers of bird life in Nicaragua who works for the Cocibolca Foundation which runs several of the country's nature parks, we visit 6 distinct ecosystems and 6 different nature reserves:

DAY 1: Managua - Laguna de Apoyo
Airport greeting and transfer to the volcanic crater which holds the deep blue Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua's largest crater lake, and then to the research station for the Proyecto Ecologico, located on the edge of the lagoon. Lodging at lake front research station. (D)

DAY 2: Laguna de Apoyo
Full day of bird watching with hiking and boat access to where over 100 species have been documented in this extinct crater's tropical dry forest, like the Boat-Billed Flycatcher, Collared Aracari and Black-Headed Trogon can be found along with 133 documented species of butterfly, white face, howler monkeys, etc. Lodging at the research station. (BLD).

DAY 3: Mombacho Volcano - Managua
Morning transfer to Mombacho Volcano and its cloud forest reserve. Birding and hiking in one of Nicaragua's best protected national reserves. Departure to Hotel Cesar for lodging, located in the forested hills behind Managua, which is home to birds like the Great Kiskadee and Tropical Kingbird. (BLD).

DAY 4: Managua - San Carlos - Solentiname
Early morning transfer to airport for domestic flight to the jungle capitol of San Carlos, located at the mouth of the San Juan River, on Lake Nicaragua's eastern coast. Private boat transfer to the sacred Indian Archipelago of Solentiname, 36 desolate islands in Central America's largest lake. Check in to the lodge on the Island of Mancarron. Great birding right at the hotel in this very remote area of the lake. Lodging at the lakefront Refugio Mancarron. (BLD).

DAY 5: Solentiname - Los Guatusos - Solentiname
Morning private boat transfer to the canals of the Los Guatusos wildlife reserve, for a morning boat tour of one of Central America's finest wildlife reserves, for its abundant, diverse, and accessible mammal, reptile and bird populations. This protected wetland is home to such birds as the Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Limpkin, and numerous migratory songbirds. Assistance of a local guide. Stop off, on the return to Solentiname, at the thriving, lake bird-nesting island site. Lodging at the Refugio Mancarron. (BLD).

DAY 6: Solentiname - Rio San Juan - Indio Maiz Biological Reserve
Morning transfer in boat to the Rio San Juan for the journey to the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, 300,000 acres of rain forest. Extraordinary bird viewing, many unique and rare species in healthy populations along with howler, spider and white-faced monkeys. Lodging at the riverfront Refugio Bartola. (BLD)

DAY 7: Indio Maiz Biological Reserve - Rio Bartola
Full day of birding in this primary rain forest on foot and in canoe down the small Bartola river. Lodging at Refugio Bartola. (BLD)

DAY 8: Rio San Juan - Managua - Matagalpa
Transfer in private boat to San Carlos for transfer to the airstrip and flight to Managua. Airport greeting and transfer to Hotel Cesar. Meals and lodging. (BLD)

DAY 9: Managua
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or continuation of your holidays in Nicaragua.(B)

Photo courtesy of Richard Leonardi

Rated: Easy

Tour Tariff - Private Departures
N° of Participants	2-3	4-5	6+	SGL Supp.
USD	$ 2215	$ 1441	$ 1321	$ 88
EUR	€ 1838	€ 1196	€ 1097	€ 73
GBP	£ 1240	£ 807	£ 740	£ 49

(*) Price last updated on 26 October 2003. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
(**) Discount for larger groups

Included: All transfers, all land and boat transports, domestic flight Managua - San Carlos - Managua entrance fees, shared accommodation with private bath, specified meals, hotel taxes, birding boat, bird specialist guide for duration of the journey, local guides

Not included: other meals

Bird Watching in Nicaragua

"Nicaragua"