Nicaragua One Day Expedition from Costa Rica 2023 - Liberia - Viator We also get to feed the monkeys. You will drive through an agricultural area (rice, sugar, sorghum, mango etc.) Tourism in Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, didnt really see any rainbow for any prolonged period. Tour guide, Edwardo, was great. Go tailor-made! It's lots of van time, but Granada is beautiful. Some kinks to work out at the boarder with COVID so we spent a lot of time getting documents and getting checked in. Our first stop was for breakfast, a small restaurant by the shores of Lake Nicaragua in La Virgen, a small town near Rivas City. My tour guides were passionate about their country and show you some of the amazing experiences available in Nicaragua. Our tour was outstanding. This is very important info for future customers. Thank you so much for your review. (Again, more on that later!). So that is why this trip was everything!! But, I think some people taking the tour were out of control, that of course is not the fault of the tour company, so I can't knock them for it. Picked up at hotel at 4AM and returned at midnight. Your last stop - one hour boat ride in Lake Nicaragua viewing the Nicarguan Islets around sunset. You'll love ourcustomisableCosta Rica itineraries. Our tour guide is very friendly and knowledgeable. Jauja: large, tasty pasta dishes and pizzas, plus the usual steak, chicken and fish served in a garden setting. Thank you so much for your review. Guillermo and Jose are fabulous to work deals out with! Park rangers and volcanologists constantly monitor the volcano for any potential activity. 3- the driver has worked for 5 years with our company, and nothing has ever disappeared in his transport unit. Wish I could post pictures but they keep getting denied. You are amazing, Horseback Riding - Guanacaste and Northwest, Private Sightseeing Tours - Guanacaste and Northwest, Cultural Tours - Guanacaste and Northwest, Historical Tours - Guanacaste and Northwest, Full-day Tours - Guanacaste and Northwest, Private Sightseeing Tours - Playa Hermosa. The country has been perennially affected by war or revolution through the major course of the 20th century. You're more likely to spot coati, coyotes and peccaries. And your esperience. Thank you to share your great experience. that the boat ride experience lacked a bit of serenity. As tourists you can never be sure who you can and cannot trust. (Yes police, Show the Costa Rica exit stamp on the passport to the armed military at the border on the Nicaragua side, Enter Nicaragua immigration office and enter the country get the entry* stamp on passport, Enter another mini van (Nicaragua number plate). Boat ride was fun at the very end. Looking for more inspiration? I specifically bought only $100 usd on this tour. Cut-off times are based on the experiences local time. We did wait an hour on the way in. Not keen on planning? Esteban our driver and Cindy our tour guide and Anna were superb. And it leaves open the possibility of misplacing something as small as a purse. more, Tropical Rainforest, Hanging Bridges And Jungle Sloths Sanctuary, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. You will ascend the stairs and reach the roof of the church. If you have an extra day in the Guanacaste/Liberia area I would definitely book a tour ( or even plan an extra day just for this tour). This trip is a must if you don't have a lot of time in your hands. Arenal Volcano One day tour | An active volcano and the Humid Forest, the best way to enjoy this volcano will be taking the hike Catamaran Tours | Tamarindo & Coco Beach Catamaran Cruise & Snorkeling Tamarindo & Coco Beach. Only issue might be for those who need rest because it is a long day. God bless you. Before arriving at the border control, each client must get off the van to stamp their passport at the immigration offices. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. 3- the driver has worked for 5 years with our company, and nothing has ever disappeared in his transport unit. Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews, If you want to see as much of Nicaragua as possible in 1 day, this is your trip, Nicaragua One Day Expedition from Costa Rica, Palo Verde National Park River Safari Boat Tour, Incredible Arenal Excursion one day all included, family tour, hot springs, Full-Day Sloths and Blue Waterfall Private Guided Tour with Lunch, Santa Rosa National Park & Liberia City Tour Incl. The driver was good, and the guide was as well. Had so much fun with Claudio who was knowledgeable and took us to some great places. I knew better. Roland and Ernesto were amazing and our tour guide in Nicaragua was great! First things first, if you hold an Indian passport, you do need a visa to enter Nicaragua. What if the eyes get tired of looking at the blue lake and need some activities? From Masaya to the border with Costa Rica again it is about 2 hours. They helped us through an emergency situation with class, dignity and professionalism. (I know sometimes guides collude with shopkeepers to get tourists to feel obliged to shop.) The tour guide asked me for the money before we headed into the boarder patrol, I explained to him in front of everyone that I left my money on the bus and he told me to wait until We got back to give him the money. Places you visit on the Nicaragua day excursion: Lake Nicaragua (take pictures of the Ometepe volcano) Laguna de Apoyo Masaya Volcano National Park Masaya Market Granada We got picked up at 5:30 AM very close to our condo in Playas del Coco. Some trails lead west to the cataratas escondidas (hidden waterfalls), while another runs east to the Santa Mara station. This tour was very well done. We booked 2 tours with Frank on the beach at the Riu Guancaste and were not disappointed. You could, for example, spend a morning wandering Calle Real at a suitably laidback pace, stopping off in the picturesque Parque Central. I cant say enough what an amazing tour company this is. The husband and I realized we were already in love with the natural beauty of Nicaragua and the trip had only just begun! They pick you up at your hotel and guide you through border/COVID testing and take you to 6 different places and 3 cities, 2 volcanoes. This was more of a lunch and shopping break. Hope you find well. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experiences start time. When the day was done, he brought us back to the border, made sure we got thru immigration again, and Marlene was waiting for on the CR side. Today its also one of the most popular in the country, thanks to its good trails, great surfing, and prolific turtle-spotting opportunities. It is a 200 meters deep crater lake. Love natural attractions and getting active in the great outdoors? There was no wait on the return. * Covid vaccination card required (or) PCR Covid Test. 1- The guide reports that you paid $ 120 from your purse in cash later put it in your bag, and upon reading your comment that was after you left your purse alone. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. For the time being, its still the epitome of dignified provincialism, with a strong identity and atmosphere all its own. Totally worth the money and time! The trip has a wonderful mix of stops. Great service all around. THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Liberia (UPDATED 2023) - Tripadvisor But they would consider ours as Category B as we had Costa Rica residence (more uhh oh!). It was all amazing! The only way it would have been cooler would have been if it wasn't as cloudy so we could have actually seen the lava! The next stop a few meters away, the guide tells all clients to collect their bags as they must change of van when they cross the police patrol to switch transport in Nicaragua side. I saw warnings that the wait at the border would ruin the day. Too many variables, eh? Presence at the crater site is time limited as a safety control measure. Any further trips will definitely be with Costa Rica Unique. We could have never have seen so much or experienced so many different areas of southwestern Nic on our own. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experiences start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. The guide spoke good and clear English and provided very clear directions and meeting times. Ask Brad_K_NY_NM about Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours, Ask Beccataylor3 about Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours, Ask Jacky222 about Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours, Ask JPLLongueil_Canada about Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours, Ask Ron D about Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours, Ask shutrixie about Costa Rica Unique Transfers and Tours. Right after we started our journey on the other side of the border, we saw a huge ocean like water body on our right. Could also do a later start like 6am instead of 4:30am since its better to stay later to see the Masaya Volcano at night. What companies run services between Liberia, Costa Rica and Managua, Nicaragua? I just wanted to warn people so that this wouldnt happen to anyone else. While Liberia has a vast range of hotels, hostels and guesthouses, apart from a few notable exceptions, standards are relatively low, with prices are on the high side across the board. However the reason I have this expedition 3 stars is because the driver stole money out of my purse. Time allocated for Granada City was too less. 12km west of the town, Liberias sizeable international airport is connected to domestic destinations by regular Sansa and Skyway flights. Thank you so much for your review, there is always a chance to learn a little of every place. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experiences start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Hence, despite Nicaragua being in a vulnerable political state since last year, we decided to give this nation a chance. Expedia, Inc. is not responsible for content on external Web sites. At the end of our day we head back to Costa Rica, where our tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Guanacaste (approx. Both Parque Nacional Rincn de la Vieja and Parque Nacional Santa Rosa are worth devoting a whole day to, not least if you plan to hike the longer trails. You can take a bus from Liberia to Managua via Peas Blancas in around 4h 51m. (For example, he requested metal silverware without me asking for it, just because he observed the difficulty I was having cutting beef with plastic.) The Masaya Volcano and the boat ride on Lake Nicaragua were especially memorable, and Granada was a great city to experience. Most travellers use Liberia as a jumping-off point for the Rincn de la Vieja and Santa Rosa national parks, an overnight stop to or from the beaches of Guanacaste, or a break on the way to Nicaragua. We had two shopping stops, but they were both combined with other visits (of a lake and for lunch), so you can decide how much time to spend shopping the guides were no pressuring to spend any money. We also work with connection from other cities, so we are more than glad of pick you up from your hotel anywhere for an extra cost, just let me know where are you staying to give you the extra price. We did not really explore the town. I got to hand feed wild monkeys, see lava in a volcano, Eat 2 delicious meals, support the locals at a few different markets all while experiencing beautiful country. Operators have paid Viator more to have their. He then shut the door and the driver locked the bus. Animals in the area include all the big cats (just dont expect to see them), tapir, red deer, collared peccary, two-toed sloth, and howler, white-faced and spider monkeys. * Covid vaccination card required (or) PCR Covid Test. Supposedly, several natural factors can affect the crater visibility of any given day. $60 of those dollars I was using to give to the tour guide for providing a service prior to the trip. Our tour guide was friendly and he made my special day spectacular. in this travel group whereas the others were from Canada, US and Netherlands. It is a pleasure to be part of your adventure. However that did not change anything in the visa requirement. The process was easy the officer had to take our passport details and we had to pay the US$50 VOA fees. Liberia is the main regional transport hub, providing easy access to Guanacastes parks and beaches, the Nicaraguan border and San Jos. Marlene even drove all the way back to Nicaragua border to get my friend's binoculars which weren't allowed to pass through immigration into Nicaragua. She then drove us back to our hotel while we napped in her car. A boat ride on a large fresh water lake on a sunny afternoon should be soothing to the soul. This trip was super fun! the actual Masaya Volcano: An active volcano where you will have the opportunity to stand right next to its crater and hear it rumbling and spewing of gases. When the day was done, he brought us back to the border, made sure we got thru immigration again, and Marlene was waiting for on the CR side. However the time we were allowed there was enough to get a glimpse of the orange-red lava lake as well, when the fumes cleared for a moment. This expedition will Not disappoint! Totally worth the money and time! Nicaragua is primarily a rural country with some bigger towns. There was no wait on the return. Lunch, Roun Trip from Liberia Airport Costa Rica (LIR) to Samara Beach, Blue Volcanic River Waterfalls and Hot Springs Mud Bath in Rincon de la Vieja, Westing, W Costa Rica, Margaritaville, Catalinas Round-Trip, La Vieja Waterfalls Hike - All in ONE experience. The next stop a few meters away, the guide tells all clients to collect their bags as they must change of van when they cross the police patrol to switch transport in Nicaragua side. On the contrary, many times clients have left cameras, telephones, glasses or hats and have always reported and returned to the original owner when possible. When we arrived back to the bus, I proceeded to give him the $60 and that was all that was left in my wallet. So we know very well that the world travelers perceptions and travel inclinations about a country can often get clouded by safety concerns. :) For us it was. I did feel like we made a couple too many stops- I would have loved to spend more time in Granada with a guided historical tour of the city. From the very beginning of was waiting for how the Visa story unfolds. Hi Mat, Anyway, we really appreciate your comment regarding a good experience on the tour, we regret the loss of the remaining $ 40 to the $ 100. A table for 10 was laid out with a view of the lake on a pleasant January morning. Costa Rica to Nicaragua | Crossing Borders ALONG DUSTY ROADS . But my partner was concerned about safety and access. We walked till the fence from where we could see large smokes rolling out from the crater at the bottom of which exists a lava lake. It's an undeniably enchanting place with, quite simply, the best hiking and horseriding in the country. Before arriving at the border control, each client must get off the van to stamp their passport at the immigration offices. 5- When consulting with another client we know that you made a public claim at the end of the tour, (7:00 pm approx.) 20:00hrs) Does not includes: Costa Rican exit tax ($8 USD), Nicaraguan taxes ($13 USD), Lunch, Tips. But the best part of this trip was going to Masaya Volcano National Park! Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps . This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. Great tour guides. We were moving northwards along the Pacific coast. Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral/ Granada Cathedral A yellow colored neoclassical Catholic cathedral that was glowing in the afternoon sun. Expect parades, bands, fireworks and bulls wreaking havoc. I have used other companies in the past, but none were as good and as reasonable as Costa Rica Unique. The guide send a report of what happened and we immediately made the pertinent investigations and I want to respond to your reviews based on the testimonies of the guide and the driver. If its canceled because the minimum isnt met, youll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. From Masaya to the border with Costa Rica again it is about 2 hours. Updated August 2nd, 2022 How to get to Nicaragua from Costa Rica Getting to Nicaragua is a journey that is well worth any inconvenience it may bring. 1- The guide reports that you paid $ 120 from your purse in cash later put it in your bag, and upon reading your comment that was after you left your purse alone. Feeding the monkey was one of the highlights. WOW! Liberia to Managua - 2 ways to travel via bus, and car - Rome2rio Only your group will participate. This did not quite compare with some of the amazing boat ride experiences we have had back in India in Chilka Lake, Periyar Lake, Munnar Lake, Vembanad Lake, Tungabhadra River among others. We also get to feed the monkeys. I learned a lot of the culture and history, as well as sightseeing. Tour includes hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch, and entrance fees. Aside from these issues, seeing Nicaragua for the first time was a very memorable experience. A country on category B Must pay Nicaraguan Visa. Frankly so was I. I was losing hope running into hurdles at border, due to COVID, no rental car, where to stay?