Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Carretera a Masaya, Km 17.5; dishes US$3-6; 7am-8:30pm; )
This place out on the main
highway has an excellent selection of steaks served in a friendly thatched-roof setting.
Getting There & Away
Microbuses to Managua (Mercado Roberto Huembes; US$0.30, 40 minutes) and San
Marcos (US$0.50, one hour) leave from the parque central when full (about every 20
minutes). You can catch a taxi or
moto
(motor cycle) to the area reserves.
Reserva Natural Chocoyero- El Brujo
This deep, Y-shaped valley 23km south of Managua has a small, 184-hectare
natural re-
serve
( 8864-8652; admission US$4)
that was originally created to safeguard almost one-
third of Managua's water supply.
El Brujo
(The Wizard) is a waterfall that seems to disap-
pear underground, separated by a 400m cliff from
El Chocoyero
(Place of Parakeets), the
less immediately impressive cascade. Show up at around 3pm and you'll see bands of
parakeets come screaming home for their evening gossip.
It may just have the most comfortable public campsites in Nicaragua (per person
US$4), and you can rent a small tent for just US$10 more. Hiking guides or a nighttime
bat tour cost US$5.
The reserve is 7km away from where the Managua-La Concepción bus drops you off,
so it's much easier to get a cab in Ticuantepe (about US$10). If you're driving from
Managua, after going 14km on the main road, turn west to Ticuantepe and La Concep-
ción; at Km 21.5 a dirt road goes to the entrance.
Montibelli Reserva Privada
Make reservations in advance to visit one of Nicaragua's best
private reserves
(
2270-4287;
www.montibelli.com
;
camping/cabinas US$35/$40 ; Tue-Sun)
. It has excellent
birding, almost 40 species of butterfly, great food and wonderful guided hikes. On the
Los
Balcones trail
, you can see yellow and brown orependola birds, best known for their
unique nests that swing like mossy pendulums from the trees. The
Mirador trail
offers
spectacular views of Volcán Masaya, Cerro Ventarrón and Mombacho.
The reserve also organizes package deals geared toward students and scientists, includ-
ing camping for groups of at least 10 people, including five meals, guided hikes and other
