Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AROUND GRANADA
TOP OF CHAPTER
Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho
It's been a few decades since this 1345m
volcano
( 2552-5858;
www.mombacho.org
;
park en-
trance US$15, mariposario adult US$1; 8am-5pm Thu-Sun)
, the defining feature of the
Granada skyline, has acted up, but it is still most certainly active and sends up the periodic
puff of smoke, just to keep locals on their toes. It's easy to get to the crown of cloud forest,
steamed up with fumaroles and other volcanic bubblings beneath the misty vines and orch-
ids.
Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho is managed by the Fundación Cocibolca, which
since 1999 has been building trails and running an ecomobile (think refurbished military
jeeps seating 25) on the 40% grade up to 1100m. Get there early to take the short trail
through the
organic coffee farm
, or check out the
mariposario
(butterfly garden) and
orchid
garden
(free with entrance) close to the parking lot.
Once you get to the top, where three species of monkey, 168 species of bird and over
100 types of orchids are just part of the jungle canopy this park is intent on preserving, you
have a choice of three trails:
Sendero del Cráter
, a 1.5km jaunt to the fumaroles, plus great
views of Granada and Las Isletas;
Sendero la Puma
, a steeper 4km trek around the lip of the
crater, with even better views (guides, many of whom speak English, are available at the
entrance and cost US$5 per group, six maximum, for Sendero del Cráter, which you can
also do on a self-guided tour, and US$10 for Sendero la Puma, for which guides are man-
datory); and
Sendero el Tigrillo
, a heart-pumping two-hour tromp up to two overlooks
(guides are required for this one).
You can make reservations to sleep dorm-style in the biological station, with 10 beds and
latrines outside, for US$30 per person. This seems steep but includes your entrance fee,
transportation, a night tour, breakfast and dinner. Anyone can grab a simple meal at the
cafeteria for US$5.
Although the park is only open Thursday to Sunday, groups can make arrangements to
visit on Tuesday or Wednesday, when it's less crowded. Time your arrival to coincide with
an ecomobile departure, at 8:30am, 10am, 1pm and 3pm. If you have a 4WD, you can drive
for an extra US$15 - plus US$2 for every adult and US$1 for every child in the car (it's
