Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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La Nanda & Aguas Agrias
There's no lodging at this place (a member of the UCA scheme), but there is a restaurant
(meals US$2 to US$4). The reason to come is for the three-hour hike to otherwise inac-
cessible
Reserva Natural Lagunetas de Mecatepe
(US$8 per group of five), which has five
cute lagoons with plenty of river swims along the way. Transport here is tricky; contact
UCA's Granada office for details.
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Reserva Silvestre Privada Domitila
A great place to take a break from the Granada scene and get back to nature is this private
wildlife reserve
(
, which
8881-1786;
www.domitila.org
; r per person incl 3 meals US$90)
borders the Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho.
It's pricey for what you get (no fans, composting toilets, but all the free fruit juice you
can drink), but this protected patch of dry tropical forest is home to lots of howler mon-
keys, 165 species of bird and thousands of butterflies, which take over the place right at
the end of rainy season (December or so). As dry season wears on, trees lose their leaves
and you'll be able to see even more wildlife from the 20km of trails; bring sunscreen.
The reserve is 35km from Granada and not accessible via public transportation. Most
Granada tour outfits run day trips (around US$30 per person, including lunch). Or drive
here yourself (head east at Km 71½ on the Interamericana), then pay the US$5 entry fee
and the mandatory guide fee (US$5 per hour).
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Parque Nacional Archipiélago Zapatera
Isla Zapatera, a dormant volcano rising to 629m from the shallow waters of Lago de Ni-
caragua, is an ancient ceremonial island of the Chorotega and male counterpart to more
buxom Isla de Ometepe, whose smoking cone can be seen after you take the three-hour
hike to the top. The 45-sq-km island and surrounding archipelago of 13 islands are part of
Parque Nacional Archipiélago Zapatera, designated to protect not only the remaining
