Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There's not much to do here, but El Viejo is home to two organizations that work together
to arrange recommended guided trips to Reserva Natural Estero Padre Ramos and Reserva
Natural Volcán Cosigüina.
GUIDED TOUR
Fundación Lider
( 2344-2381; Portón Inatec, 1c N, 1c O)
This caters primarily to larger groups, and offers
two-day (per person US$80) and three-day (per person US$100) trips to the volcano, in-
cluding transportation, food and lodging. Prices are very dependent on group size - try to
get some friends together.
Selva
(
www.selvanic.org
)
This is a nifty little acronym for Somos Ecologistas en la Lucha por la
Vida y Ambiente; We Are Ecologists Fighting for Nature (
selva
is Spanish for 'forest'). It
offers recommended package tours to Reserva Natural Estero Padre Ramos and Reserva
Natural Volcán Cosigüina. It has no official office - ask at the
alcaldía
if a representative
is around.
GUIDED TOUR
Eating
As with most of small-town Nicaragua, the best, most fun eating to be had is at the
frit-
anga
stands in the Parque Central.
Getting There & Away
Drivers should note that this is the last chance for gas on the peninsula. All buses headed
north from Chinandega to Potosí or the Cosigüina beaches stop at the El Viejo
empalme
about 20 minutes after leaving Chinandega. To Chinandega, you can get buses (US$0.60,
20 minutes, every 15 minutes) and minivans (US$0.80, 10 minutes, leaving when full)
from in front of the basilica. A taxi to Chinandega costs US$3.
Chichigalpa
The town with the cutest name in Nicaragua is best known as the source from which all
Flor de Caña rum
flows, in seven beloved shades running from crystal clear to deepest am-
ber. Chichigalpa is also home to
Ingenio San Antonio
, the largest sugar refinery in the
country, and cane fields carpet the skirts of
Volcán San Cristóbal
, which rises from the
sweaty lowlands a mere 15km from the city center.
