Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve

A Mombacho experience is something that is worth having when you are on your Nicaragua visit. It is beautiful, interesting and fun. You have more than enough activities to choose from and anything that you decide to do will definitely create an unforgettable Mombacho memory.
Mombacho volcano belongs to The Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve, one of the 78 protected areas in Nicaragua. It is only 10 kilometers from Granada, sitting and towering at 1344 meters high. Mombacho is a stratovolcano whose status is active but nevertheless has not shown any significant activity since its last eruption in 1570. It has been quiet for so long that its surface is covered by dense vegetation (cloud forest and dwarf forest) that provides a house for many other living things, including 50 species of mammals, 174 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and over 700 species of the plants themselves.
The volcano that is especially remembered for creating Las Isletas, some 365 small islands, due to its most catastrophic eruption 10,000 years ago, has an easy access to the top. What one needs to do is to go to the foot of the mountain. The Fundación Cocibolca -the foundation that has taken care of the reserve and built nature trails in the area- provides visitors with a truck of 25 seats that will transport them to the base where the trails to the top are available. This is a really helpful system since hiking an almost 45 coned volcano is not very easy. The truck journey takes about 20 minutes and even before we start walking the real tracks, we can already enjoy the beauty of several different forests it passes through.

As soon as the vehicle trip ends, you will get to see a tourist center providing abundance of information on the volcano, including maps, flyers and snacks for relieving hunger. Then there will be time when you have to place a decision of which trail you want to take to the top.

Sendero el Cráter

Going through this track will take 1 hour of your time and you will get to see a spectacular view of Granada and The Isletas from above.

Sendero el Puma

This trail is the longest one. It takes steep tracks which are going to cost you 4 hours hiking. However, the more difficult it is, the more rewarding the end result is. By choosing this trail, you will eventually be led up to the lip of the crater where magnificent all-around scenery is what you will get. Taking this trail will force you to take a guide though. But US$ 15 dollars per group of 10 people is definitely a well-spent fee for both the information the guide delivers and the right track he shows.

Sendero el Tigrillo

This trail is a 2.5 hours hike above 1,240 meters. It's short but hard, and it brings you to the 2 best point of views, as well as the view of the principal crater. that collapsed in an avalanche in 1570. It's not necessary to hire a guide, though recommended.

Apart from those choices, you can choose a rather interesting experience by going on a Canopy Tour.  If you take this one, you will be equipped with a zip line that is attached to the harness. With that, you can slide your way above the organic coffee plantation and have an extended view of Mombacho Volcano and Lake Cocibolca. Fun is guaranteed

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Entrance fee and the truck transportation cost C$120 for Nicaraguans and C$ 250 for adult foreigners. If you choose to walk instead, or use your own truck, the fee is only C$ 50. Children pay half the price. Opening time is Thursday to Sunday from 8AM to 5 PM. Trucks depart at 8:30AM, 10AM, 1PM, and 3PM