Granada Retreat
Hotel
Days 1, 2
Nicaragua & Belize — 11 days (Managua, Granada, Masaya, Ometepe & Leon)
Eleven days: lava lakes, a lake with sharks, and the reef. Eleven days with all internal flights and ferries, guides on both volcano days and a beachfront guesthouse on Caye Caulker.
Pumice & Pine
Runs this trip
Trekking
Eleven days: lava lakes, a lake with sharks, and the reef
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Granada cathedralEleven days across two countries: volcanoes you can walk into, a lake with sharks in it, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Las IsletasMasaya is one of very few volcanoes anywhere where you can drive to the rim and look down at a live lava lake. ConcepciónOmetepe is two volcanoes joined by an isthmus, in the only freshwater lake in the world with its own population of bull sharks. Belize CityThe only country in Central America where English is the official language, and it feels far more Caribbean than Latin.
Itinerary
Eleven days across two countries: volcanoes you can walk into, a lake with sharks in it, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world.
GranadaHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer from Managua
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationGranada Retreat
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Colonial guesthouse
LANDMARKS Granada cathedral Calzada Lake Nicaragua Start point Managua, Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA), Managua 00:00 - 23:59Masaya is one of very few volcanoes anywhere where you can drive to the rim and look down at a live lava lake. Vehicles are timed and limited to fifteen minutes.
Granada, MasayaHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — the isletas by boat
- 1 hrs5:00 PM — up to the crater rim after dark
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationGranada Retreat
Included Activities
- Boat
- Park entry
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Las Isletas Masaya crater Santiago vent Ometepe is two volcanoes joined by an isthmus, in the only freshwater lake in the world with its own population of bull sharks.
Granada, OmetepeHow the day runs
- 4 hrs9:00 AM — the ferry across to the island
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationOmetepe House
Included Activities
- Ferry
- Island guesthouse
LANDMARKS Concepción Maderas Ojo de Agua Eight hours, muddy the whole way, and a guide is compulsory — people have got lost on this and died. The springs are the honourable alternative.
OmetepeHow the day runs
- 8 hrs6:00 AM — the climb to the Maderas crater lake
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationOmetepe House
Included Activities
- Compulsory guide
- Island guesthouse
Optional Activities
- Ojo de Agua springs instead of the climb
LANDMARKS Maderas crater Cloud forest Ojo de Agua León's cathedral is the largest in Central America and you can walk out onto its white roof barefoot.
Ometepe, LeonHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:00 AM — the ferry back
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — north-west across the plain
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationLeon Inn
Included Activities
- Transport
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS León cathedral Rubén Darío museum Revolution murals Cerro Negro first erupted in 1850, which makes it the youngest volcano in the Americas. The descent is loose black scree and the boards are plywood.
Leon, Cerro NegroHow the day runs
- 1 hrs7:00 AM — out to the youngest volcano in the Americas
- 3 hrs8:30 AM — the climb, then the board down
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationLeon Inn
Included Activities
- Park fee
- Board and suit
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Cerro Negro Volcano boarding Maribios chain The only country in Central America where English is the official language, and it feels far more Caribbean than Latin.
Leon, Belize CityHow the day runs
- 3 hrsVia San Salvador to Belize City
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationBelize City House
Included Activities
- Flights
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Belize City Caribbean coast No cars, one main sand street, and a motto painted on half the walls: go slow.
Belize City, Caye CaulkerHow the day runs
- 1 hrs10:00 AM — the water taxi out
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationCaye Caulker Residency
Included Activities
- Water taxi
- Beach guesthouse
LANDMARKS Caye Caulker The Split Barrier reef The second-largest barrier reef in the world after the Great Barrier. Hol Chan is a cut through it and the nurse sharks at the alley are habituated, not fed.
Caye CaulkerHow the day runs
- 7 hrs9:30 AM — the full-day snorkel trip
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationCaye Caulker Residency
Included Activities
- Full-day snorkel with marine reserve fees
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Hol Chan Shark Ray Alley Belize Barrier Reef A hurricane cut the island in two in 1961 and the channel it left is where everyone swims.
Caye CaulkerHow the day runs
- Swim at the Split, eat, do not make plans.
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationCaye Caulker Residency
Included Activities
- Guesthouse night
Optional Activities
- A manatee trip, or a second reef day
LANDMARKS The Split Seahorse reserve Belize City flies direct to several US hubs, which is the usual way home.
Caye Caulker, Belize CityHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:00 AM — back to the mainland
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Water taxi
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Colonial guesthouse
- Day 2Boat
- Day 2Park entry
- Day 2Guesthouse night
- Day 3Ferry
- Day 3Island guesthouse
- Day 4Compulsory guide
- Day 4Ojo de Agua springs instead of the climbCosts extra
- Day 5Transport
- Day 6Park fee
- Day 6Board and suit
- Day 7Flights
- Day 7Hotel night
- Day 8Water taxi
- Day 8Beach guesthouse
- Day 9Full-day snorkel with marine reserve fees
- Day 10A manatee trip, or a second reef dayCosts extra
- Day 1 · 2 nightsGranada Retreat
- Day 3 · 2 nightsOmetepe House
- Day 5 · 2 nightsLeon Inn
- Day 7 · 1 nightBelize City House
- Day 8 · 3 nightsCaye Caulker Residency
- Day 1Granada to GranadaTransfer from Managua
- Day 2Granada to Masaya5:00 PM — up to the crater rim after dark
- Day 3Granada to Ometepe9:00 AM — the ferry across to the island
- Day 5Ometepe to Granada7:00 AM — the ferry back
- Day 5Granada to Leon1:00 PM — north-west across the plain
- Day 6Leon to Cerro Negro7:00 AM — out to the youngest volcano in the Americas
- Day 7Leon to Belize CityVia San Salvador to Belize City
- Day 8Belize City to Caye Caulker10:00 AM — the water taxi out
- Day 11Caye Caulker to Belize City8:00 AM — back to the mainland
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Ometepe House
Hotel
Days 3, 4
Leon Inn
Hotel
Days 5, 6
Belize City House
Hotel
Day 7
Caye Caulker Residency
Hotel
Days 8–10
What you'll eat
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners across 11 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 11.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 3, 4
- BreakfastServed on days 2–11
- LunchServed on day 9
14 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.7/5
Based on 18 reviews
Review summary
Food4.3/5
Guide4.7/5
Itinerary4.3/5
Transport4.4/5
Accommodation4.2/5
Tour operator4.4/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Indore2025-09-04 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. No hesitation recommending them.
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5
R
Rahul Menon – Kolkata2025-09-04 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. No hesitation recommending them.
Reply from Pumice & Pine
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
F
Farah Qureshi – Lucknow2025-09-04 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude.
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5
C
Carla Mendes – Stockholm2025-09-04 · Verified booking
Central America in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Recommended.
Reply from Pumice & Pine
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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4
J
James Whelan – Singapore2025-09-04 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb.
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4
D
Dev Chatterjee – Ahmedabad2025-04-07 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Good value for what's included.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Hyderabad2025-04-07 · Verified booking
Did this over 11 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. Good value for what's included.
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5
M
Manav Sethi – Chandigarh2025-04-07 · Verified booking
Central America in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves.
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Questions people ask
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