About Our Company
Tours Nicaragua

Located in Managua, the nation’s capital, Tours Nicaragua is Nicaragua's only tour outfitter owned and operated by native English speakers. We take pride in being the industry leader for high quality, personalized programs that offer fully private services, tailored to the interests and desires of our clientele. Each and every one of our staff shares a deep love for Nicaragua, its nature and people. Tours Nicaragua exists to share the beauty of Nicaragua and to make your visit to Nicaragua hassle free, interesting, safe and rewarding.

TOURS NICARAGUA - QUICK FACTS
* Named “Nicaragua’s Best Tour Operator” by Latin Trade Magazine
*Selected as one of the “50 Tours of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler
* Featured by The New York Times, BBC Holiday, Washington Post, The USA Today, Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, Seattle Times, International Travel News, Baltimore Examiner, BBC Radio, London Times, National Geographic Traveler, CNN Magazine, World Adventure Magazine, Outside Magazine, The Observer, Vokrug Sveta Magazine, Travel Weekly, Time Out Magazine, Saint Luis Post-Dispatch, Lexus Magazine, Channel 4 London, ESPN Outdoors and The Discovery Channel.
* Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism License #060505-0V-1216J (Since 1996)
* Member ANTUR - Nicaraguan Association of Incoming Tour Operators
* Member CANTUR - Nicaraguan National Camera of Tourism
* Member of TIES - The International Ecotourism Society

TOURS NICARAGUA - TRAVEL & EXPEDITION TEAM

Mike Newton - President & Owner A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mike has been coming to Nicaragua since 1984 until finally settling permanently in Managua with his Nicaraguan wife and 3 children in 1999, when he took over the reigns at Tours Nicaragua. An expert on Latin America, Mike has traveled on business to most countries in both South and Central America. He is a graduate from the Loyola University School of Law and aside from being an attorney he is also a light aircraft pilot and boating enthusiast. Mike is an experienced businessmen and he has run a variety of companies successfully for more than two decades.

Richard Leonardi - General Manager A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Richard has been managing Tours Nicaragua operations since 1996. Richard is a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California and the author of several books on Nicaragua such as Europe’s best selling travel book for Nicaragua: Footprint Nicaragua (Bath, England), and The Nicaraguans (Managua, Nicaragua) a comprehensive portrait of the Nicaraguan people. Richard is an accomplished photographer and his images have been published in numerous periodicals in the USA, Latin America and Europe. Richard Leonardi answers most of our customer requests, including those for custom itineraries and his knowledge of Nicaragua is really second to none. Mr. Leonardi spends his free time working on reforestation and wildlife conservation at his private nature park Lost Canyon Nature Reserve (to open in 2010) located in rural León.

Dulce María García – Accounting, Reservations & Tour Coordination A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Dulce María has been making reservations and coordinating our many logistical tour services since 1998. She also handles accounts receivable and makes a lethal pot of Nicaragua coffee. Dulce's great sense of humor and hard work ethic has made her an integral part of our team. Her immense discipline, dedication and earnest sense of responsibility has earned her the nickname of "Sarge".

Anita Bermúdez - Cost Analysis, Reservations & Tour Coordination A native of Siuna, Nicaragua, Anita is a long time member of our travel and expedition team. Anita makes reservations, helps coordinate our travel logistics and is in charge of cost analysis. Having grown up next to Central America's largest nature reserve Anita has a distinct appreciation for nature and her positive spirit is a highly valued asset at our office. When she not at hard at work, Anita can often be found tearing up the dance floors of Managua.

Maura Salgado - Cost Analysis, Reservations & Tour Coordination A native of León, Nicaragua, Maura is the newest member of our office staff. Maura shares duties with Ana making reservations, coordinating travel logistics and doing cost analysis. Having grown up in the countryside near the active Cerro Negro Volcano, Maura has a deep love of nature and intimate knowledge of Nicaragua’s most impressive volcanic chain. In her free time Maura likes to listen to music from the 80’s and 90’s (vintage stuff for someone her age) and visit family in León.

Lenín Obando - Bilingual Guide A native of León, Nicaragua, Lenín is Nicaragua's finest naturalist guide. Lenín not only holds a degree in biology from UNAN in León, but also has done extensive post-university research on Nicaragua's mammal life. Lenín's good sense of humor and intelligent demeanor combined with his in-depth knowledge of Nicaragua's flora and fauna make him a valued travel partner for our nature loving visitors. Lenín is also well versed in Nicaragua's history, politics and culture.

Roberto Lumbí - Bilingual Guide A native of Muy Muy, Nicaragua; Roberto is our most gregarious guide. With more than a few head of cattle to his name and riding horseback since the age of 4, Roberto is known to our office staff as the “Cowboy” or “Vaquero” in Spanish. His sense of humor and knowledge of Nicaragua can be rivaled by few. Roberto learned his English while attending high school in the USA and has a degree in accounting which helps him keep track of all those cows

Gerald Durán - Bilingual Guide A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Gerald learned his English during a 10 year stay in Houston, Texas. Gerald is a true tourism professional with a degree in hotel management from UCC in Managua and more than five years experience as a tour guide. Gerald counts amongst his favorite destinations as the Island of Ometepe, Jinotega and Granada. He enjoys sharing Nicaragua with our guests above all and spends a great part of his spare time playing with his baby daughter.

Rigo Sampson - Bilingual Guide A native of León, Nicaragua, Rigo (pictured at right with guide Lenín Obando) is Nicaragua's foremost trekking expert in Nicaragua's Maribios Volcano Range and also an experienced kayak guides for paddling Nicaragua's coastal Juan Venado Wildlife Reserve. Rigo's unique passion for Nicaragua's nature and volcanoes is complemented by his love of Nicaragua's internationally acclaimed culture, in particular its poetry and he is also well versed in our interesting political scene.

Guillermo Rocha - Bilingual Guide A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Guillermo has a degree in Computer Science from UPOLI in Managua and in addition to more than 5 years experience as a guide for our visitors he has worked in the geothermal plant at Momotombo Volcano. When not guiding to his favorite spots like Granada, Momotombo and Masaya Volcano, Guillermo can be found dining out in Managua with his wife, or catching up on the latest computer programs.

Roberto Darce - Bilingual Guide A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Roberto is a devout student of Nicaragua's fascinating history and culture. Roberto also possesses a deep love for Nicaragua's precious nature and unique language skills. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1996 and is fluent in English, Spanish and Bulgarian. Like all of our guides Roberto is appreciated for his kindness and sincerity and personal attention.

Edgard Balladares - Bilingual Guide A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Gerald learned his English at the American School in Managua. He is a graduate from the UNI National Engineering University and has more than 6 years experience working as a bilingual guide in Nicaragua. Edgard counts amongst his favorite destinations the Island of Ometepe, Granada and Managua. In his free time he likes to study Nicaraguan history and also Portuguese.

José Andino - Bilingual Guide A native of Masaya, Nicaragua, José is our most experienced guide. With more than 10 years guiding experience, José has an equally in-depth knowledge of Nicaragua’s nature and culture, and just as important knows how to provide first rate service to our clients. José’s easy demeanor makes him a valued companion on trips. José learned his English while attending high school in the USA and enjoys spending his free time with his children.

Ricardo Henríquez – Motorboat Transportation A native of Cardenas, Nicaragua, Ricardo is our boat captain on the San Juan River and in Lake Nicaragua. Trained as a marine mechanic, Ricardo has been at the helm of our private boat tours since 1997. Ricardo's familiarity of Nicaragua's lake island regions and his all-encompassing knowledge of the inner workings of an outboard motor make him Nicaragua's best boatman. Ricardo's sense of humor as big as Lake Nicaragua and his sharp eyes make him a valued spotter of wildlife.

Martín López – River & Lake Navigator A native of San Carlos, Nicaragua, Martín is Nicaragua's finest river navigator. Martín has been steering everything from motorboats to barges on the San Juan River since 1955 and he seems to know every single person who lives along the river. Martín comes from a great tradition of Rama Indian navigators who have been exploring the warm waters of the San Juan River since long before the arrival of the Spanish. A true gentleman, Martín can be found smiling at the crack of dawn and long after sunset.

Eduardo Urbina – Transportation A native of Rivas, Nicaragua, Eduardo brings 27 years of driving experience to every tour. Eduardo enjoys tourism for the beautiful locales he routinely visits, counting Granada, León and Matagalpa amongst his favorite trips. Eduardo also is interested in foreign cultures and enjoys interaction with our customers to learn more about their way of life. In leisure time Eduardo can be found reading books on Nicaraguan history and spending time with his two children.

Pablo Urbina - Transportation A native of Managua, Nicaragua Pablo is part of our dynamic duo of Urbina brother drivers. Pablo was a postal dispatcher before following his brother into tourism and his attention to detail reflects those years of work. Though now instead of making sure the mail arrives he delivers our passengers to some of his favorite destinations like León and Selva Negra. When not at the wheel he enjoys watching nature programs and spending time with his family.

Freddy Juárez – Transportation A native of Granada, Nicaragua, Freddy is Nicaragua's finest tourist bus driver and a successful businessman. Freddy first found his way into tourism with Tours Nicaragua in 1998. Since then Freddy has become the most successful tourist bus company in Nicaragua and has finished his law degree. Like all of our tour and expedition team, Freddy is a member of our family; a family that works together to assure our visitors the best service Nicaragua has to offer.

Francisco Barrera - Transportation A native of León, Nicaragua, Francisco has been exploring the earthen roads of Nicaragua's spectacular countryside since he was a young boy. Francisco has been a professional driver for 20 years and been taking care of Tours Nicaragua's clients since the year 2003. Amongst his favorite destinations in Nicaragua are Jinotega and Ocotal. In his free time Francisco likes to sleep. All the better we say, so that he is well rested for your trip.

Mauricio Duarte - Transportation A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Mauricio has been taking care of Tours Nicaragua customers for four years now. The youngest of our driving team, Mauricio enjoys taking clients to all corners of Nicaragua, although he is most happy when our customers visit the Pacific Coast beach town of San Juan del Sur and the mountain nature reserve of El Chocoyero Nature Reserve. Mauricio likes to relax in his free time and go to the movies.

TOURS NICARAGUA
Shell Plaza El Sol
1 c. al sur, 120 vrs abajo, #110
Colonial Los Robles, Managua
Nicaragua, América Central
Tel: + (505) 252-4035
Fax: + (505) 252-4063
info@toursnicaragua.com
www.toursnicaragua.com

Our Company Name: Over recent years new and existing Nicaraguan tour companies have begun to incorporate "Tours Nicaragua" into their company name. We take this as a sincere form of flattery, but hope it does not lead to confusion. In reality there is only one Tours Nicaragua: The original.

Web Site Copyrights: All written content on www.toursnicaragua.com is copyright of Tours Nicaragua. Any reproduction of any part of this site's written content is strictly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Photography Copyrights: Reproduction of any of the photographs on this site is strictly prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.