Home
National Geographic logo
New York Times logo
The Washington Post logo
Frommers logo
The Boston Globe logo

Don’t Settle for Second Best

+

All of our trips are designed & planned by Nicaragua’s most experienced travel specialists


Customer Letters

Hi there!

It has been a couple of months since my husband and I returned from our tour of Nicaragua and we felt the need to convey what an amazing experience we had.

From the moment I contacted the local travel agency until we were dropped off at the airport for our return trip home, we were treated with extreme care & courtesy and were well looked after.

When we arrived, everything went as planned with no delays and no surprises. Roberto & Frank greeted us with huge smiles and were very friendly as if they had known us forever. Every guide and driver that we dealt with was friendly, cheerful, knowledgeable & likable! They were all amazing individuals who ensured that we were well looked after and all our needs were met.

They did not disappoint! The one person that stood out most for us was Roberto. His leadership, knowledge and caring were top notch. He is a “people” person who is passionate about life, has a wonderful spirit and a great infectious laugh! He was prompt with everything, he was extremely knowledgeable about his country, and he was genuine. And he became a friend immediately. It was as if we’ve known each other forever. The hardest part was saying goodbye. He is perfect for the role!

The accommodations & food were fantastic. Almost all went according to plan, except for a couple of things which were totally unforeseen (like active volcanoes spewing lava or windstorms which forced the cancellation of ferries and sailboat trips). Roberto and the local agency did their best to come up with alternate plans and he never left our side until he was sure we settled in for the day.

In summary, our experience was fantastic and will certainly recommend to all our friends and family.

Niki & John Alliston, Ontario, Canada
+ Read All Reviews

Good afternoon,

I just wanted to say a big thank you for a wonderful vacation. Everything worked out perfectly. All your suggestions and advice were extremely helpful.

Erick was an amazing guide. He was a true gentleman and always a pleasure to be with. He was very knowledgeable with the birds and nature. He always added interesting information about the country, the people and culture. I would give him a five star plus review.

The driver Sergio was also fantastic and a pleasure to be with and always a gentleman. He too would get a five star review from us.

In Leon, we found the local guide to also be a pleasure to be with. He too gave us lots of information about Leon. Our trip with him in Juan Venado was wonderful. He knew about the birds and the nature of the area. He too would get a five star review.

All the places you booked us in were perfect and would get a five stars from us. The beach hotel might actually get six, especially since we had the nicest room in the place.

The only mistake was ours, which was not staying longer in Nicaragua. So I guess there will be a next time.

We have already passed your name and company to several friends.

Thank you once again

Will Papp & Lisa Cunningham, New York, New York
USA
+ Read All Reviews

Hola amigo,

Stu and I just want to thank you for arranging our wonderful tour of Nicaragua! We could not be more happy or satisfied. Juan is an excellent guide, helpful, personable, knowledgeable and dedicated to assuring that we would have the best experience possible. Marvin is a skilled and reliable driver and we always felt safe and well attended. We are very grateful that you arranged for Edgar as our archaeological guide, his expertise coupled with his kind demeanor and keen sense of humor greatly enhanced our appreciation of the archaeological sites and artifacts. He and Juan were wonderful travelling companions and we enjoyed getting to know them.

The hotels met our needs very well and most exceeded our expectations. Nicaragua is a very beautiful and interesting country and the itinerary you planned introduced us to a perfect sampling of its many charms, focusing on our special interests. We saw a lot but we never felt rushed or overwhelmed since there was plenty of free time to relax. The food was delicious, and the choice of restaurants and Juan’s recommendations were all just right. The logistics were smooth and well handled, and when there was an issue, such as the delay of our domestic flight, Juan took us back to town to have a leisurely lunch and actively checked the status of the flight until it was time to return to the airport.

Many thanks to you and the local team! We’ll be sure to contact you should our travel plans bring us back to Nicaragua.

Warm wishes,

Barbara and Stu Miller, USA
+ Read All Reviews

Hello,

We recently went on a wonderful nature tour of the Rio San Juan with your agency. There were 4 of us who boated down the river and ended up at the beautiful Rio Indio Lodge on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.

We were given amazing views of all sorts of beautiful birds including Roseate Spoonbills, Southern Lapwings, the Red legged honeycreeper, blue grey tanager, squirrel cuckoo, Semiplumbeous Hawk, King Vulture, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Pale billed and Lineated Woodpeckers and so many many more.

We saw an otter, many monkeys (Howler, Capuchin, Spider), crocodiles, caimans and iguanas. It was a nature filled 5 day trip.

Our guide was amazing, not only knowing so many species, where to find them, spotting them and giving us the opportunity to get great photos.

Our boat driver was also a great spotter and manipulated the boat so well to allow us to take time so everyone in the boat had opportunities to see what he had spied.

Also the excursion up the Rio Indio to visit with the Rama family was very special.

The accommodations were spectacular, and the meals were so delicious. This was our second trip to Nicaragua, and we would recommend it greatly and hope we will enjoy another tour in the future.

 

Rod and Patricia Sein, Lively, Ontario, Canada
+ Read All Reviews

Dear Team,

Trip of a lifetime. I just wanted to say thank you for your impeccable organization. At every turn you really made sure that our tour flowed effortlessly, and you provided excellent attention to detail.

We were prepared for our luggage going missing thanks to you. So I had a daypack with shorts and bikini all ready for Corn Islands.

Our driver Edwardo was highly professional and courteous, and I really appreciated the fact that he did not answer his phone whilst driving! The roads in Nicaragua are daunting and it is good that he clearly had such high standards of safety.

The accommodation really blew us away and the children and I myself had never experienced such luxury before nor ever will again I dare say.

But the star of the tour has to be (guide) Guillermo! He taught us so much in a gentle humorous style and I enjoyed chilling with him half-way up Ometepe, whilst the others did their marathon race to the top.

He was mortified when Old Leon was closed, but we managed to squeeze it in another day so no harm was done.

He was so patient and informative, and he is a real credit to you and to the country of Nicaragua. His pride and passion for your wonderful country was palpable. He is an excellent guide and a caring and compassionate human being.

I would love to return to Nicaragua one day. It is a very special place.

Thank you,

Jilly H., Cornwall, England, UK
+ Read All Reviews

Good morning,

Just wanted to drop you a quick line having returned from a great trip to Nicaragua.

Delighted to say the whole tour was a huge success, and I wanted to thank you for all your help in ensuring that this was the case. Great itinerary, great accommodation (particularly the lodge on Ometepe, very pleased you persuaded us to say there it was delightful) and great guide!!

We cannot begin to say how impressed we were with Juan, who was absolutely brilliant. Professional, friendly, charming, helpful. Juan anticipated our every need and did everything possible to make sure we had the best time ever. We have all travelled extensively and we all agreed that Juan was one of the best guides we have ever had – he is a real asset to your agency.

For Andy and I, this was our first experience of using a local ground agent and it has certainly encouraged us to go down this route for further trips, as local knowledge on the ground certainly proved invaluable.

So many thanks to you and all your team, and for sharing this very beautiful country with us.

Kind regards,

Karen & Andy Richardson, Hereford, England
+ Read All Reviews

Good afternoon,

We wanted to thank you for our amazing vacation to Nicaragua in November. We appreciate your willingness to work with us to create the perfect individualized itinerary for our preferences. Your communication with us was always quick and informative, and we felt sufficiently prepared for what to expect and what we needed to bring.

Our tours on the first two days were directed by a wonderful local guide. He was knowledgeable about the area and about Nicaragua. He took a lot of time making sure we were having fun, and he ensured that everything was prepared in a way that created the optimal experience for us. For example, he made sure we made it to Cerro Negro before it was crowded so our pictures did not have other people in them and we didn’t have to wait in line for others to sled down the volcano.

Erick, our main guide, was amazing. He was friendly, knowledgeable and even further researched answers to questions we had between times when we saw him. He was able to provide a lot of information to us on history, culture and nature, which are all things in which we have a personal interest. It was so much fun spending time with him on our hike up Maderas. He provided a lot of needed encouragement over a long, 9-hour hike, helping us make it all the way to the top when many others on the trail turned around. On the final day after saying goodbye to him for what we thought would be the last time, we realized that Todd had developed a fever. We called Erick and the local office, and Erick immediately walked back to our hotel from his home, ready to take us to a hospital if necessary. He made us feel at home throughout the trip.

Erick and our driver Juan were also always early for our transfers between cities and ready to help us when needed. The van was very clean and comfortable for our travel through the country. He was a very safe driver and transferred us without any complications.

We love Nicaragua and everyone we met along the way. We truly felt like we were among friends throughout our vacation. We have many friends and family in the US that are taking our strong recommendation to schedule a trip with your agency, so you will hopefully be hearing from them soon!

Thanks again for such an unforgettable vacation!

Todd and Aaron Fobian, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
+ Read All Reviews

Dear friends,

We had the most lovely Christmas holiday in your luscious country due in large part to the top-notch expertise of Alexander, our guide. His understanding of geography, history, politics, flora and fauna – and his wonderful sense of humor – made the trip a true delight. Freddie, our driver, was a pleasure who always made us feel safe even in the craziest roadway situations.

We chose an itinerary that emphasized nature, and we were not disappointed in your choices for us. Montibelli was a highlight with comfortable lodging, excellent home-made food, and great hiking and birding. It was fun just sitting on the porch waiting to see who might drop in for a bath while listening to the howler monkeys. I appreciate the importance of the shade grown coffee ecosystem, and its beneficial effects on various species, so I was really delighted to be wandering under the canopy of old growth trees, and learning more about the products grown there. We were so very happy to have Luis as our local guide. His instincts and senses are so acute that he could even detect a mottled owl snugly ensconced within the leaves of a large broad-leafed bush. Luis took excellent care of us the entire time. I look forward to going back there.

Mombacho was a standout also. Hiking about the chilly cloud forest and feeling the warmth from the volcano fumaroles was truly outstanding.

In Granada and Leon, we greatly appreciated the luxury of the hotels you chose for us…..Hotel Real La Merced and El Convento. So very, very comfy! They were also perfectly situated for easy access to everything, and the staff was exceptional. And, again, having Alexander’s deep understanding of place and people made this an experience that we are enjoying sharing now with our friends.

Cheers,

Gayle and Jim Sheets, Florida, USA
+ Read All Reviews

Nicaragua Travel Guide - Sample Itineraries

+

Presented by Vapues Tours—the local experts behind Nicaragua Travel Guide