Special Interest

Holy Week Festival Traditions Itinerary

Holy Monday: Managua – Granada

Airport greeting and transfer south to the shores of Lake Nicaragua and Central America’s oldest European settlement, colonial Granada. Lodging on Central Park at the Hotel Plaza Colón.

Holy Tuesday: Granada – Las Isletas Archipelago – Granada

Morning transfer to Lake Nicaragua and the 354 island archipelago of Las Isletas. This water-bound community has a unique celebration of Holy Week done with processions entirely in boat. Private boat following of the Holy Week boat processions in the archipelago. Return to Granada for lodging at Hotel Plaza Colón.

Holy Wednesday: Nandaime – Masaya – Nindirí – Granada

Visits to some of the ancient villages of Los Pueblos de la Meseta to experience how these Chorotega Indian villages celebrate Holy Wednesday. In the village of Nandaime at 12:00 noon the town’s ancient church bells come alive and chaos breaks loose when a scene from the bible is played out on the townspeople who run fleeing from the costumed castigators. Visit to the historic city of Masaya and then in the late afternoon the tiny village of Nindirí, populated since at least 1,000 BC and scene of a theatrical recreation of the Passion of Christ in central park. At night the villagers create sawdust paintings in their historic 16th century church and we will watch this process. Return to Granada for lodging at Hotel Plaza Colón.

Holy Thursday: Granada – Leon

Transfer north to the intellectual and religious capital of Nicaragua, León. Tour of some of León’s 12 colonial period churches, including the Cathedral, the grandest temple in all of Central America. Meeting with a sawdust street painter to learn how the Good Friday street paintings are made in preparation for the elaboration of a special street carpet painting on Good Friday in Sutiaba. Lodging in the historic center at the Hotel El Convento.

Good Friday: Leon – Sutiaba

The richest and most impressive day of celebrations for Holy Week and there is no better place to be than León. The barrio of Sutiaba starts with re-enactments of the Passion of Christ in the morning and then in the afternoon the Good Friday procession carpets are prepared by the residents of this historic neighborhood. We will help in the creation of a religious street painting made out of brightly died sawdust. This kind of painting has brought much fame to the city of Antigua in Guatemala, but the residents of León’s Sutiaba barrio are quick to point out that the Guatemalans create their carpets with molds, while the beautiful colored carpets of Sutiaba are elaborated totally freehand. After completion of the street painting and a dinner break we watch as the evening procession of the deceased Christ honors the religious painting sawdust carpets by trampling them into historical oblivion. Lodging at Hotel El Convento.

Holy Saturday: Leon – Managua

Breakfast and late morning transfer to Managua for lodging at the Hotel Intercontinental, walking distance to Managua’s new Cathedral.

Easter Sunday: Managua

Breakfast and for early departures transfer to airport for flight home. For late departures a chance to catch the Easter morning celebrations near the hotel at the new Cathedral. Then transfer to airport for flight home.