The Ultimate Adventure Through Nicaragua

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Nicaraguan cuisine has been shaped by its volcanic soils, tropical climate and blend of Indigenous, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean influences, producing meals built around maize, beans, plantain, rice and locally raised meat. Dishes tend to be hearty, simple and repetitive rather than varied, with corn and beans forming the backbone of most meals across both town and countryside.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian
Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan
Vegan diets can be partially catered for on this trip, however options may be limited, particularly in rural locations.

Kosher
Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision cannot be provided for in Nicaragua. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal
Certified Halal meat is rare in Nicaragua. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten-free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below)
Much of Nicaragua's cuisine, based on beans and rice dishes, is naturally gluten free. However kitchens often prepare other dishes which contain gluten so there is a chance of cross-contamination. Please check with your host in advance if you are concerned.

Lactose-free
Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens (opens in new tab) identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking, to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Tap water in Nicaragua is not safe to drink. Guests should drink purified water only. Our guides carry purified water refills on all active days and it is included throughout the trip. Guests should bring a reusable water bottle (min. 1.5L) and avoid ice from unknown sources.

Most activities will take place come rain or shine, but rain is rare in the December to April operational window of this trip. Parts of the itinerary may need to be adjusted to account for extreme weather or any other adverse conditions. Your host will always do their best to provide prior notice if this is the case, but your safety is their priority and sometimes decisions need to be taken quickly on the ground. The ferry to and from Omtepe Island can sometimes be disrupted due to strong winds. When this is the case, you'll take the next sailing and a buffer time has been built into the itinerary to allow for this.

You will have one tour leader for the duration of your trip, as well as a local specialist activity guide for many of the included activities (ie canyoning, kayaking, volcano hikes). You will also have a driver for all transfers and local arrieros who will accompany the pack horses for the El Hoyo summit camp.

There are no strict weight limits for any of the activities involved, so long as the equipment safely fits and you have the required level of fitness to partake.

Mobile signal is available in most towns and along main roads, but patchy or absent in remote areas such as El Hoyo volcano and Somoto Canyon. WiFi is available at all hotels, though speeds vary. We recommend guests set up an eSIM for Nicaragua before travelling – several providers offer eSIM plans that can be activated on your existing phone without needing a local SIM card. Alternatively, local SIM cards (Claro or Tigo) are available in Nicaragua for those who prefer this option.

The local currency is the Nicaraguan Cordoba (NIO), but US Dollars are widely accepted and often preferred at tourist-facing businesses. We recommend guests bring USD cash in small denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20) in perfect condition, as torn, marked, or worn bills are commonly refused. Card payments are accepted at some hotels and larger restaurants, but cash is essential for tips, local markets, smaller eateries, and activities. ATMs are available in Managua, Granada, and Leon but less reliable in smaller towns. We recommend withdrawing or exchanging money before leaving the main cities.

Whilst this trip isn't specifically designed to optimise wildlife spotting opportunities, there will be plenty of chances to see many types of wildlife. Ometepe Island is particularly good for wild life viewing and there is a good chance you will see howler monkeys, kingfishers, caimans and herons there.

The horses are owned and handled by their local owners, who care deeply about their welfare and do not use any force when handling the animals. Only healthy horses are used; no sick, inured, young, elderly or pregnant horses are used to carry equipment. Loads are distributed across several horses according to group size and they never carry more than 20% of their body weight. The animals have regular access to food, water and rest periods.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with (opens in new tab). You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website (opens in new tab), where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information (opens in new tab) and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values (opens in new tab) – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here (opens in new tab) for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

This trip runs from December to April, within Nicaragua's dry season, when rainfall is minimal and conditions are at their best. In the northern highlands around Somoto, daytime temperatures sit between 18-30°C (64-86°F), dropping cooler in the evenings from December to January, so pack a light jacket for camp nights and drives through the hills. On the Pacific coast, in Granada and on Ometepe, expect warm weather year-round, with daytime highs of 26-32°C (79-90°F) and higher humidity, especially around the volcanoes.