The Nicaragua Tourism Board (INTUR) is pleased to announce the latest news from Nicaragua from recently launched flights and tour packages to new destinations and real estate projects throughout the country. Spirit Airlines has announced new non-stop service to Managua from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Service is currently three times per week and will increase to daily flights starting November 15, 2007. For more information, visit www.spiritair.com .

Aeromexico, Mexico’s largest airline, also announced new service from U.S. gateways in Houston, Los Angeles and Miami with five flights per week to Managua. The award-winning airline offers flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For complete schedules, visit www.aeromexico.com/usa .

  REAL ESTATE

 
From the creators of Morgan’s Rock Eco-Lodge, Balcones de Majagual offers a sustainable version of a turnkey vacation for clients interested in innovative environmental design. The 11 Eco-Houses are 2200 square ft., and include a shared pool, direct ocean views, a private forested setting and unique eco-features. For details, visit www.balconesdemajagual.com .

Located on 923 acres of breathtaking Pacific coastline, the upcoming Seaside Mariana will feature exquisitely designed ocean view homes, condos, golf villas, eighteen-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course, destination wellness spa, boutique hotel and private oceanfront beach club, among several other luxury amenities. Visit www.seasidemariana.com .

TOUR PACKAGES

Travelers can experience the best of Nicaragua’s history, colonial architecture and nature with “Nicaragua’s Sleeping Beauty”, a 6-day tour combining visits to Managua, Granada and Leon with soft adventure trips to the nearby cloud forests of the Mombacho Volcano and the active volcanoes of Masaya National Park. Package includes 5-nights hotel accommodations in Managua, airport transfers, daily breakfast and lunch during excursions, bilingual guides, insurance, taxes and full-day tours. Prices range from $1,130 (single) to $495 (triple).

“A Journey Into the Heart of Greenness”. Travelers on this 8-day private expedition will enjoy a timeless passageway down the San Juan River through dense tropical rain forest from Central America’s grandest lake to the Caribbean. This historic river was the stage for great colonial period battles between the Spanish Crown and British and French pirates and later became the route of Cornelius Vanderbilt’s inter-oceanic steam ship service during the California gold rush. The 8-day tour is $2,345.00 per person (double occupancy), including biologist guide. Guided by a local historian and naturalist, travelers on this 7-night/8- day journey will enjoy a boat exploration of Lake Nicaragua (the largest freshwater lake in Central America), a tour of Granada and an expedition to the pristine La Flor Wildlife Refuge to witness massive turtle arrivals. (Nicaragua’s “arribadas” have reached up to 20,000 nesting female turtles.) Prices range from $1,600 (single) to $919 (triple) and include deluxe transportation, English-speaking guides, luxury accommodation, breakfasts and day trips. Visit www.carelitours.com For the active at heart, Soltours offers “Nicaragua Trekking” a comprehensive 12-night/13-day tour that uncovers the country’s diverse topography. The tour ranges from the northern mountainous region to the beaches on the Pacific coast. Accommodations vary from bunk beds to two and three-star hotels. Tours are for groups of 6-10 and priced from $1,150 for six to $1075 for ten.
COFFEE ROUTE

The Tourism Board will be launching the “Nicaragua Coffee Route” providing tourists with the opportunity to experience the livelihood and traditions rooted in one of the country’s leading exports. Tourists will be able to witness first hand the way of life of this region via 8 routes being developed in the northern zone. More than 3000 ft. above sea level, Nicaragua’s cloud- covered mountains offer orchid covered forests of mahogany, cedar and pines, providing an idyllic setting for hiking and eco-tourism. Highlights include, boutique mountain hotels (such as Selva Negra), small trails and protected areas.
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