By Marina Kuperman
Central America Travel Expert, about.com
You will recognize Nicaragua easily on any map. It is the largest country in Central America. This is a country that after a lot of political issues and natural disasters managed to become one of the most visited countries of the region. Normally its visitors are nature and adventure lovers.
Here you will find towns with colonial architecture, gorgeous beaches, lush forests, volcanoes, rivers, a large lake and caves. The options are almost endless but one of the favorite activities among travelers is hiking along its forests, mountains and volcanoes. You will learn why if you keep reading.
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5 Amazing Hikes in Nicaragua:
1. Telica Volcano
This is the most active volcano in the country. You will find this volcano in the Leon department of Nicaragua. It is a must if you plan to visit the nearby City of Leon, it is just a short drive away.There are one and two day hikes offered that will take you close to the active crater. It is of moderate difficulty and it takes about five hours to get there. If the volcano isn’t in an extremely active stage you can even get to the edge of the crater to take a peek at the lava inside of it.
[post_ads]2. Concepcion Volcano
Concepcion is one of the two volcanoes that you can see on Ometepe Island which is located in Lake Nicaragua. This is an active volcano. Its last formal eruption happened on 2010 but there are still fumaroles on the northern side near the crater.This volcano provides a challenge for anyone who wants to climb it. Not because it is very high but because of how steep its slopes are. Plus, if you make it all the way to the top you get amazing views of the lake and surrounding towns (if it is not cloudy).
3. Miraflor Natural Reserve
The park is located only 30km away from Esteli and was established to protect three different eco systems. The trails that you find in it are very easy to walk through and they will take you along gorgeous forests, being its main attraction the bio diversity that it offers. It is home to over 200 species of orchids.There are even nine communities living within the reserve that survive on agriculture, some of the locals have even organized small camping sites for visitors.
4. El Hoyo
It is a volcano part of a volcanic complex with various peaks. El Hoyo is the main one. It can be climbed and offers a fun adventure but it is still not very popular. It gets its name after a huge hole that was formed in it years ago.[post_ads_2]
This is an easy hike to the camping grounds and then it only takes another thirty minutes to get to the first crated and 30 more to the second one. It is definitely a great option for families.
5. Momotombo Volcano
This is another adventure you can have while staying in the city of Leon. It was its eruption from 1610 the one that forced the old Leon City to be moved to its actual location. If you want to climb Momotombo you have to be ready for a challenge. However you must get a permit from the geothermal company that works in it.The hike takes from eight to ten hours to the top so an overnight tour is a good idea.
