You are invited to tap into the energy and restorative power that IS Nicaragua. On this inclusive small group immersion into the heart and soul of this rustic, charming country you’ll explore all the wonders and authenticity it offers. Slow down; feast your eyes, and feed your senses in this land that defies hustle and bustle. Relax and enjoy the poetic beauty of the music, food, architecture and culture of this Central American jewel.
Spend a night in the beautiful Selva Negra Lodge. Selva Negra is a sustainable coffee plantation where everything from the food on the table in the lakeside restaurant to the electricity in the quaint half-timbered cabins is produced on site. The Eco Lodge offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the sustainability that makes Selva Negra a model farm. Here is a fantastic destination in which you can relax and enjoy the intense nature of the rainforest, and have the benefit of all the organic work of the farm as you savor a cup of coffee and a meal entirely raised and produced at the estate. What an exceptional opportunity awaits you on this escorted vacation. You will be dining in a charming restaurant located on one of the resort’s lagoons which offers a large deck with a wonderful view of 
both the mountain and the lagoon. At the restaurant you may choose from a wide variety of both local and international foods, including authentic German cuisine. Full bar services are also available – all the beauties of nature plus the amenities of home without the hassle.
Award Winning
Aside from being a model sustainable farm, Selva Negra is also well recognized for its high quality coffee and excellent cup. Recently they received a national quality award which included them in the Q Auction. They also received the highest bid for their coffee out of all the Nicaragua coffees in the auction. Be sure to taste a cup of this deliciously hearty brew!
“…if the tourist wants to enjoy a fabulous hideaway amidst pine forests and on the shores of a small alpine lake, there is a well-known resort only 6 miles from downtown [Matagalpa]. The resort, known as “Selva Negra”, or Black Forest, resembles a European inn on the banks of the Rhine River.” La Nica Airlines Magazine
The cloud forest is located 87 miles from Managua, near the city of Matagalpa, at more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Originally a coffee farm called Hammonia from its German settlers, the farm evolved into a protected forest. Many birds live in these woods, including the Quetzal. Sacred to ancient Mesoamerican people, gorgeously plumed quetzals live in the mountains of Central America. In the cloud forests, there are protected lands that create a preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe. Such admirers continue a long history of admiration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztecs, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies. You won’t get many opportunities to see this unusual and strikingly beautiful bird – so grab your binoculars and your camera and join us.
Ometepe Island, in addition to its fame as an archaeological and nature sanctuary, is known for its warm and friendly hospitality. Ometepe is developing tourism realizing its importance to the economy of the island. Already, several small hotels accommodate visitors wishing to enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches or fish in the warm offshore waters. The island’s villages are linked by roads which wind through fertile coffee and tobacco plantations. You can enjoy all the natural bounty as you tour this lovely island, visit a tropical garden, and even take a dip in an absolutely beautiful swimming hole – can a day be spent in any better way?
You know how I love legend, so here is one from this region. The island is a storehouse of myth and legend. The small bay known as Charco Verde (Green Pond) is the entrance to just that sort of enchanted place. On Good Friday, as the story goes, a blonde woman appears at noon combing her hair with a golden comb. Easter is late in 2011 so you’ll be there before Good Friday, but keep your eyes open for a golden comb! Ometepe offers exotic vegetation, animal and bird life and colorful blooms, all for your pleasure and enjoyment.
Proclaimed Historical Patrimony of the City of Granada, your hotel for many days is the Hotel Colonial. It is an architectural jewel that exemplifies Nicaraguan colonial architecture. Photo ops are everywhere!The original construction of the building dates back to the first few years after the founding of the city of Granada, in 1524 – imagine – 1524! This edifice, much more modest than the one that exists today, was a one-story home. The stately home survived a deadly fire in 1856, which was set by orders of the American filibuster, William Walker, and practically destroyed the whole city of Granada. Interestingly, the “casona” owes its name to its most famous inhabitant, the French Duke, Georges Choisseul Praslin, whose dramatic story seems to have been taken straight from the pages of a novel. As the story goes, after murdering his wife, oh my, the Duke of Praslin, helped by King Louis Phillipe of France, feigns his own suicide and moves to Nicaragua, where he lived in the city of Granada, in Hotel Colonial. Maybe you’ll be visited by his ghost!
In 1995, the arduous restoration of the building began, remaining faithful to the house’s authentic colonial style and returning it to its original glory, which can today be enjoyed by you in its entire splendor. Hotel Colonial offers air-conditioned rooms with all modern comforts and amenities, a pool, coffee shop, and lounge. At Hotel Colonial our interlude allows you to enjoy the best of Nicaraguan hospitality and all the comforts of modernity while surrounded by the rustic elegance of colonial Granada – how divine.
This incredible tour features so many lovely ways to blast yourself out of the doldrums of winter. Interlude provides a wonderful chance to explore this gem and become immersed in all its beckoning charm. I am betting that you will be most pleasantly surprised and exhilarated by the experience.
Please take a look at the itinerary for this small group immerson escorted vacation!
Natural Notable Nicaragua (click here for itinerary and departure date)
(10 days, 9 nights)
Eadie
– Interlude blog team
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Tags: Artisan Shopping, Canopy Tour, Central America, Cloud Forest, coffee plantation, ecotour, Escorted Tour, Granada, Hiking, Leon, Matagalpa, Nicaragua, Selva Negra, Small group tour, Volcanoes
