Rivas, Lake Nicaragua & Scenic Drive

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Your excursion begins at the pier where you will board a comfortable, air-conditioned transportation and depart San Juan del Sur for an exciting and informative half-day journey of discovery of Nicaragua. Sit back and enjoy a scenic drive past lush landscape as your knowledgeable guide regales you with information about the region's history and the local flora and fauna that flourish here.
Disembark in the picturesque town of Rivas located near the massive Lake Nicaragua, the 10th largest lake in the world.
Once you arrive to Rivas learn about the city's fascinating history that dates back to 606 AD when various indigenous tribes made their home here. It saw its first Europeans when the Spanish visited in 1522 and again in 1524 and most of the current population is a mixture of Creole, Indian, Spanish and Mulatto descent. Visit the first Catholic church built in 1607 by the Spanish who first settled the city in 1522. Because of different natural disasters through time, the church was rebuilt in 1820 but contains many artifacts from the 17th Century. Rivas gained fame as a town on the "Vanderbilt Road," over which Americans joining the California Gold Rush traveled from the adjoining lake port of San Jorge to the Pacific port of San Juan del Sur. Rivas is a commercial and manufacturing center in an agricultural area; tanneries, dairies, and plants manufacturing rubber items are located in the city. Marvel at the influences of these European conquerors still visible in the colonial architecture that is prevalent throughout the city.

Venture to "Amayo Hacienda" a gorgeous, family-owned estate where you will enjoy a closer look at the impressive Lake Nicaragua. This massive freshwater lake was nicknamed "La Mar Dulce" (The Sweet Sea) by Spanish Conquerors who first believed it was a sea because of its oceanic qualities: large waves, heavy storms and nothing but water at the horizon. Relax and enjoy a complimentary beverage and snack as you marvel at the awe-inspiring beauty of the twin volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcion, which rise majestically out of the lake to form the island of Ometepe. The rich, fertile eco-system of this gorgeous blue lake is home to many rare species of animals, including the freshwater A local folkloric presentation will take place during your time at the hacienda.

Special Notes: