Volcan Mombacho Nature Reserve (1.5 hours)
 

The 1344 meters of sleeping green giant that are the Mombacho volcano tower over the city of Granada. Its slopes are home to coffee and cacao plantations, with upper elevations set aside as a nature reserve showcasing rare tropical cloud and dwarf forest ecosystems. A steep, exhilarating drive to the summit culminates at an informative nature center with a well maintained network of hiking trails winding along five long-extinct craters brimming with lush, verdant vegetation. Howler and white-faced monkeys, iguanas, deer, fruit bats, and colorful birds are among the many animal residents of the cone. The Mombacho Salamander is the most famous of the volcano’s endemic species, which include scores of unusual plants and orchids. Panoramic views span the breathtaking landscapes over shimmering Lake Nicaragua, Las Isletas, Granada, and the tranquil sapphire surface of Laguna de Apoyo. Zipline canopy adventure tours can be enjoyed on the lower ridgelines, as well as visits to coffee haciendas where one can learn the ways of an organic system of shade-grown cultivation.

Laguna de Apoyo