[ Quetzaltrekkers: Nicaragua ]

Climb the highest volcano in Nicaragua and explore the giant crater!

The highest volcano in Nicaragua We leave León in the early afternoon and head to the village of La Bolsa close to Chinandega. We hike past green fields and through dense forest for about two hours to get closer to San Cristobal's base and set up our tents on the finca of Don Vicente, a local farmer who has a lot to tell about his life next to a giant active volcano.

At the crater We leave the camp the next day after an early breakfast and hike through secondary forest for a while before we start ascending the steep slopes of San Cristobal. Ascending above the tree line, the slopes reach an angle of almost 45º and become more barren until only few bushes are left on the black volcanic gravel. After a long and demanding hike we finally reach the peak of Nicaragua's highest vulcano at 1745 m. We enjoy the astounding views of the other volcanoes in the Cordillera de Maribios as well as the Nicaraguan plains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. If sight and crater stability permit it, we explore the many fumaroles and sulphuric vents in the 600 m wide crater area.

The loose gravel that made the way up so hard now rewards us with the fun of sliding down the slopes with giant leaps of up to 4 m. We make our way back down to Don Vicente's finca, pack our tents and return to León in the late afternoon to recover from a long and tiring, but unforgettable day.

Please note that this is a very challenging hike demanding a good degree of fitness and experience! Consider this before signing up!

A small glimpse of the 600 m wide crater area WARNING! Due to a recent increase in seismic and volcanic activity in the area of Volcan San Cristobal we can not offer this hike until further notice! Please get in contact with INETER for further information and seek professional advice before planning any trip in the area!

Start at 12:00 am in Quetzaltrekkers office
Back the next day at 5:00 pm in Quetzaltrekkers office.

Minimum Donation: 45 US$


	When to hike
	Upcoming hikes can be found on our monthly schedule! Even if there is no hike scheduled, we can leave whenever we have a minimum of two persons signed up and enough guides to do the hike. Please sign up at least one day before the hike by 4:30 pm.
	What to expect
	Our services include: all transport food purified water two Volunteer Guides camping equipment, i.e. tents, sleeping bags, etc. entrance fees to national parks	Our services do NOT include: personal travel insurance alcoholic beverages costs incurred due to accident, illness or any other unforeseen circumstances tips to guides :-)
	All hikes are lead by a minimum of two guides. In general our guides are bilingual and have lived in Nicaragua for some time, working in tourist services, social and development work etc. The tour leaders are happy to explain the different cultures that you encounter and the significance of places that you visit. They will accompany you throughout the tour, ensuring a smooth, stress-free, safe and enjoyable time. Quetzaltrekkers uses local transport and purchases food provided on trips from local markets and shops when possible.
	What to bring
	You will need the following equipment to join us on this adventure: hiking boots big backpack warm and dry clothes rain gear (only in rain season) hat sun screen mosquito repellent (only in rain season) flashlight or headlamp passport or copy of passport and valid visa of Nicaragua We can provide you with camping gear in case you don't have your own. Please note that our ressources are limited! Donations of old and used gear are very welcome and help us a lot to improve our service!
	Discounts
	We offer a 25% discount to Nicaraguans owners of a Quetzaltrekkers Guatemala T-shirt volunteers working in León for at least 3 months people who have done a hike with us within the last month