How's the ecotourism in and around Managua, Nicaragua?

In the department of Managua you can find  places for ecotourism.

 

Only 30 minutes away from the city center is the Nature Reserve El Chocoyero - El Brujo, considered one of the best places for birdwatching and hiking. The road is accessible and signed.  However the last 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) is not paved (do not worry about this, it's still an accessible road).

 

During the journey you will be able...

In the department of Managua you can find  places for ecotourism.

 

Only 30 minutes away from the city center is the Nature Reserve El Chocoyero - El Brujo, considered one of the best places for birdwatching and hiking. The road is accessible and signed.  However the last 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) is not paved (do not worry about this, it's still an accessible road).

 

During the journey you will be able to see banana plantations. Once you are in the reserve, you can go ahead and walk through several trails with different lengths and difficulty levels and be amazed by the different types of vegetation and forests. 

 

As well, El Chocoyero offers you the opportunity to get closer to wildlife. In the reserve there are howler monkeys, white face monkeys, many types of birds and chocoyos (green parakeets).

 

The parakeets are famous in the reserve.  They nest next to a waterfall and can be seen in big numbers. The best time to see them is in the morning, between 4:30 AM and  6 AM. Also, if you want to have a unique experience in the forest, you can rent a tent. The price for a tent is less than US $5.00.

 

Another great option to visit is the Montibelli Private Nature Reserve, located also 30 or 40 minutes away from the city center of Managua. If you are a bird lover, this is the place for you. In the reserve you can find hummingbirds, woodpeckers, parrots and the guardabarranco, Nicaragua's  national bird.

 

Montibelli also has 3 different trails to walk or hike, differing in length and level of difficulty. This reserve also has its own fruit and vegetable production and a comfy eco lodge where you can spend the night. The road to get there is one part paved and one part dirt.

 

In both cases, during winter is preferable to travel with a pickup truck.