somoto canyon tours from esteli

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Somoto canyon: an adventure-filled day trip.

On the border between Honduras and Nicaragua is one of Central America’s great adventures — Somoto Canyon. Travelers have been trickling in for the last 20 years to climb, swim, and hike in the area. Visiting Somoto Canyon is a must-do on your Nicaragua trip.

A visit to Somoto Canyon involves a short hike from the town of Somoto to the canyon itself. Then, you walk along the banks of the river to where the real adventure begins. Where the path is flooded, you have only one choice — jump in and swim! The rest of the trip combines swimming, cliff-jumping, and hiking to the other end, where a boat trip and another short hike take you back to base.

This corner of Nicaragua is still relatively off the beaten path. A couple of Czech tourists “discovered” the canyon (which of course locals had known about for centuries) in 2003. Since then, a steady trickle of tourists has headed this way, aided by rapidly improving infrastructure. But you won’t find the crowds of Leon, Ometepe or the southern beaches.

It all makes for a pretty great adventure — just another awesome day hiking in Nicaragua.

How to get to Somoto Canyon

The easiest base for visiting Somoto Canyon is the town of Estelí. Direct chicken buses run to Somoto early in the morning. If you’re attempting to visit the canyon as a day trip, you’ll need to be on the 7 am bus. Buy your ticket when you board (around $2).

Getting to Somoto Canyon takes about three hours. The drive is through the beautiful Reserva Miraflor. This is prime coffee country and an important cultural tourism destination, in addition to being naturally beautiful. Keep a lookout for vibrant flower blooms and locals practicing traditional agricultural methods. This is also a seriously Lefty corner of Nicaragua, and you’ll notice lots of Communist posters.

You’ll be dropped off at a bus station about ten minutes’ drive from the entrance to Somoto Canyon National Monument itself. The easiest way to get to the canyon is to pre-arrange a guide from Estelí. Most people use Treehuggers , who charge $25 for the guide, all logistics except the bus trips, and lunch. If you do this, the next step in getting to Somoto Canyon is to meet your guide at the bus station and pile you (and 20 other gringos) into the back of a pickup truck.

If you want to tackle Somoto Canyon without a guide, take a taxi or wait for one of the occasional chicken buses. The chicken buses run all the way to the Honduran border, so ask the driver to tell you when you reach the canyon entrance.

Canyon tours: Cliff jumping and rock scrambling

The first stop of the Somoto Canyon tours is a small shop near the entrance. You’ll pick up your life vest, a dry bag, and canyoning shoes (basically old sneakers) if you need them.

You can do a four- or six-hour trip into the canyon. I chose the four-hour trip, and I was glad I did — it was plenty exhausting and cold. The four-hour version is doable without a guide, but the six-hour trip takes you to a more remote entrance where you can easily get lost.

On the four-hour trip, you start by hiking down to the river that runs through the canyon. It’s a nice change from typical hiking in Nicaragua — mostly dry, with a well-marked trail, in cool mountain weather. You’ll pass cattle grazing and you’ll see the border with Honduras just before you reach the canyon. Then, the trail descends steeply to enter Somoto Canyon itself.

The next step is a treacherous rock scramble along the canyon wall. When you reach a point where you can go no further, jump off one of the 3-meter-high rocks and into the frigid water.

For the next several kilometers, you’ll swim for awhile, then reach a point where the water is low. That’s the sign to get out and hike for a bit. Then, find a tall rock — or in some cases a 15-meter-high cliff — to scramble up to. Peer over the edge for as long as you need to to work up the courage to jump back into the water and continue on your way.

At the longest point, you’ll have to swim for a full kilometer in fairly deep water. The canyon walls rise up to 100 meters around you on both sides. A mild current keeps you moving downstream. When you do have to get out to hike, it’s never very far, and it’s as much boulder-hopping as it is hiking.

Depending on how brave you are about jumping off of rocks, the whole thing should take about three hours. You’ll know you’re nearing the end when the canyon walls disappear and you see a couple of small rowboats waiting to take you the rest of the way out. After a 15 minute boat trip and another half an hour of hiking, you’ll arrive back at the shop you started from. If you are on a tour with Treehuggers, you’ll have lunch here before heading back to the bus station.

How to stay safe at Somoto Canyon National Monument

Somoto Canyon can be one of the great Nicaragua adventures — or a dangerous disaster. It all depends on whether you take some basic precautions.

First, remember that you’re way up in the mountains. The water is really cold. Put a warm set of clothes in your dry bag to change into after you finish.

Second, use your life jacket! Even if you’re a strong swimmer, it will help keep you close to the surface when you jump off the bigger cliffs. This will prevent you from injuring yourself if you don’t hit deep enough water.

Third, if you visit Somoto Canyon without a guide, seek local advice or watch where others are jumping before leaping off any rocks. Some places have pretty narrow target landing spots. Hit it wrong and you could break an ankle or worse. And don’t be an idiot — never dive head-first off a rock.

What to bring on the canyon tours

Because so much of the canyon tours involve hiking, you are not permitted do this trip barefoot. If you have them, bring shoes that strap/tie on securely and that you don’t mind swimming in. You can do the canyon in hiking sandals like these , but not in flip flops. You can rent disgusting old sneakers there if you don’t have your own suitable shoes.

While the water may be freezing and the canyon walls provide some shade, it’s still a good idea to bring sunglasses and sunscreen .

As I mentioned above, you’ll want a dry change of clothes to wear after you finish with the canyon. And don’t forget your swimsuit!

You can bring your camera to Somoto Canyon. If you’re on a tour, your guide will have several dry bags to put your valuables in. Alternatively, you can rent your own at the shop at the entrance to Somoto Canyon National Monument.

If you have breakfast before getting on the 7 am bus, you’ll have to go quite awhile without food — you won’t finish the canyon trip until around 2 pm. Bring snacks — something high-protein (like almonds) is best. Bring plenty of water, preferably in a reusable water bottle. If you have a Steri pen — the world’s greatest purification system — you can treat water from the river in 90 seconds to refill your bottle.

After you visit Somoto Canyon: Esteli and beyond

If you finish the canyon and have lunch early enough, you might be able to catch the 3 pm luxury bus back to Esteli. It runs onward all the way to Managua and serves points in between.

Esteli has a handful of interesting attractions worth exploring if you get back early enough. The central park is very charming. It’s a center of Communist street art, and you can see many murals that were painted during the Revolution (some of them by “sandal-istas”  —  gringo volunteers who came down at the time). But the town is most famous for its cigar factories. You can pick up the real thing at any local shop or tour one of the factories.

The pick of the hostels in Esteli Nicaragua is Luna International Hostel . Hostel Luna Esteli is very social and nearly everyone here is doing the day trip to Somoto Canyon, so you’re sure to meet travel buddies. The hostel also operates a fantastic travel cafe across the street. If you’re after more local/affordable food, Los Arbolitos is a good bet.

Alternatively, avoid doubling back to Esteli and instead head onward to Matagalpa, in the heart of Nicaraguan coffee country. To do this, you must take the 3 pm luxury bus — if you’re on a tour and you’re running late at the canyon, ask for your lunch to go. Ask the driver to let you off in Tejera, past Esteli. You’ll be dropped on the side of the road at a different bus stop than where the buses to Matagalpa pass, so ask for directions for a bus to Matagalpa. From Tejera, it’s another hour on the bus. You’ll arrive around 6:30 pm.

You can leave your luggage at the shop at the canyon entrance if you want to go this route. It’s a long and very exhausting day, but it’s worth it — Matagalpa is far more pleasant than Esteli. Stay at the amazing Hostal la Buena Onda  (one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in) and grab dinner across the street at Restaurante el Mexicano.

Is Somoto Canyon worth the trip?

It’s a long day, involving swimming through freezing waters and hiking over big boulders. The scenery isn’t particularly special. So is visiting Somoto Canyon even fun?

Of course it is! No, it’s not as life-affirming as making it to the top of one of the volcanoes on Ometepe . It’s not as beautiful as boating around Las Isletas in Granada . You won’t get the same adrenaline rush as you do when volcano boarding in Leon .

Still, this was one of my favorite days in Nicaragua in terms of pure fun. It’s totally ridiculous to watch people freak out about jumping 15 meters into the river — and then freak out yourself when it’s your turn. You’ll bond with the other travelers in your group. And it’s a nice change of pace from the typical hiking in Nicaragua. Don’t miss it!

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Carrie is the founder of Trains, Planes and Tuk Tuks. For more than seven years, she's been solo-backpacking around the world to places few other tourists dare to explore -- from Ethiopia to Nicaragua to Jordan and beyond. When she's not on the road, you can find her hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains and eating the world's best barbecue in her home city of Asheville, NC.

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Boulders and Backflips: A Trip through Somoto Canyon

We jump, hop and skip across the river stones alongside cows lapping up the water. The sun sinks lower over the surrounding hills, a fading shade of green and mottled browns as the remaining moisture of last year’s rain is soaked up from the land. The light casts long shadows across the white, sandy road that winds higher through the trees, their tops shining in the golden light.

A path to the left leads us to the mirador, a small wooden hut overlooking the Rio Coco meandering through the valley, its bends hiding the canyon from sight. Sunshine streams down onto small coloured boats rowing back and forth from the canyon pools and we sit, bathed in afternoon light, looking out at the spectacular view. Nicaraguan hills punctuated by sharp peaks fall away behind us and the untouched forests of Honduras mark the horizon to our front.

We sit cooling off after the steep walk and smile. If such beautiful views can be found on a short afternoon stroll, we can’t wait to see what the canyon will reveal to us tomorrow.

Our adventure through Somoto Canyon begins on the banks of Rio Tapacali. Dressed in our sturdy water shoes and life jackets we jump between rocks streaked with veins of jade and quartz alongside dry grasses and leafy trees that cling to the steep walls of the canyon.

During heavy rains the canyon is inundated with torrents of water raging through the narrow passage several metres higher than where we stand. Now, long after the rainy season has passed, the rapids are gentle and rock formations, often hidden by high waters, are left uncovered.

It’s chilly in the shade of the cliffs but one by one we slide into the deep pools and push off downstream, fully immersed in the water. Over the course of 6 hours we clamber through stone archways, climb through chambers of rock, scramble along cliff faces and jump between boulders. Families of bats disturbed from sleep whoosh by us in the caves and birds twitter in the trees overhead.

We float downstream on our backs, paddling gently in the still and silence, alone between the steep walls of the canyon, and we realise we are truly in a spectacular place.

Later, we emerge onto a white pebble beach and warm our backs in the sunshine. Here marks the start of the Rio Coco, the longest river in Central America, from where it begins its journey to the Caribbean.

As we venture further into the canyon we reach what many have been waiting for. Rocky perches at various heights from which to leap off with a divers’ grace (or belly flop from in spectacular fashion). Our guides, experienced at diving, backflipping and just about any form of mid-air acrobatics, are the first to climb up with huge smiles on their faces to show us how it is done.

It seems around each bend we find another rock to climb, another cliff to scale and, to the delight of many, higher and higher points from which to propel themselves into the air with the echo of our cheers cutting through the silence in the valley.

Here, where forests bleed into grey clifftops and blend into white rock that cradles still pools, where there is no sign of human disturbance and no sound but that of our calls and birdsong above.

Here, it feels we are discovering it all for the first time.

With arms and legs weary after our 14-kilometre journey through the canyon, we are happy to be led to our bright red boat that will take us down the rest of the river. The sun, now high in the sky, hidden for most of the day as we moved through the valley warms our faces as we walk back to the cottages for a well deserved lunch.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Somoto Canyon Tours on the 6-hour adventure tour and hiking in the surrounding areas. The guides were friendly, knowledgable and safety conscious and allowed us to really take our time in the canyon.

Many people visit on a day trip from Somoto or Esteli and do the 4-hour tour but we would highly recommend staying at least one night and doing the 6-hour adventure tour which takes you through both the upper and lower sections of the canyon. A 3-hour discovery tour is also offered which is a more leisurely canyon experience where you are led up the lower canyon in a tube.

Somoto is about 1.5 hours from Esteli by bus. Pick-up at the bus terminal in Somoto can be arranged.

Tours include lunch, all equipment, entry fees to private and protected areas around the canyon, the boat ride at the end of the tour and transport back to the bus terminal in Somoto.

Horseback riding, hiking and rappelling are also offered.

3-hour Discovery Tour: $20

4-hour Adventure Tour: $25

6-hour Adventure Tour: $30

Dormitory: $8

Private Double: $20

Breakfast: $3.50

www.somotocanyontours.org

[email protected]

+505 8610 7642

To fully experience Somoto Canyon Tours our stay was provided free of charge. However, all opinions and recommendations are our own.

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Travel, Adventure, Making the most of life

A Guide to Somoto Canyon; if you want to take it easy

Somoto canyon could be one of the most insane experiences in nicaragua...or the most leisurely.

Somoto Canyon sounded like an incredible adventure. A remote canyon in to which you can venture as deep as you wish…but at your own peril. There’s a river flowing amongst the rocks. The further you go, the bigger the leap from rock to rock. Adventurous travellers may even wish to jump from a height of 20 feet in to the water.

We set off from Somoto on a 7:30AM bus. There’s a lot of mixed information about visiting Somoto Canyon with or without a guide. We like to do things off our own back when we can, but also appreciate how tours can support the local community. With an element of danger we thought a guide may help and decided to speak to them at the park itself. However , on arrival at Somoto Canyon, the park office was closed . Our research indicated there were two routes. The first; follow the path and you can do the easy part of the canyon. The second; find a dirt road and start clambering. Guides tend to take tourists on route two.

Yet with no guides about, a lack of clarity on dirt roads and myself suffering from a bad cold, we opted for the simpler and safer option .

Onward we trekked. Down rocky paths through the valley. Then we reached the end and a river. Which way were we supposed to go? There’s no signs. There’s no canyon! We found a lady washing clothes in the river and she waved her arm in one direction. We crossed the river and on to a sandy path. There’s not much; a barren forest and some cows. Could this really be it?

After about 25 minutes walking, we spotted a shack. Underneath it, there was a small boy renting out life jackets. This had to be right! He shouted his father who came to collect the 50 Cordobas ($1.75 USD) from us. We ventured further, the small boy chasing after us to ask if we could please return the life jackets later. Maybe some people never make it out the canyon alive!

Next we spotted some boatmen. I’d read they can offer a lift, but none seemed very forthcoming so we climbed more rocks and scrambled ahead. 10 minutes later a boat appeared. “ We’re going that way. Have a lift with us “. How kind of them! The boat took us as far as the river goes, before it becomes impassable. This is the mouth of Somoto Canyon.

Exiting the boat, the youthful rower and his friend climbed the rocks. Grabbing one of the many anonymously piled up inner tubes, they asked if we wanted one for 50 Cordobas ($1.75 USD) each. We agreed and found a way down to the water. In we jumped.

The water was cool, but not uncomfortable. A gentle current from the breeze led us in to Somoto Canyon. It’s an incredible experience. Laying back and relaxing, starting 100 feet up at the imposing rocks. It was unbelievably relaxing. We felt far from anywhere and enjoyed the tranquillity. Eventually the river leads to a tiny waterfall and more impassable rocks. From the water you would struggle to climb them, so it is here where the easy and relaxing part of Somoto Canyon ends. We gently paddled back up stream to where the boat boys were playing in the water and got a ride back to the life jacket shack .

Relaxing in a canyon was just what we needed. Having not felt unwell I would have attempted a solo adventure deep in to the canyon. But today, it wasn’t to be.

Of course, I can’t leave a post about Somoto Canyon there. If you want to go on a crazy adventure, you can arrive later in the day and hire a guide for about $25. Alternatively , I’m led to believe that if you walk along the highway, around half a kilometre after the Somoto Canyon entrance sign and then turn right on to the dirt road, it will lead you to the difficult ‘adventure’ route,

How do I get to Somoto Canyon?

If you are coming from Somoto , reaching the canyon couldn’t be easier. Go to the bus terminal and there will be a regular bus. The journey is only 20 – 25 minutes and costs 13 Cordobas ($0.40 USD) each way.

Ask for the bus to drop you off at Somoto Canyon.

If you are coming from  Esteli you will need to head to Oriente Norte (the North bus terminal). Buses to Somoto are regular, but you’re better to leave early if planning on returning to Esteli the same day. The cost is 45 Cordobas ($1.35 USD) and the journey takes two hours.

Upon arrival, you will see this entrance sign form the highway:

The path will turn right and you will see the park office. Carry on past it until you reach the very end of the path and it will look like this:

How do I arrange a guide for Somoto Canyon?

At the main entrance by the highway, there will likely be guides offering tours. I am led to believe the ones at the park office are much cheaper. Both may require your haggle skills to get the best price. Expect to pay $15 USD per person for the easy route and $25 USD per person for the more adventurous route.

How much does Somoto Canyon cost?

The park office was closed when we arrived and so it was free! However, I have read that charges for the canyon were waived in 2018, but at the time were only 70 Cordobas ($2 USD)

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Somoto Canyon - Highland Tours

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Highland tours went above and beyond for our day trip to Somoto Canyon! Arranging the trip was easy... read more

The guys at Highland tours managed to set up a tour for the two of us in basically no time at all... read more

Somoto Canyon

We had an excellent trip to Somoto. Highland Tours was extremely accommodating of our last minute trip. The canyon was the highlight! All of the details were taken care of and we were able to enjoy being at the canyon without any worries. We would highly recommend Highland Tours!

Thank you so much for your comments! We are really glad you guys enjoyed your time in Somoto with us and hope to see you again in the future

The Highland Tours team was fantastic. Engaging, professional, interesting and fun. We are a gay couple in our 50s and were especially impressed when Ben asked us, with no hesitation or awkwardness, how long we'd been together.

Thank you so much for your positive comments, we are happy you enjoyed your tours with us and we know are guides enjoyed spending time with you both too. We hope we see you again in Nicaragua!

I would like to start by saying that Highland tours and their staff are quite professional,friendly and knowledgable.Ben and JC picked us up at our hotel on time.We picked up Axael who rode in the truck box the whole day.Poor guy.Miraflor was about an hour away.The roads were rugged but the view was senic.we stopped for breakfast and lunch at a lovely spot with great food and beautiful gardens.We hiked to a great lookout spot with great views for miles.We also went to a waterfall with a swimming hole.These folks work hard and the whole day was a splendid experience.We toured a coffee farm and visited with the farmer,my favorite part of the tour.Three cheers for Highland tours!Your friends Floyd and Anna Maria.

Thanks so much for your comments Floyd and Anna Maria! We really enjoyed meeting you and we're really happy you enjoyed your time in the North! Come back soon!

Axael and his cousin picked us up at our hotel right on time.We travelled for about an hour to Somoto from Esteli thru stunning country.The walk to the canyon was beautiful and easy for any age,except perhaps toddlers.The canyon was breath-taking.the tubing was easy as a guide swam thru the water towing us.It is low water season.Some people jumped off the cliff into the water,not I tho.The water is 70 feet down!We had lunch at gallo pinto,a nice,and aptly named road-side cafe.Followed by a tour of a local cookie factory.These things are great!We took pictures at a war memorial on our way back to town.Highland tours are very professional and friendly people,with well trained guides.I strongly recommend using them when you visit Esteli.Floyd and Anna Maria.

We spent almost 3 weeks in the Nicaragua highlands, to check out Matagalpa, Estelí, and Jinotega as possible destinations for relocation down to Nicaragua. Michelle, Ben, and the team at Highland Tours couldn't have made our travels any easier or worry free. They offer and do a lot for locals and visitors alike. A couple of highlights from their website that we took advantage of their from full services: *** Transportation *** They offer full transportation services — including from / to Managua airport and around the highlands region. We used them for our airport transportation, as well as between each of the three cities we visited. All of the drivers were on time, extremely friendly, super reliable. *** Tours *** Michelle arranged walking tours of Matagalpa, Esteli, and Jinotega for us. We were able to explore each city with a local resident with extensive knowledge of the area, culture, history, etc. We took advantage of their being located in Esteli to also spend a day touring El Tisey, La Granacha, and other local Esteli gems. Highland Tours also arranged a day at Selva Negra reserve for my wife's birthday, arranging the transportation, entry logistics, etc. They have a bunch of other tour options on their website, all worth taking advantage of for a hassle free, full service way to experience local Nica treasures and culture. *** Relocation Services *** Part of our trip was to scout and explore the highlands cities for relocation in Nicaragua. Michelle lined up several homes and quintas in Matagalpa, Esteli, and Jinotega for us to visit and evaluate as a possible future Nica home — including transportation + guide (to help with translation), real estate spec sheets, etc. All we had to do is show up and visit the homes. Whether you're a traveler visiting the area or an expat considering relocation like us, Highland Tours is a stress-free solution to help with a lot of the logistics. Stellar communication and follow through. We can't thank them enough for making our Nica visit and relocation worry free.

Thank you so much Jaimey for your comments, our team really enjoyed working with you and Tiffany and we're excited your making the move to the beautiful North of Nicaragua. Looking forward to seeing you both again!

Arrived in Estelí spontaneously without booking anything - I called Highland Tours after seeing the great reviews on here and wasn't disappointed. We arranged a bike tour at a time suitable for me, and I could have not asked for a better guide than Jerry. He showed me around the entire city from the point of view of a native; we saw the cigar factories, went and visited the University, tried guirilas (a tortilla made on yuca leaves with cheese and cream) in the local comedor and Jerry took me to some local bookshops after I told him I'd just about finished reading my current one. He was also incredibly helpful inquiring about the bus timetables. I always felt safe on the tour - which was fantastic considering the amount of traffic around! Would highly recommend the bike tour, very enjoyable way to pass a few hours in Estelí 😊

Thanks for your feedback, we are so happy you enjoyed your tour of Esteli!

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Esteli: Somoto Caynon and Miraflor Reserve

Americas , Central America , Nicaragua | 1 comment

After settling in Esteli, it was time to: A) find decent coffee, and B) discover something new to do with my time. Budget backpackers have a ton of frills and thrills to choose from in Central America, and Nicaragua is handling this “adventure tourism” with a well-honed thumb.. From mountain hiking and volcano “boarding” to surfing and sailing, Nicaragua delivers unique and adventurous opportunities for all walks of life. In particular, the area around Esteli is known for two noteworthy excursions: the Cañón de Somoto and the Miraflor Reserve.

Hiking near the Honduras border

Somoto Canyon -Since the town of Esteli is often passed over in favor of the more popular Nicaraguan towns (i.e Leon, Granada, and San Juan del Sur), I hadn’t heard about the Canon de Somoto prior to crossing the border. Usually, these types of sought-after escapades are talked about over evening beers or crowded dormitory bunks. However, when I learned about Nicaragua’s largest and mostly untouched canyon, I jumped at the opportunity to explore this fascinating hide-away.

I booked my tour through the non-profit Treehuggers Tourism Office. All profits are donated and the resources are used to facilitate community-driven projects in rural and urban areas in northern Nicaragua. The company’s associated accommodation, Luna International Hostel, was also a cozy spot to unpack and repack. (Hot showers too!)

The Somoto Caynon was just recently discovered in 2004 by two Czech scientists, and it is now a protected National Park. How it wasn’t discovered earlier, I don’t understand, as the canyon stretches for several kilometers and flaunts sheer 100 meter cliff walls. Wouldn’t a local farmer or drug smuggler have discovered it at some point? Something to ponder. Anyway…off to the canyon!

The narrowest part of the canyon is only accessible by swimming  The rest can be reached by wading through the water, boating, floating, swimming or scaling the canyon walls. As the water levels were quite high, we mostly swam, and I spent a lot of time gazing upwards at the massive rock walls. Though tranquil in setting, the canyon was actually a hive of activity. Wild orchids dangled from the cliffs, hives of honeybees and bat colonies swooped out of recessed caves, and soaring eagles rode vacillating air currents near the canyon’s rim. And there were spiders. Large. Hairy. Spiders. Luckily, they stayed away from me.

Eventually, we arrived at an impassable waterfall and had to scramble across sharp boulders to a fifteen foot “high jump.” There was no other way to press forward except to throw ourselves head first or feet first into a deep green pool on the other side of the tumbling waterfall. If one was feeling especially brave, there were plenty of higher jumps to try, maxing out at a eye-bulging sixty feet. I was quite happy with the fifteen footer. Not only does this canyon provide excellent opportunities for hiking, swimming, and cliff jumping, but the cliff walls are also ideal for the adventurous rock climber.

It won’t be long before Somoto Canyon becomes a highlight on every backpacker’s Nicaragua itinerary, but I hope it is a long way off. I pleased that I was able to enjoy the canyon without heaps of other tourists annoying me. Our tiny group of three was just perfect.

Miraflor Natural Reserve – One of the best introductions into Nicaraguan culture is to discover the spectacular Miraflor Natural Reserve, a gorgeous, unique reserve located about thirty kilometers away from the city of Estelí.  Visitors have the opportunity to hike, bike, horseback ride, or just sit and talk with a local family. There are a great number of places to visit, such as forests, coffee plantations, miradors , and waterfalls, or visitors can stay with “host families” in order to fully appreciate the culture. I only went up to the Miraflor for a day of hiking, and I arranged a pseudo-homestay to provide breakfast and lunch.

Hiking the Miraflor Reserve

The length of the Miraflor’s hiking tours depends on the visitor, of course. Guides take visitors on day hikes that last anywhere from one hour to eight hours. The outings can be built to suit special interests such as seeking out particular flowers, birds, or medicinal plants.

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Somoto Canyon Tours

Join us in this adventure discovering the world of a forgotten canyon in Nicaragua

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SOMOTO CANYON: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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• Exploring The Somoto Canyon

An Insider's Guide to Exploring the Somoto Canyon

Near the Nicaragua-Honduras border lies an amazing natural feature that surprisingly few tourists take the time to visit. Here’s how you can explore the Somoto Canyon on your trip to Nicaragua.

What to expect

An adventurous experience which can involve hiking, swimming, and abseiling in the Somoto Canyon, depending on your tastes. The 3-kilometre (1.86 mile) long gorge drops 160 metres (525 feet) in altitude, and at some points is just 10 metres (33 feet) wide.

You can go on a hiking and swimming tour, with just 200 metres (656 feet) spent in the water, or embark on a 13-kilometre (8 mile) circuit over 6 hours in which you’ll jump off cliffs and boulder-hop down from bat caves to the river.

There are plenty of ways to see this beautiful canyon, so don’t be put off if you don’t want to do the more extreme stuff. There are many guided trips to the area, but you can even explore on foot by yourself if you don’t want to hire a guide. That said, you’re better off having a knowledgeable local by your side for the experience.

What to bring

Bring a dry bag for your valuables because certain sections can only be navigated by swimming. If you don’t have one, just bring water, sunblock and some sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.

How to get there

From further afield, the town of Esteli is the first place to aim for. There are good bus links with Managua and Leon, as well as international services to Honduras and El Salvador . From here you’ll need to take a local bus to the town of Somoto, and then on to the village of La Playa. Walk ten minutes out of town and you’ll get to the canyon, and from there you just follow the river downstream.

What else to do in the area

The canyon is the biggest draw in the area, and most visitors move on swiftly to Leon, Managua or San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua , or hop over to Honduras and El Salvador.

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Somoto Canyon

Top ways to experience Somoto Canyon and nearby attractions

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The Best Things to Do in Estelí, Nicaragua

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Estelí: The Crossroads of Canyons and Cloud Forests

When traveling through Nicaragua, you may find yourself in Estelí for a few nights while you explore the surrounding area, especially the hotspots of Somoto Canyon and Miraflor Cloud Forest. Though Estelí itself isn’t full of too many things to do, the city is a glimpse in to what life in Nicaragua is actually like. There’s a good chance you won’t run into any other tourists here, and knowing some basic Spanish can get you some great interactions with local people! While we personally think the nature in the northern Nicaragua highlands was better than the Estelí city, there is still a few things to do in the city that make staying a couple nights here worthwhile. In this post, we’ll first discuss the best day trips from Estelí, and then move on to the best things to do in the city of Estelí!

Best Day Trips from Estelí

Somoto canyon.

Visiting Somoto Canyon is an incredible experience, and there are various adventure activities for everyone! From horseback riding to mild canyoning, people of all ages and physical abilities can explore this magnificent piece of nature.

How to get from Estelí to Somoto Canyon

The bus to Somoto from Estelí costs 46 Cordobas (about 1 USD) and takes 2 hours. You can check the schedules here . You can take this bus at 5:15 am, 6:15 am, 7:15 am, 8:45 am, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:45 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:45 pm, 4:15 pm, and 5:15 pm. Your tour operator might pick you up from the station (ours did), and drive you 25 minutes to the canyon. If your tour guides don’t pick you up, you can take the bus to El Espino and get off here .

Check out our guide to the Somoto Canyon

Reserva Natural Miraflor

Miraflor Cloud Forest is an absolutely gorgeous jungle and farm region nestled in the Nicaraguan highlands. While we highly recommend staying overnight, this can also be done as a day trip. Here you can go on a jungle walk, horseback ride, birdwatching tour, and do some agri-tourism.

How to Get From Estelí to Miraflor

We got here through public bus, and to do this smoothly, you need to arrive at the Cotran North Station in Estelí before the 2:15 bus which passes the farm stays leaves. This is called the Camino Real Bus and costs 45 Cordoba (about 1 USD).

Most of, but not all, of the buses heading from Estelí to Yali pass through La Rampla, which is where you’ll get off and have your host pick you up, hitchhike, or walk around 30 minutes to your accommodations. These buses leave Cotran North in Estelí at 6:15 AM, 12 PM, and 3:45 PM. The name of these buses is “Centeno” and it costs 45 Cordobas (about 1 USD). Make sure to confirm with the bus driver that the bus passes through Miraflor on its way to Yali, because some of them don’t.

Check out our post on how to spend the perfect day in Miraflor!

Coffee Tour in Matagalpa or Jinotega

Matagalpa and Jinotega are two towns on the Nicaraguan coffee route that can be explored as a day trip from Estelí. Nicaraguan coffee has been my favorite Central American coffee so far, so this would definitely be a fun region to explore. We recommend renting a car here if you plan on visiting the coffee plantations from Estelí.

Sculptor Tour

Visit the incredibly unique Jalacate farm in which Don Alberto, the owner and artist, carves a variety of sculptures into the side of the mountain and other places. His masterpiece after 40+ years of working is a 100-meter long piece of artwork carved into the cliffs. He’s an interesting character and is sure to give you your money’s worth. Book the tour here !

Things to Do in Estelí

Cigar factory tours.

Estelí is the tobacco capital of Nicaragua, with the entire real estate north of the city being tobacco farms and cigar factories. You can organize a 2-4 hour tour of one of these factories with Treehuggers. If you’re short on time, head to the Cigars Lounge Bar & Hostal for a cigar and flor de caña in a former cigar factory-turned bar. Book your cigar factory tours here !

Catch a Soccer Game

While soccer isn’t as popular as baseball in Nicaragua, the fans do show out for the soccer teams! Estelí is usually the best team, so you may be able to catch a glimpse of their glory during your visit! When we went, tickets were only 100 Cordobas or 2.50 USD, and beers were only 40 Cordobas or 1 USD for the Nicaraguan cup final in Estelí! 

Eat at Castillos Buffet

This is a local favorite and for a good reason! For less than $5 you’ll get a massive portion of a delicious selection of meat, vegetables, a side of rice, and you can make your own salad!

City Mural Tour

Estelí has some gorgeous murals, and the stark contrast extremely politically motivated and the beautiful Nicaraguan nature is definitely something to explore. Book your tour here !

Where to Stay in Estelí

There aren’t too many accommodation options in Estelí as it’s a rather small town, but there are certainly options for all budget types! We recommend staying in or close to town if you plan on doing day trips because that will make transportation much easier.

Estelí Accommodations

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How to Get to Estelí

Renting a car.

The easiest way is to rent a car in Managua. This will give you the freedom to explore the surrounding areas without a tour guide or using public transportation. Be aware that if you want to drive into Miraflor, you’ll need a vehicle with 4WD as the roads are not good.

How to Get to Estelí By Bus

Buses leave every hour/hour and a half from Managua to Estelí starting at 4 am and ending around 7 pm. The bus ride takes about 2.5 hours. You can also take the bus to Estelí from León – those leave relatively often, but if you’re heading straight to Miraflor, you’ll need to catch the bus that leaves around 11 to get to Estelí in time for the bus to Miraflor.

What is Estelí Nicaragua Known For?

Estelí is known for producing high quality cigars on a large scale. It is also known for its proximity to multiple nature sites such as Somoto Canyon, Miraflor, and the coffee regions of Matagalpa and Jinotega.

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SOMOTO CANYON TOURS

Unleash your spirit of adventure, tours del canon de somoto, del sereno al extremo, from the serene to the extreme, call/text whatsapp llamada/texto, +505 8610 7642 (esp) +505 5791 9556 (eng) .

TOURS AND PRICES

4 Hour "Standard" Adventure Tour

A fascinating circular route of up to 4 hours duration but less than 9 kilometres, of which half is in the canyon itself, walking, sightseeing, rock scrambling, wading, floating, swimming, boating, and jumping, for which participants need to be able-bodied to enjoy it (5 to 75 years old). 

The jumps, all optional, are at designated safe spots on the Rio Coco (from one metre and higher on request up to 20 metres if conditions are suitable). Please advise your guide if you do not want to jump so you can be advised how to avoid them. 

The route is also an approved geotour including igneous, metamorphic and volcanic rock samples.

The Standard Tour includes a delicious lunch (vegetarian option available), entrance fees to both private and protected areas, boat fee, one-way transportation (between the bus terminal in Somoto and the trailhead), equipment (life jacket, dry bag and river shoes) and arrangements.

3 Hour "Short" Discovery Tour

Suitable for families (even with babes in arms) and others who might find the full canyon experience too challenging or simply don't want to swim or jump.

A there and back tour of 6 kilometres taking 3 hours exploring the lower canyon including two boat trips and the option to take large inner tubes with a young helper all the way up to the main jumping pool.

The Short Tour includes a delicious lunch (vegetarian option available), entrance fees to both private and protected areas, boat fees, one-way transportation (between the traillhead and the bus terminal in Somoto), equipment (life jacket, dry bag and river shoes) and arrangements.

6 Hour "Long" Grand Adventure Tour

A spectacular extended circular route of up to 6 hours and 14 kilometres in distance covered requiring a reasonable level of fitness.

It includes all the activities of the Standard Tour in the main canyon but also additional wallking, scrambling, swimming and jumping in the Rio Tapacali and in the spectacular natural swimming pool below the confluence of the Tapacali and Comali rivers which form the headwaters of the Rio Coco, the longest river in Central America.

Visit the fruit bat caves and view additional bromeliads and orchids in this tranquil setting.

A light snack is provided.

The Long Tour also includes a delicious lunch (vegetarian option available), a light snack en route, entrance fees to both private and protected areas, boat fee, one-way transportation (between the bus terminal in Somoto and the trailhead), equipment (life jacket, dry bag and river shoes) and arrangements.

Canyon Rim Ride/Walkabout

The fantastic views from 200 metres above Somoto Canyon offer amazing photo opportunities of the Rio Coco and the surrounding mountains.

It's also possible to appreciate the geological wonder and the flora and fauna. The tour varies from 3-5 hours.

A substantial hike or a pleasurable ride, crossing the Rio Coco twice and passing neighboring farms.

If you wish to ride you should have basic experience of horse riding, or we can put you on a mule!

   There's more to Somoto Canyon Tours than Canyoning

When you've had your fill of canyoning there's a wealth of other activities in the area, from abseiling and rock climbing to a day on the farm, a visit to the city of Somoto, taking a sunset walk to the lookouts above the canyon surrounded by the mountains of Northern Nicaragua, or just hanging out chilling and maybe listening to some local musicians. Our new offering is in the area geotours in the geologically diverse zone surrounding the canyon with customised trips for our visitors.

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Nicaragua Off the Beaten Path: Somoto Canyon

Less famous and less crowded that its' next door neighbor, Nicaragua offers many thrilling off the beaten path adventures, like canyoneering in Somoto Canyon.

My small group of 6 people plus our local guide made our way between the canyon walls swimming, jumping off cliffs and discovering wildlife like bats and hawks in Somoto Canyon.

Near the Honduran border and only recently discovered, Somoto Canyon receives very little tourists making this an electrifying off the beaten path experience in Nicaragua.

Getting to Estelí and Somoto Canyon

To get to Somoto Canyon, chances are you'll go from the city of Leon to Estelí, change buses in Estelí and then onto Somoto Canyon from there. It's roughly a 5-hour (public) bus ride from Leon to Estelí, however at noon each day they have an express bus with infrequent stops for a just under 3-hour ride! It's worth mentioning that a crowded, public bus at the peak heat of the day in Nicaragua are hot and can be unpleasant, so if you prefer there's also options for shuttles, minibuses or private drivers that take only 2-2.5 hours and are more expensive. 

With a population of 122,000 Estelí is the 8th largest city in the country and has all the makings of a typical Latin American town; a few parks, a soccer team, a few grocery stores, plazas (or squares) for people to gather, markets, a cathedral, hotels, school, bars, etc.

Estelí doesn’t offer tourists too many activities. In fact, most travelers skip Estelí, the ones who do visit do so for one of two reasons: Somoto Canyon and the Miraflor cloud forest.

We made the trek from Leon to Estelí to go canyoneering in Somoto Canyon. In case you’re not familiar with canyoneering, it means to hike, climb, swim and jump into canyons.

Somoto Canyon is 83 km (52 miles) further north of Estelí. It's location in the highlands creates a year round temperate climate – a wonderful escape from the muggy major cities of Leon and Granada .

We decided to stay in Estelí for the sake of not traveling a full day by bus from Leon to Somoto Canyon, and to see what Estelí was like.

However, this means that we had to wake very early, catch the first bus out of Estelí to Somoto Canyon in order to be up in the canyon for our tour. Additionally, staying in Estelí meant we had to rush to the bus after our tour and lunch, instead of having a leisurely walk back and hanging out after lunch.

The bus from Esteli to somoto canyon, very easy to spot!

Exploring Somoto Canyon

Somoto Canyon is one of the oldest rock formations in Central America, but this canyon was (re)discovered only in 2004!

Almost immediately after it's discovery, Somoto canyon was established as a national monument in 2006, is a protected area of 170 hectares of land.

The chilly waters of the Coco River running through Somoto Canyon flows from southern Honduras eastward through Nicaragua and out to the Atlantic ocean. 

There are a few options offered for trekking through Somoto Canyon:

• A half day tour which gives you 10 of km (6.2 miles) to hike and a couple of cliffs to jump from over roughly 4 hours.
• A full day tour which gives you 15 km (9.3 miles) of hiking over roughly 6 hours and roughly a dozen cliffs to jump from.
• The last option is what they call the grandma tour of only 6 km (3.7 miles), with more boat rides and less opportunities to jump from cliffs. If you don’t want to swim or jump, this is the right option for you.
• Arriving in Somoto Canyon and finding a local guide to create your own journey.

Clearly we opted for the full day adventure tour.

TRAVELER'S TIP: Some people recommend skipping the tour entirely. Even if you are experienced at canyoneering, there were so many places that we jumped from that would be very, very difficult to jump in that spot. These local guides were born and raised here, they know the canyon like the back of their hand so they can provide you with an incredible experience!

We left Estelí bright and early. We catch the first bus out just after 7am. It takes around 1.5 hours to get to Estelí. From there, our tour company picks us up from the bus stop, and we head to the start of the hike which is also the owner’s home and B-and-B. Here we get shoes if we need them, instructions and information for the day, leave anything that can’t get wet that we do not want to take with us, and an option to change our minds.

We soon head off to the entrance of the canyon, where cows greet us.

This first spot to cliff jump is only about 3 meters high (9.8 feet), a beginner jump just to get our feet wet, so to speak. The heights to jump from go up from there! Eventually getting to 20+ meters if you dare!

3 meters doesn’t seem high, it didn’t look intimidating from the water below, but it certainly was a bit scary from above.

We continue along the river, half walking and half swimming, past caves and bats. Past more cows.

Before I know it, we’re near the end of our journey. We reach the main jumping area, with cliff options to jump off of 20 meters and higher (65.6 feet)!

After the intensely terrifying experience of jumping 8 meters (26 feet) into dark, unknown waters we approach an area of pure relaxation. We float down the river, gazing at the cliffs now soaring more than 100 feet into the air. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.

Nicaragua is an untouched travel destination perfect for thrill seekers, beach lovers and foodies alike.

Are you curious about experiencing Nicaragua for yourself?  Contact us  to help you plan your next great adventure to Nicaragua!

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Somoto Canyon Tour

by [email protected] | Mar 1, 2022 | Full Day Tours from Managua | 0 comments

A journey to Somoto Canyon National Monument the main tourist attraction of Coco River, the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Central America. Explore this stunning geological formation located on the volcanic Central Mountain Chain of Nicaragua that represents the eight geopark designated for the Latin American region. Lunch included. On the way back Stopover at the rosquilleria Matapalo to taste the delicious ROSQUILLAS a traditional Nicaraguan donuts make by corn produced in this place.

What to Bring? Light clothing; extra clothing; towel; comfortable walking shoes; sunglasses; camera

Includes: Hotel pick-up and drop-off; private transportation with A/C; English/Spanish speaking guide; admissions; lunch; insurance and taxes.

Not Included: Voluntary tips; personal expenses

Departure Time: Daily 06.00 AM

Tour Duration: 12 hours

Welcome to   Geo Tours Nicaragua

+50585519126

Floating through Somoto Canyon

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Nestled in the mountains of Northern Nicaragua near the Honduran border, the Somoto Canyon is an impressive site.  The Coco River flows for miles, surrounded by vertical walls of up to 150 meters tall.  After the brown and dust of León, Somoto is a verdant oasis, full of fresh and (relatively) cool air.  As the canyon narrows, in some areas to as little as five meters, you’ll find clear waters, sandy paths, bromeliads, birds, and maybe even other small animals if you’re lucky.  In short, it’s paradise.

And did I mention you can float down the river?

Until a few years ago, El Cañon de Somoto was an “undiscovered” tourist attraction.  Even still, visits are light compared to other destinations in Nicaragua although I’m willing to bet that within a few more years, it will become a crowded place.

Like elsewhere in the country, this is the perfect spot for anyone who likes to be outside with a touch of adventure.  There are options for hiking, swimming, tubing, cliff jumping, horseback riding, boating, and rock climbing — all very accessible and quite affordable.  Normally, I’d be looking to squeeze in as many activities as the day would hold, but after spending my previous days volcano boarding , surfing , and killing iguanas , I was looking for  easy.   I ended up selecting a relaxing combination of walking, swimming, and floating.

The trip began with about a twenty-minute walk through the countryside, my guide teaching me about the local flora in Spanish.  My knowledge of Spanish is good, but not quite fluent, so learning about a subject I barely comprehend in English was a challenge.  It didn’t matter: I was captivated by the views and thrilled to just stretch my legs after what felt like an endless drive.  Maybe I would’ve understood more if I hadn’t been distracted by my surroundings.

As we went down switchbacks, nearing the Rio Coco, the path got slippery.  At the water’s edge, the river rocks were a disaster waiting to happen.  Luckily, we wouldn’t have to step far.  Instead, we’d don lifejackets and float downriver.  The water was a bit nippy, but even as someone who is perpetually cold, it was mostly enjoyable.  Some spots had small rapids, fun to flow with while others were calmer and required you to swim (and warm up your muscles).

Along the way, we had ample opportunities to get out and hike, jump off high rocks, and even climb into rowboats.  My five hours in the canyon flew by, but eventually we found ourselves outside of the canyon, fording the river on slippery rocks and trying to warm up numb fingers.

My day ended with lunch on a nearby property ; it was so beautifully maintained I made a promise to myself to share it with you.  The cabanas, sleeping 6-12 people, seemed like a relaxing place to spend a night or two inbetween rapelling, ATV rentals, and resting in hammocks!  Of course, sleeping in town or in nearby Estelí are options as well.

If you go…

With an intrepid spirit, the cheapest way to visit the canyon is to travel independently.  Take a bus to the town of Somoto (infrequent direct buses from Managua; many connections via Estelí from Managua, Matagalpa, León, etc.).  In Somoto, you can take a local chicken bus or taxi to the canyon itself, pay your entrance fee, and rent a lifejacket and/or inner tube for about $2.  Depending on your starting point, the whole thing could be accomplished for under $10 although you’ll need to spend the night in Somoto or Estelí.

Frankly, I ran out of time and energy to make all the bus connections and instead hooked up with a daytrip with Tierra Tours from León to Somoto.  I had a great experience with them on Telica Volcano , but was less-than-impressed with the driver and organization at Somoto.  Luckily, the local guide they outsourced for the canyon itself was fantastic and made up for the rest of the experience.  Since it was expensive and a long day (3 hours drive one-way), I wouldn’t recommend this option.

Split the difference: take a local bus to Somoto and arrange a guide from that point forward.  After my visit, I heard wonderful things about  Namancambre Tours , although I didn’t use them myself.  A fee of $20 or less will cover your entrance to the canyon and tube rental, plus you won’t need to sweat over the details of finding your way to the canyon or returning a lifejacket.  Use the money you’ve saved to invest in a good pair of water shoes so you don’t twist an ankle wading through the water: I swear by my Merrells .

My trip to Nicaragua remains one of my all-time favorites; for more stories, suggestions on things to do, information on budgeting, and FAQ on traveling throughout the country, see all of  my posts about Nicaragua !

6 thoughts on “Floating through Somoto Canyon”

Sounds like a fun relaxing activity for the day!

@Taylor – it absolutely was. Give it a try, if you ever find yourself in the area with some spare time.

Hi there! Sounds amazing, I’m planning my trip to Nicaragua and I really wanted to include this but thought it was not possible to do based from Leon…

So reading this gives me hope 🙂 although it’s probably not the best option… I was wondering at what time did you left in Leon and when did you return?

@Ruben, I can’t remember if we left at 4 or 5 in the morning, but we got back about 12 hours later. That’s a solid 6 hours in the car and about 6 hours at the canyon. It is not possible in one day by public transportation.

Do you really kill iguanas? is this customary.

@Michael, I prepared an iguana for lunch one day (you can read the whole story here ). This is still customary, particularly in rural areas, but not a normal tourist activity!

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Cliff Jumping In Somoto Canyon, Nicaragua

Posted by Emily Henkel on 11/2/23 11:41 AM

Swim between slot canyons, go cliff jumping, and body raft down the rapids — we love the adrenaline rush of Somoto Canyon! 

If you want a vacation full of stunning views and heart-pumping adventures, say "hi" to a trip to Somoto Canyon in Nicaragua. It's one of the top-tier destinations our ILP volunteers just can't get enough of. Maybe it's the plunging valleys, the charming homestays, or the trip through the actual canyon itself, but it's an experience you really can't miss out on. Out of all of the Nicaragua vacations our volunteers take during their semester, Somoto Canyon is often the absolute favorite thing.

Ready to really experience Nicaragua? See what volunteering in Nicaragua is all about!

The ILP volunteers who get to call Nicaragua home for an entire semester get the chance to really experience what this country has to offer. One can’t-miss experience is spending a weekend cliff jumping and swimming through the gorgeous Somoto Canyon. Here are the insider details about this trip: 

• What Is This Trip Like?
• What Tours To Book With 
• Getting To Somoto

+ A Few Tips  

Okay, What Is This Trip Like? 

First off, know you'll be with a guide so you'll have help as you navigate the trails and the best cliff-jumping spots. There are several methods of exploring the canyon itself, which we've broken down in a few sections (just know it's a mix of hiking, swimming, jumping, and body rafting ... what a rush!). 

We have tour recommendations below, but to give you an overview of what a half-day adventure looks like in the canyon, here’s an outline:  

To get to the cool water, you’ll first need to trek less than a mile, following your guide through the green brush (peek the border of Honduras here!) before you trek into the canyon. The hike follows the river for a bit, then you'll get the green light to get into the water.

You’ll do most of the next bit in the water, diving into the blue-green river that snakes its way between the sheer cliffs. It’s hot and humid in Nica, so the water feels quite refreshing but does feel pretty cool at first. 

Depth-wise, you can touch the bottom most of the time, but some points do get a bit deep (a life jacket is handy for this portion, provided by your tour guide). At some points, you'll need to get out and hike through a couple of cliffs before getting back into the water. 

You’ll be swimming and hiking on the cliff face for about 2.5 miles until you reach the jumping cliffs.  

Cliff Jumping  

There’s a section where the canyon opens up a bit and the water plunges deeper between the rocks, creating the perfect jumping off point. Cliffs of all different heights are suspended above the water, so you can choose the levels you feel the most comfortable with (there are 8, 16, and 21 meter jumping points). Best to leave the top jumping off points to the professional guides — it’s quite the stunt! The cliff jumping points do open up to create a rather wide pool where you can hang out and swim   around while you leave jumping to others in your group if you’d rather just watch. You'll need to swim between the jumping locations, but keep an eye out for the little caves around the canyon. One ILP group was able to peek their head into one of the caves to see a colony of bats flying around, then found a perfect little spot on dry land to have a snack before continuing down the river. Your guide will point out a few things, like more info about the bats and exactly where the Coco River officially forms. This canyon is where the Comali River (from Honduras) and the Tapacalí River combine to form the Coco River, which runs through the entire isthmus of Central America. 

Body Rafting 

Okay, this may be the most fun part of your tour, best told by an ILP volunteer: " Then, we continued down the river. We got to a place in the river where the Nicaraguan river and the river from Honduras collide and we took a break there, eating bananas, drinking water, eating Oreos, and taking pictures.... After the break, we continued down and this is where we started to get a little confused because we were told we would be rafting, swimming, and hiking but we had been on the river for a couple hours and hadn't seen any rafts.

"So we started to question what we were going to do for the next couple hours on the river. As we were floating down the river we started to hear what sounded like a waterfall and got even more confused. How are we going to get down those rapids? Just then, the guide looks at us and tells us we are going down floating. Just lay flat on your back and slide down these little patches of white water! Now, this was an experience that is really hard to explain (and I have no pictures because we were busy falling down a river) but picture a river where there is a patch of fairly calm white water, and going down with nothing more than a life vest. It was so awesome and so cool to feel like a fish floating down!"

You'll likely have a few bumps along the way, but it's often people's favorite part of the canyon. You'll finish your trek with some more swimming and hiking spots, and a mandatory jumping spot where hiking and floating isn't an option — "W e had to walk along the edge but the only way to get back to the river was to jump it looked so far but we did it anyway and then looking back up at it it was like 10 feet and we all felt like babies haha. We finally got to some little row boat and were rowed about a mile down the river to the spot where we got out and hiked back home. The huge adventure was over!" 

+ Tour Extras And Options

That’s the general outline of the canyon, and what comes next might fluctuate according to your tour. Some may have you hike out and see you back on the bus, or you may have a lunch included. Some tours have a 4-hour option, while others are more of a 6-hour tour. The shorter tour does not have mandatory jump spots which is something to consider if you'd rather avoid the cliff jumping. Make sure you check the details of your tour to know the exact itinerary.

What Tours To Book With  

It was mentioned before, but this is an excursion best done with a tour: they’ll lead you through the canyon, point out the best way to swim/hike through safely, show you the jumping off points, and will give you the necessary gear (like a lifejacket). Here are a few tips from ILP volunteers when it comes to picking a tour guide: 

Somoto Canyon Tours 

Multiple ILP Nicaragua volunteers have trekked with Somoto Canyon Tours before, which comes highly recommended. They have a couple of package options that are very affordable. Their 4-hour $25 package takes you through the canyon with a tour (you’ll do some hiding, swimming, boating, and jumping), plus you’ll have lunch and proper equipment (life jacket, dry bag, and river shoes) provided. They also have a $30 package for a 6-hour adventure, giving you everything in the first tour, plus a longer trek through the canyon up to some caves which are home to Nicaragua’s fruit bats, plus a few other high points.  

Get the details of both tours here.  

They also have cabins nearby if you'd like to stay there for the night and make this more of a weekend adventure. Here's what one ILP volunteer had to say about her stay: " We stayed in the mountains in a little lodge for $8 a night. This place was amazing! The owner, Henry, showed us around a little when we arrived and told us we could walk down to his farm that was about half a mile down the road. We walked down there and Henry's brother gave us a tour of all the plants, he showed us their pigs, chickens, donkey, dog, and lastly the bees. They had over 9 hives of bees —  it was crazy! We walked down past the tomato plants, avocado trees, mango trees, and so much more! It was really cool. Then we got back to the lodge and they had dinner prepared for us: a huge plate of rice and beans, with a chicken or veggie option." 

You can also add a horseback riding trip to the tour if you'd like (that's a fun way to fill the rest of your day if you're staying the night and doing the canyon tour in the morning). 

What To Look For In Other Tours 

You'll likely find other tour options through your hostel (our ILP Costa Rica volunteers love vacationing in Nicaragua!) or just by searching online — we suggest picking a tour that includes lunch (it’s an 8 km minimum trek through the canyon and you’ll come out hungry!) plus the recommended equipment: At the very least, a life jacket, though a dry bag is also a big plus.

Getting To Somoto  

You have a few options. Some tour options handle the transportation from Managua (and Esteli) or you can take public transportation and get to Somoto on your own schedule. This post about traveling by bus in Nicaragua may help you out, but we’ve broken it up in a few more bite-sized steps to help you out even more:

From Granada To Managua

According to Centro Coastings , it’ll take you just under 1.5 hours to get from Granada to Managua. You can take a chicken bus (they’ll leave from all over Granada at all hours of the day — talk to your hotel/hostel or, ILP volunteers can chat with their Local Coordinator). Chicken buses are about $1.50 to ride. You can also take a microbus. Microbuses to Managua leave when they are full and typically run from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays, from 5:30 AM - 8:00 PM Saturdays, and 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sundays. Catch these buses at the small station on a street at the southwest corner of the Parque Central called Calle Vega. The microbus will arrive at the Central American University in Managua (The UCA).  

Once you arrive, you'll need to head to another bus station to catch your connecting bus. The Esteli bus leaves from Mercado Mayoria station, so you’ll need a take a taxi there. Shouldn’t be more than $4 USD if you haggle down the price. 

From Managua To Esteli  

Like mentioned before, you’ll need to get yourself to the Mercado Mayoria station to catch your Esteli bus. There are a couple of options: The Espresso bus leaves pretty much every hour from 4:30 AM to 6:30 PM — when it’s busy, they will leave every 15 minutes, alternating between the express bus and the regular bus. It’ll take you 2.5 hours to get to Esteli. The Regular bus takes 3.5 hours. Plan on paying about $3 USD for your ticket to Esteli.  Most ILP Volunteers hang out in the city of Esteli for the night and maybe the next day if you're interested in these Esteli adventures , then wake up early to catch a bus from Esteli to Somoto. 

From Esteli to Somoto  

Esteli from Somoto has a chicken bus that leaves at 7:00 or 7:30 AM (We’ve heard both options — got to love the casual bus schedules in Nicaragua!). The buses run frequently, at no exact schedule. It’s about a $2 USD ticket and should take around 1.5 hours. Pickup to Somoto is at the Contran Sur Bus Station on the Pan-American Highway in Esteli. If you get the early bus, you’ll get to Somoto before 10:00 AM, which is when most tours begin. Check to see if your tour company will pick you up from the bus station, or you can take a taxi ride (play on haggling to get a $5 fare for the 15 minute ride to the Somoto Canyon Entrance if your tour does not arrange any sort of pick up and just meets you at the entrance).  

What Should I Pack? 

You’ll want sunscreen and shoes you can walk/swim in. We love adventure sandals like Chacos and Tevas because they have good grip and do well in the water. Hiking boots and tennis shoes are too heavy when wet, and are not recommended. 

Your guide and tour group should provide life jackets. Most of the time, you can touch the bottom of the river filled canyon, but it’s a nice reassurance.   Y ou’ll 100% want a dry bag to hike with (and keep your phone, wallet, and other valuables) safe and dry, so bring that if that isn’t already included in your tour.

Wear a swimming suit, too. You may want to bring a change of clothes if you are traveling right after your tour, so you're not riding home in wet swimming suits or hiking shorts on your bus ride back home. 

Check with your tour, but some snacks may be included or you may want to bring your own for a mid-day break. 

When Should I Visit?  

These tours are open year round, but water levels do change according to the season. In the dry season (November to April), water levels are lower and the river has a low current. The river is easy to navigate and some swimming sections are hike-able. In the rainy season (May to October), the river runs faster and you may run into some natural water slides created by the current in the canyon. Rarely, the area floods and tours are cancelled. 

Should I Day Trip Or Try This On A Weekend? 

The tour time can vary, but most tend to be 4-6 hours, plus you’ll need to factor in transportation time if you're trying to fit this into a day trip rather than a weekend option. It can be done (with private transportation or a tour pick-up) but makes for a long day.  Most groups tackle this adventure on a weekend, either stay in Esteli for part of their time or staying in the lodges and cabins near the canyon for a night to break up all of the bus time. If you'll be heading here from Granada, most ILP groups plan to head to Esteli on a Friday (arriving in the evening), then make the 2.5 hour bus ride to Somoto Saturday morning to make it to their tour time slot. Some head back to Esteli, or stay the night here and travel back on Sunday. 

Ready to experience Nicaragua? (Of course you are) 

ILP Volunteers have vacation days and weekends off to explore places like Somoto Canyon + about a dozen other places we love (like Nicaragua's Corn Islands or the glowing volcano in Masaya).  See what an ILP semester in Nicaragua is all about!

Topics: Central America

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