Nicaragua - Expeditions and Adventure Travel

Nicaragua - Kayaking the San Juan River, Various Dates - Download dossier

San Juan River - Nicaragua In the footsteps of Mark Twain
This epic river journey combines first class wilderness with rich history and more than a little adventure. We will paddle from the majestic Lake Nicaragua down the jungle lined San Juan River to deserted beaches on the Caribbean sea along a route once favoured by pirates and buccaneers with eyes for the gold of the Spanish colonial empire. On the way we will drift pass the impenetrable forest of the Indio Maiz reserve, one of the best preserved areas of tropical rainforest in the region. We will also visit charming riverside towns, historic ruins and hidden Caribbean lagoons. This unparalleled expedition takes you to the heart of this rarely visited part of Latin America	SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS Visit the spectacular Indio Maiz reserve, home to pumas, jaguars, tapirs, primates as well as fascinating plant life. Walk around the incongruous fortress of El Castillo that looms above the wildest rapids on the river. Paddle along the mighty San Juan river that offers some of the best bird watching on the continent. Visit the ruins of Old Greytown, a once prosperous British settlement in the Caribbean that has been reclaimed by the forest. Get to know Granada, a colonial gem backed by an impressive volcano
If you are after serious adventure, breathtaking wilderness, rich culture and history then our Rio San Juan expedition is tailor made for you. A challenging but relaxing journey down one of the great rivers of the Americas, this trip has it all. Our expert guides will show you how to perfect your technique in the canoes as well as point out the best ways to get close to nature in your boats, after which you will be ready to launch out into the phenomenal wilderness that forms a key component of the Mesoamerican biological corridor. In addition to diverse birdlife, monkeys, and crocodiles, we will see tiny frogs that indigenous tribes used to poison darts, walking trees and perhaps tapirs or some of the mighty felines that inhabit the area.
	However the natural wonders are just part of the attraction the area, the Rio San Juan was once one of the most important transport routes on the continent, linking the Caribbean and Pacific long before the Panama Canal was even conceived. The Spanish conquistadores used it to communicate with new world settlements on the isthmus, while pirates including William Dampier and Henry Morgan made numerous trips up river to sack the wealthy colonial city of Granada. During the gold rush, steamboats moved thousands of passengers up the river to make the onward journey by ship to California.
During the course of the expedition, we will visit the Spanish fortress at El Castillo. Built in 1675 to stop pirates reaching Lake Nicaragua, the fort over the rapids held firm for more than a century until a British expedition led by a young Horatio Nelson captured it in 1780. We will also explore the ruins of Old Greytown, once a thriving British colony that has since been taken over by thick jungle. And after five days of paddling, we will reach the Caribbean, where we will visit indigenous Rama villages, swim in mystic lagoons inhabited by manatees or relax on deserted beaches.

Dates & Prices -

This is a truly unique trip and as such we only run it as a group trip once a year. With a maximum of 10 participants, we do recommend early booking to guarantee your place on our next expedition

8th – 20th August 2011
12th – 24th September 2010
19th – 31st December 2010

The cost of this once in a lifetime expedition is £2650 and is based on a minimum of 4 people. This excludes international flights (Please see booking)..

We are also able to run this as a private trip for 2 or more people on a date to suit you (see itinerary for best times of year to travel), however a supplement will apply if less than 4 people.

Pioneer Expeditions have ATOL bonding (ATOL no: 10113) so if you prefer we can also book your international flights in addition to this adventure providing you with increased protection and convenience.

If you would like to join us on this expedition please download the dossier, register your interest by email or contact us for a booking form and general information.

Call our office for more details. +44 (0)845 0047 801

email: info@pioneerexpeditions.com

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