Tours and Tickets
Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica
4.5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica

By Native's Way
Recommended by 93% of travelers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
Visit Nicaragua with the security and convenience of a group tour on a day trip from Costa Rica. By traveling with a driver and guide, first-time visitors to Nicaragua can see the country's southern highlights without the hassle of navigating the border crossing or public transportation. Plus, with all the logistics covered in advance, you can squeeze in a boat ride, shopping, and wildlife viewing all in one day.
from
$230.00
per adult (price varies by group size)
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 15h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More

Highlights
  • See the highlights of Nicaragua on a day trip from Costa Rica
  • A separate driver and guide ensure both can give each task their full attention
  • Enjoy a cruise across Lake Nicaragua and visit Monkey Island
  • The comprehensive tour includes door-to-door transportation and lunch

  • Bottled water
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Hotel, Condo, or House pickup and drop-off
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • National Park fees
  • Entry/Admission - Masaya Volcano National Park
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Andaz, Four Seasons, Planet Hollywood - $50 transport fee per booking, not per person


Departure details
  • Traveler pickup is offered.
  • JW Marriott, Tamarindo, Langosta, Grande, Conchal, Flamingo, RIU Guanacaste/Palace, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa (Occidental, Villas Sol, Condovac), Playa Panama (Secrets Papagayo, Mangroove), Dreams Las Mareas and for an additional $50 fee: Fours Seasons, Andaz, Planet Hollywood
  • JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, Hacienda Pinilla, Provincia de Guanacaste, Guanacaste, 50309, Costa Rica 4:00 am
  • Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Tamarindo/Langosta - 4:30 am
  • Playa Conchal, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Conchal - 4:45 am
  • Provincia de Guanacaste, Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Flamingo - 4:30 am
  • Guanacaste Province, Las Catalinas, Costa Rica Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Catalinas - 4:30 am
  • Playa Grande, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Grande - 4:30 am
  • Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica, Playa Matapalo, Carrillo, Guanacaste Province, Sardinal, Costa Rica RIU Guanacaste/Palace 5:00 am (Main gate, NOT Lobby) - please bring copy of passport
  • Playas del Coco, Provincia de Guanacaste, Coco, Costa Rica Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Coco - 5:20 am
  • Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province, Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica Hotels (Villas Sol, Condovac, Secrets Papagayo, Occidental Papagayo, Mangroove) & other Hotels, Condos, and Private Houses in Hermosa - 5:30 am
  • Playa Panama, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica Hotels (Villas Sol, Condovac, Secrets Papagayo, Occidental Papagayo, Mangroove), Condos, and Private Houses in Playa Panama - 5:30 am
  • Andaz Costa Rica Resort At Peninsula Papagayo - a Concept by Hyatt, Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste Province, Papagayo Peninsula, 50104, Costa Rica Andaz, Four Seasons, Planet Hollywood - 5:00 am ($50 transport fee per booking, not per person)
  • Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica, Playa El Jobo La Cruz De Guanacaste El Jobo La Cruz, de Guanacaste, Guanacaste Province, Providence, 51001, Costa Rica 6:00 am
  • Guanacaste Province, Liberia, Costa Rica Hotels and Peri Supermarket at main Liberia Intersection - 5:45 am
  • Papagayo Peninsula, Guanacaste Province, Liberia, Costa Rica Andaz, Four Seasons, Planet Hollywood - $50 transportation fee per booking not per person. Billed separately
  • Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17279P6

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants. Please bring your passport on the day of your tour
  • Entry to Nicaragua: Send photo of passport to info@nativesway.com or WhatsApp
  • Your departure Ticket that proof of flight out of Costa Rica
  • Most travelers can participate
  • If your hotel is not listed, contact us for quoting
  • It is prohibited to enter the country of Nicaragua with the following items: all kinds of Drones, all kinds of Binoculars, including those for Night vision, and any object considered for professional, journalistic, and similar audiovisual reproduction.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Which attractions will I visit with Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica?
How much is Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica?
Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica price starts from $230.00. Discover and book Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica on Tripadvisor
What is the Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica cancellation policy?
Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica?
Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica is hosted by Native's Way. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Native's Way on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica on Tripadvisor

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17279P6

Reserve your spot

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • You’ll have 14 starting options
    Or, you can also get picked up
    See departure details
  • Pass by
    Pinilla
    Tamarindo
    Playa Langosta
    Tamarindo
  • 1
    Native's Way
    Stop: 3 hours
    See details
    Pass by
    Playa Conchal
    Playa Flamingo
    Playa Hermosa
    Playas del Coco
    Liberia
  • 2
    Mirador de Catarina
    Stop: 60 minutes
    See details
  • 3
    Masaya Crafts Market
    Stop: 60 minutes
    See details
  • 4
    Masaya Volcano National Park
    Stop: 30 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • 5
    Catedral de Granada
    Stop: 2 hours
    See details
  • 6
    Las Isletas
    Stop: 60 minutes
    See details
  • You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
Native's Way
2,427
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Joined in February 2013

#28 of 171 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Tamarindo
  • jonh388
    jonh388
    0
    0
    Rafting was great fun.
    Ok so this was a last minute booking and we drove 2 hours to get to the shop (and then another 45 to get to the rafting site). It was worth every minute!! Our guide was Oswaldo. He was great. He does show love by throwing a helmet of water on you, but his enthusiasm for the river and rafting is catching. We did more high 5's (and "get downs") than any other boat on the river. He has a keen eye and we saw very large iguanas and even one sloth. Lots of birds and that's not mentioning the fun we had doing the actual rafting. Highly recommend. The lunch was so-so (our boiled potatoes were still crunchy), but that's not why we made the effort to do the rafting. Never felt unsafe. If you can walk up a flight of stairs without difficulty, you can do this trip. When we go back, we will do this adventure again. Well worth it.
  • amycw83
    amycw83
    0
    0
    Fun but hard work
    My sister and I booked this trip to do some snorkeling and try kayaking for the first time. Our guide was lovely, giving us clear instruction and staying with us. He was a very competent swimmer and sought out a puffer fish for us to see. He did also find a little shark but it was a bit too far away from the island and the water was choppy so I decided not to follow him. This trip requires quite a bit of strength. Going out was hard but ok, coming back we were battling against the wind and it was really tough. We are generally quite fit. So just be mindful of your swimming and strength abilities. Would probably be easier on less windy days but apparently that level of wind is quite common.
  • laurenrB7355KT
    laurenrB7355KT
    0
    0
    Great experience
    Definitely worth the money and great if you don’t want a tour that is far from Tamarindo. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we saw a lot of animals including monkeys and crocodiles!
  • redleafw2022
    redleafw2022
    0
    0
    Fun adventure, not for the winpy
    Had a great time, most of the time. Zip lining was great with awesome views, horseback riding was good, a little tame but the river tubing was anything but tame, could have used a practice session before going into category 3+ rapids, but the staff knows what they are doing. Lunch and mud bath/hot springs were the relaxation needed at the end.
  • LLWWood
    LLWWood
    0
    0
    Perfect introduction to Costa Rica
    Highly professional tour guide, very relaxing tour. We saw a crocodile, lots of birds and howler monkeys. There was shade and water and pineapple provided. Nothing was too much trouble on this value for money tour.
  • Expedition784588
    Expedition784588
    0
    0
    Turtle Nesting
    Turtle nesting tour success in seeing nesting, never a guarantee. Rough ride to beach. Dark walk to site. Large group from Native's Way and two other groups made a crowd, but that is the way it is.
  • imadulk
    imadulk
    0
    0
    So much green, so many cool creatures
    Such a great time, you gotta do this! We paid extra to get picked up from the Andaz Papagayo - a separate driver got us from the hotel and dropped us off at El Jardin restaurant to start our day and meetup with the group. We saw two amazing waterfalls, countless creatures we've never encountered before, and had a fun time enjoying nature. Highly recommended
  • islandgirl2232
    islandgirl2232
    0
    0
    Relaxing and informative tour!
    Went on the Estuary tour. Saw a variety of birds , crocs and monkies! A lovely morning cruising around. Our guide was super friendly and ready and willing to answer any questions we had! Very nice tour!
  • Pierre756
    Pierre756
    0
    0
    Great waterfall experience!
    Excellent experience. Our guide, Noel, was knowledgeable, kind and funny. This was also a fantastic reprieve from the heat as we spent a great deal of time in refreshing, clear, clean waters near the falls.
  • leilamB682AE
    leilamB682AE
    0
    0
    Best Tour Guide
    Thank you Verny!!!! Our tour guide driver was the BEST!!! He made our day such an adventure with his vibrant personality. Love his passion for his country, culture and eco system. Pura Vida!! The river boat tour was beautiful and we even saw a crocodile!! Tamarindo beach was spectacular with a yummy lunch at the beachside restaurant. Wandering the local shops I felt very safe and found a few souvenir gems. Thank you again Verny for an amazing family adventure. From the Belous family Cheers Verny!!! Till next time Pura Vida!
  • Adele E
    Adele E
    0
    0
    Best day ever!!!
    Best adventure day we have been booked. Our guides were super friendly & on time. Made the whole day seamless. Keeping all our belongings safe on the bus. The river tubing was wild, better than expected and there were guides all along the way with our group! Super efficient, clean & friendly adventure center. Would definitely recommend this day of horseback riding, tubing, zip lining & ending with the hot springs was amazing!! Thank you to all who kept us safe & helped us have fun.
  • J T
    J T
    0
    0
    Great day on the water
    Great day on the water with Chute and his two person crew. They were very accomodating with drinks, lunch, great music, while keeping safety a priority throughout the trip. On the return trip we got closer to the cliffs for a great view of the ocean waves breaking on the rocks. It was also perfectly timed for a great view of the sunset. Plenty of time for swimming while anchored in a beautiful cove. Fun friendly crew.
  • 50JustinC
    50JustinC
    0
    0
    Great experience for the family!
    It's was an amazing experience! We got the opportunity to witness a mother laying her eggs! It was a special moment!!
  • Extraordinary768914
    Extraordinary768914
    0
    0
    An amazing day full of activities!
    This was the highlight excursion of our trip! Everyone was so friendly and happy to see you! They took safety to heart, yet still such an exciting adventure! I suggest this fun-filled day to anyone going to the area! So many fun activities in one day, we were exhausted by the days end and have amazing memories with the family!
  • jeanette_hong
    jeanette_hong
    0
    0
    Best combo tour, worth every penny
    Best bang for your buck. So glad I did this tour. Each activity took about 45 mins , transportation in between. Was a jam packed and efficiently run day.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
172 reviews
Excellent
143
Very good
17
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
5

Shawn Kz
Toronto, Canada27 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
The most important reason that we took this tour was seeing the active Masaya volcano which was closed for some stupid tight rope walk over the molten lava. The closure wasn’t only for a day or a week. They have a announcement a plenty time before. But unfortunately the tour company (Native’s Way) never mentioned that even I called them for more information. It was a big disappointment when we have been told that we can’t see the active volcano after paying 180 usd per person and driving like 4 hours each way. Also The driver drove crazy (from the other side of road for like 10 kilometres before the Nicaragua border. Because like hundreds of trucks were lined up at the border and he decided to pass all which was very dangerous. The 3 star is only for Edwardo our great tour leader and chocolate factory.
Not worth it if you don’t visit the active volcano
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

asburyangela
Louisville, KY19 contributions
Jan 2020
Everyone on our bus loved it! Tour guides were super informative and knowledgable. They took excellent care of us- We had 2 really big groups from Hoegemeyer Hybrids that were there the last week of January. They helped us get across the boarder, took us to breakfast and then split us up into groups to tour Granada and Lake Nicaragua. After a lunch we switched and toured Masaya Volcano and went to visit the Masaya Market. It was an excellent day and was the highlight of our trip!
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

troycesolley
Lillington, NC36 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
The main objective for me was seeing Masya. The massive crater did not disappoint. Absolutely amazing to stand so close to the opening. The pictures are a little misleading. Their is currently no molten lava in the caldera. We new this from research before booking. The stop at the dormant volcano crater was awe inspiring as well. Beautiful view. Our tour guide David immediately noticed our group was not interested in spending time in the markets so he came up with alternatives. The carriage ride in Granada was a good add on for us. The guide gave us a brief history of the city and lots of facts on life there. The chocolate factory tour was underwhelming but the staff was very nice and did their best. The boat ride around a portion of lake Nicaragua was fun. Some reviewers have complained about feeling rushed during the tour and the length of the day. I think the operators did a really good job of showing us a lot in a little amount of time. We covered A LOT of ground in one day and navigated two border crossings. I highly recommend this tour to those that don’t mind traveling at a fast past and want to see a little bit of a country that is developing.
Written June 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lidia
1 contribution
Jan 2020
Pick up was on time from Playa del Coco in Guanacaste. Crossing the border with our guide (Nicaraguan lady) was very smooth. The guide was really cool and very engaged. She even sang for us! It was awesome to see and experience everything what was prepared for us: boat tour on the lake, meetings with birds and monkeys, active Masaya Volcano with real lava, colorful Granada city, Tabacco Factory, Museum of Chocolate (crazy and full of energy guide welcomed as there :)), Catarina city with the view on Laguna de Apoyo, tasty breakfast and lunch, friendly Nicaraguans! A lot of driving but we were prepared for that. It was communicated in the offer. For me, seeing everyday life of Nicaraguans from a bus window was very interesting as well. Native’s Way, thank you for this experiance! I recommend this trip!!!
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

romadaro
Washington DC, DC1,567 contributions
Jul 2023
One of the best and most organized tours I’ve ever taken. Never thought about going to Nicaragua or how incredibly beautiful it is, which is one of the reasons I’m glad we went. Guia was our guide and he was well versed on Nicaraguan culture, traditions and it’s’ people which he shared throughout the day. Both the active volcano and the dormant crater filled with water are must sees and the highlight of the trip with the boat ride at the end being the perfect compliment to what was an outstanding day.

The tour included breakfast, which wasn’t anything special, but the restaurant was on the beach, which was a great way to start the day. Lunch was also included and was extremely delicious. You’ll also enjoy the stop at the chocolate and cocoa facility, whose employees put on quite a performance to educate and entice you to buy. Believe me, it works! I think everyone in our group bought chocolate or cocoa to take home!

The only stressful part of the day was at the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua because of the lines and mass of people at both passport control offices, but Guia did a great job of trying to get us through quickly. Overall, it was just an extraordinary day and highly recommended.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

June M
Clonakilty, Ireland2 contributions
Sep 2022
Highly recommend - great opportunity to visit Nicaragua and experience some of its beautiful landscapes and the city of Granada - the trip on the lake to feed the monkeys was fun and a carriage ride around Granada was a relaxing way to take in the sights of the city. We also got to visit a chocolate factory and a cigar factory and get up close with an active volcano! Our guide Claudio was excellent and took great care of us all the way. Its a very long day (c. 15 hours) so be prepared to bring snacks and spend a lot of time in the bus between destinations - but well worth it!
Written September 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bailey
Frederick, MD13 contributions
This trip was one of my favorite things we did while staying Costa Rica. I’m the type of person that likes to do and see as much as possible while traveling. My mom and I booked this trip to get another passport stamp and see another country. It was beautiful!!!! We stopped at a family’s house and saw them making the pottery that you see everywhere and then they gave you an opportunity to purchase straight from them. Then we went to the crater where there was a small market to shop at. Next would have been the volcano but Nik Wallenda had just been there and they were still cleaning up his equipment. EXTREMELY disappointing because I love volcanos. So we headed to Granada for lunch and a horse carriage ride to explore the old churches and a quick stop at the cigar factory. One of the best part of the trip was the stop at the chocolate factory. Our guide was hilarious and had everyone very involved!! Then we take a short boat tour on the lake and pull up to feed the monkeys!!! It’s a very long day but so worth it. Crossing the boarder on foot was surely an experience for my mom and I.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephan B
San Diego, CA117 contributions
This was an amazing tour. I suspect the tour is very similar whomever you are using but I used a local tour company called Marvin Tours and was not disappointed. I left the hotel in Costa Rica 1/2 hour from Liberia around 5:00am to get to the border with Nicaragua at around 8:00am. Crossing the border with my guide alongside me took about 1 hour. First you need to get stamped at the Costa Rica border and cross a no-mans land area which takes about 5 minutes to get to the Nicaragua border control. It was a safe walk and my other guide waited for me on the other side. Please not that you need a complete Covid-19 vaccination schedule (electronic proof works) to cross Nicaragua. It was painless. Walking to Nicaragua on the other side felt a bit like crossing the US border to Mexico. My guide took me first to get breakfast by Lake Nicaragua where I go a chance to hold baby crocodiles who had been rescued; considering this is the largest lake in central America, the views were amazing. After this we went to visit active volcanoes and went to a market - this is an absolute must. From the market you get a 360 view of the lake the active volcanoes were impressive. After that we went to visit the old city of Granada which is so colorful and a got a chance to you the city by foot and by horse carriage. On the way back we went for a boat ride in an area that had multiple islands to visit and monkeys ;) This was majestic; included also was lunch at an old hacienda style restaurant followed by a visit of a chocolate factory and museum. After that we headed back to Costa Rica and got some great coffee on the way. I came back late in the evening in Costa Rica after a painless border crossing. It took 15 hours in total so it’s not for the faint of heart! Overall it was very safe especially being with a guide the whole time. I highly recommend this tour to anyone (solo, couples or families with older kids)
Written December 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Caroline S
Chicago10 contributions
Feb 2020
I would recommend this tour for all types of travelers of different ages. Part of the reason we took this tour was seeing the active Masaya volcano, which was closed for a televised event. Although, this was not mentioned to us before the tour started, our guide (who was fantastic), did find other activities to fill the time and I would still recommend the tour without it. The excursion streamlined the border crossing process and provided information about Nicaragua during our long drive. Overall, the trip is well worth the money.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike Schilling
3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
My wife and I just did the one day trip to Nicaragua. It was great in visiting an active volcano where you could see the magma made it even better!!!

The staff really made the trip. Jose and Ramiro made sure that we were picked up on time and took special care to make sure that my wife, who's pregnant, was looked out for. Eduardo made the tour one that was not only fun, but informative with his knowledge of the history of his country. trip itself makes for a long day, but you make so many short stops that the time passes quickly. Both places where we stopped to eat had great food and attentive staff.

A couple tips. Get a few Cordovas when you cross the border into Nicaragua from the guys that are exchanging money or make sure that you have US dollars since they won't take the Costa Rican Colones. They will tell you that you don't need them, but it will make things easier if you try to purchase some souvenirs. Come prepared to provide a small tip to the folks serving food and providing the transportation. It is super appreciated.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica provided by Native's Way

Product Overview: Full Day Nicaragua Tour from Costa Rica

Prices From

$230

Number of Reviews

170

Number of Photos

372

Duration

900 minutes