How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Fantastic, and good with the kids

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Do not change money at the airport-dreadful exchange rate and US dollars are accepted everywhere. snorkelling on Corn island is more expensive ($30) than in the trip notes and not a lot to see

Do you have anything else to add?

Nicaragua is safe and wonderfully unspoilt.

Tour guide excellent accommodation in Ometepe unacceptable and you must change  Unclean, dirty linen, no hot water no A/c for a holiday with a high comfort rating  Breakfast on Corn Island also an issue   Overall a good holiday made special by the quality of the tour guide.  Program sterilised somewhat by the loss of the boarding and horse riding which was a shame, understand the safety issues but need to add in some other 'adventures' if it to be billed as 'Active' (FNI, July 2011)
Explore response: There is not a lot of choice of accommodation of the Explore standard in Ometepe, but we have taken note of the feedback we have received, and this will be changed, although unfortunately with some impact on the overall price of the trip.  Breakfasts in Central America are not usually included by hotels, but our agreement on Corn Island with the hotel is for a continental breakfast to be included – it is true that those who wish for extra items will need to pay for these.  We think there are quite a lot of active adventures as well as the cultural visits - hiking volcanoes, walking, kayaking, canopy trails, and biking, but we are currently discussing with our local agent what further active ingredients we might provide

Nicaragua is adventure travel at its very best. With so few tour groups around (especially family ones!) we were quite a novelty… and the local people throughout were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

One of the great highlights was playing football and volleyball with the local kids on beaches around Corn Island and during the school visit. I also got to read to the class of 4 year olds in Spanish, which very high pressure & led to much amusement!

Scree running down Cerro Negro volcano was a real hit (you need decent trainers/boots for this!), as was surfing the Pacific coast – the instructors got almost half the group standing! On that same beach we were so lucky to see an Olive Ridley Turtle lay her eggs, even though it was out of season.

Peering into the huge belching Masaya Volcano was quite an experience - the sulphur vapour was quite over-powering. Just as exciting was zip wiring down the lower slopes of the volcano through the coffee plantations.

Kayaking on Lake Nicaragua was another highlight, ending up on a secluded island near Granada for a typical lunch of lake fish, rice, beans, salad and a platter of tropical fruit. The food throughout the trip was far better than I’d expected, with excellent local seafood, fish and steaks - all great value too.

If I was going on this trip again, I’d take some cheap cricket stuff with me & endeavour to teach the local kids a new game! (FNI 11th April 2011)