A diamond in the rough, Nicaragua has long remained a hidden gem with big rewards for those who take the time to fully explore it. Best known for a distinctive landscape dotted with lakes and volcanoes, those who venture to this beautiful corner of Central America will also find unspoiled cloud forests, serene Pacific beaches, coffee plantations, charming colonial cities and tranquil islands as well!
Beginning in the cool mountainous highlands of Matagalpa, we will visit the lush, green cloud forests of the coffee-growing region from a stunning private farm. Next, a short stay in the cultural capital of the country, the renowned colonial city of Granada, where we will tackle Mombacho - our first volcano ascent and explore the trails on its forest-cloaked slopes. Then, we’ll head to the mystical volcanic island of Isla de Ometepe for the main event - a hike to the summit of Concepcion, a spectacular (and very active) volcano that dominates the surrounding landscape. Well-earned recovery will take place amongst the swaying palms and hammocks at our lakefront retreat.
And of course, no trip to Nica would be complete without a visit to the Pacific coast: we’ll cap off the adventure with a treetop resort, a few final miles and a sunset catamaran cruise that you’ll never forget.
About
Gallery
About The Host
Each person on our small, multinational team brings a unique set of running abilities, travel experience, and guiding expertise to the table, but something that we all have in common is an addiction to exploration, a borderline obsession with running, and a love of helping others experience the world in this very unique way. Our guides are certified Wilderness First Responders, practice Leave No Trace principles, and have guided well over 200 running trips combined. When you join a trip you’ll be traveling, running, and exploring with at least one (if not 2 or 3) of us.
Itinerary
Things to keep in mind
FAQ
Why here?
An exotic, tropical location packed with adventure and scenery, but just a short flight from the US! Nicaragua packs quite a punch, crams a lot of natural diversity into a small geographic area and is generally overlooked by the mass tourism market, making it perfect for our style of travel. Our great local connections and wealth of insider knowledge will enable you to discover this off the beaten path gem the best way possible!
What’s included in the trip cost?
The trip price includes pre-trip communication & guidance, airport transfers, 7 nights accommodation, all meals from lunch on the first day until breakfast on the final day, transportation, drivers, experienced trip leaders, local logistics team, 6 organized runs and hikes, a grand finale private catamaran cruise and Rogue Expeditions swag. In short, just about everything is covered from the moment you land until the moment you leave!
What isn’t included in the trip cost?
The cost does not include flight, alcohol, tips or personal purchases.
How far do I have to be able to run?
All routes are adjustable in terms of distance and plans will be tweaked according to the ability mix of the group. Daily maximums are listed on the itinerary and there is no time or pace pressure. We will take it day by day and clearly explain each run as they come along so you can adjust to suit your needs!
Keep in mind that many people end up running quite a bit more during our trips than they would at home - when running is your only responsibility for the day, you'll be amazed at how much more you can do!
There are a couple of group hikes built into this trip. Exploration of Nicaragua’s amazing volcanoes is a must, and a group hike is the way to do this - these are not runnable trails and will be challenging for everyone. So, while the overall mileage is lower than what you may see on our other trips, don’t worry - you will finish the week happily and completely exhausted!
What sort of terrain will we be running on?
Most runs will feature a mix of single track trails, often very technical especially in forested areas, dirt roads, some paved road and a little bit of beach.
The volcano hike on Concepcion - the highlight of the week! - is quite technical and very steep. Those who make it all the way up will log 4500 ft / 1400 m of gain in just 2.5 mi / 4km (and then the same back down, of course)! Expect this to be a very full, very challenging day; we encourage everyone to prepare for this as best they can, though there will be several opportunities to turn back for anyone who feels too far out of their comfort zone.
What time of day will we be running?
Typically temperatures are in the 80Fs (mid 20Cs) in the middle of the day so we aim to begin all runs soon after breakfast. Nicaragua has an early rise culture and you’re likely to quickly fall in sync with it, rising at 6am or earlier with the calls of the resident howler monkeys.
What will we do when we aren’t running or hiking?
There are lots of additional activities packed into this one including a coffee farm tour to learn about growing and harvesting the world's favorite drink, exploring a beautiful colonial city, checking out innovative organic farms, swimming in a crater lake, taking the time to enjoy the sunsets and of course, our grand finale catamaran cruise along the Emerald Coast.
Can my non-runner spouse/friend come too?
It’s possible, as long as they understand that each day is primarily scheduled around that day’s run or hike and that our guides won’t be able to arrange alternate activities for them. We suggest contacting us prior to registration to see if it’s a good fit.