Butterfly Trip to Nicaragua

[Jean Michel Maes]

Please answer to John Masters at
E-mail: John at ButterflyTrips.com

There are still 4 seats for a field trip to Nicaragua.
Goal : watching and collecting butterflies.

 
Schedule :
Day 1.  Thursday November  7.  Arrival to Managua 
Travel and arrival day, flights from US to Managua International Airport.  
Greeting at the Airport and transfer to the Best Western Las Mercedes Hotel, Managua.  
Night of lodging at the hotel. 
Day 2.  Friday November 8. Late arrival day and visit to Mombacho Volcano (Cloudforest) (B/L/D) 
Breakfast at hotel.  
For those unable to make connections to arrive yesterday, pick up at airport after overnight flight. 
Visit to the Volcano Mombacho. 
All day and evening to collect butterflies and moths or to photograph in the cloud forest.  
There is a beautiful overview of Lake Nicaragua from here. 
Lunch and Dinner provided.  
Lodging in simple accommodations at Volcano Mombacho. 
Day 3. Saturday November 9. Full day at the Mombacho Volcano Cloud Forest (B/L/D) 
Day and night butterfly collecting or photography.  
All meals provided.  
2nd night lodging in simple accommodations here. 
Day 4.  Sunday November 10. Transfer day to Solentiname (Tropical Dry Forest) (B/L/D) 
After breakfast at Mombacho, ground, flight and boat transfer to the Archipelago Solentiname in Lake Nicaragua. Afternoon for butterfly collecting or to explore Mancarron Island.  
Evening free or for moth collecting.  (Moth collecting has never been done here and the prospects are outstanding, electricity  is available for black lights).  
Lunch, dinner and overnight lodging in private rooms at the Mancarron-Solentiname Hotel. 
Day 5. Monday November 11.  Full day at Solentiname (Tropical Dry Forest) (B/L/D) 
Day and night for entomological or photographic pursuits.  
Opportunity to visit the native village "El Refugio" with the possibility or purchase or barter for some very nice art or handicrafts.  
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at the Mancarron-Solentiname Hotel. 
Day 6. Tuesday November 12.  Los Guatuzos Wildlife Reserve (Tropical Rain Forest) (B/L/D) 
Early in the morning and right after breakfast, we leave by boat to the Wildlife Reserve Los Guatuzos. 
Los Guatuzos is the only internationally registered tropical wetland area in Nicaragua (humid forest).  
Lots of opportunities to see wildlife on trip in. 
Monkeys and sloths plus a myriad of birds. 
Collection of butterflies or other insects during the remainder of the day and moths at night.  
The insects of Los Guatuzos have been extensively studied and documented. 
This is a very good area for butterflies.  
Giant Owl Butterflies, genus Caligo are especially abundant here and mostly active at dusk and dawn.  
There is also a butterfly breeding facility here.  
We will have special permission of the Nicaraguan government to collect, study and photograph the fauna and flora here.  
Overnight lodging in simple accommodation at the investigation center of the "Friends of the Earth", in the Los Guatuzos Reserve. 
Day 7. Wednesday November 13.  Los Guatuzos Wildlife Reserve (Tropical Rain Forest) (B/L/D). 
All day, evening and night for continuing the activities and studies of yesterday.  
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided and overnight once again at the investigation center of the "Friends of the Earth." 
Day 8. Thursday November 14.  Transfer to Managua and City Tour.  (B/L/D) 
After an early breakfast at Los Guatuzos, boat, flight and ground transfers to Managua.  
It is necessary to leave early before the water on Lake Nicaragua gets too rough.  
Check in to the Best Western Las Mercedes Hotel and the opportunity in the afternoon to take a Managua City Tour or to visit some special pottery factories.  
The hand made pottery in Nicaragua is very exquisite and special as well as being quite affordable.  
Or, you can spend the afternoon at leisure at the hotel with the opportunity to collect in the immediate vicinity.  
A farewell dinner at an old coffee plantation on a hill overlooking Managua 
Overnight lodging at the Best Western Las Mercedes Hotel. 
Day 9. Friday November 15.  Departure Day.  (B/-/-) 
Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer from the hotel to the International Airport.  
Flight back home to the United States. 
(Unless you are taking the optional extension to Selva Negra.) 

Optional Extension Tour 
Day 9.  Friday  November 15. Managua to Matagalpa Cloud Forest.  (B/L/D) 
After breakfast at the Best Western Hotel, transfer with air-conditioned minivan to the Selva Negra Hotel in Matagalpa to the north of Managua.  
Afternoon, evening and night for entomological collecting or photography. 
Lunch, dinner and nights lodging at the Selva Negra Hotel.   
Day 10.  Saturday November 16. Matagalpa Cloud Forest (B/L/D) 
All day to collect butterflies, or other insects, in the surrounding cloud forest region. 
Evening and night at the Selva Negra Hotel where black lighting for moths can be quite exceptional.  
Meals and lodging at the Selva Negra Hotel. 
Day 11. Sunday  November 17. Matagalpa back to Managua (B/L/D) 
The full morning and early afternoon to continue activities and studies in the cloud forests around Selva Negra.  Breakfast and lunch at Selva Negra and in the afternoon ride back to Managua in an air-conditioned minivan. 
Dinner and night of lodging at Managua at the Best Western Las Mercedes. 
Day 12. Monday  November 18.  Departure Day.  (B/-/-) 
Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the International Airport. 
Flight home to the United States. 

Travel Quest/Butterfly Trips 
26503 Hillsfall Court 
Newhall, CA 91321        
E-mail: John at ButterflyTrips.com       
Phone: 661-251-2811 Fax: 661-251-1840 
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