For this port, Princess didn’t offer a specific birding excursion, nor could I find anything independent so we went with a mainstream shore excursion that I thought might bring us into contact with birds incidentally. It visits the Masaya Market, Masaya Volcano and colonial city of Granada.
Your full-day, moderately active shopping and sightseeing excursion begins at the pier where you will board your comfortable, air-conditioned transportation and journey forth out of San Juan del Sur. Travel through the lush, tropical landscape as your knowledgeable guide points out areas of interest and regales you with the history of this exotic and mysterious country.
Visit the magical city of Masaya to explore its world renowned market. Nicknamed the “city of flowers” Masaya is the capital of Nicaraguan folklore and is known as the birthplace of the area’s best painters, singers, poets, artists and crafts people. So it’s only natural that is should be home to one of the largest crafts markets in Central America ? The Masaya Market! Shop, browse or even engage in some good-natured bargaining at the collection of shops and vendor stands that offer the very best value and quality in arts, crafts and culture. Among them: leather products, delicately embroidered clothing, wood carvings, Indian art and hand painted ceramics with traditional pre-Columbian designs.
Continue your journey to Masaya Volcano National Park. Established in 1979 this national park is a marvel of nature with its two towering volcanoes, lush forest and a crater lagoon. Your transportation will take you near the still active Masaya Volcano, once the object of veneration by indigenous peoples, for an up-close look at steaming fumaroles.
Take a break from your exploration to enjoy a complimentary buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Indulge in a traditional Nicaraguan meal that includes chicken medallions, sea bass, rice and beans, and dessert.
Step back in time as you visit the picturesque, colonial city of Granada, located in the shadow of the towering Mombacho Volcano on the shore of Lake Nicaragua (one of country’s largest freshwater lakes). Founded in 1524 by Spanish Conquistador Hernandez de Cordoba, Granada’s historic churches and convents have withstood the test of the centuries including invasions from English, Dutch and French pirates. Enjoy a delightful and informative guided tour of the grand Convent of San Francisco, now a museum housing an ample collection of pre-Columbian statues unearthed on local volcanic islands.
Stroll the Parque Central, the city’s social, cultural and economic hub, where local artisans and vendors offer their beautifully crafted products for sale. Take time to marvel at the timeless beauty and historic legacy that has been preserved in this amazing city prior to your scenic drive back to your Princess ship.
This port is served by tenders so you want to get down to the tender dock asap as they become crowded quickly. Usually people who book a ship’s excursion get priority.
The market proved to have lots of bird themed artworks and I bought several nice paintings and some feather art. The feathers are not from endangered species, most are from chickens or feathers found on the ground.
Next stop was the Masaya Volcano. Some people chose to climb to the top but I chose to let my lens do the walking.
We had lunch at a touristy restaurant but the food was still good.
After lunch we went to Granada had had a tour of the city and the convent-museum. There was a folk dance show in the main square that was pretty cool!
The last stop was on the lake so we could have a nice view of the volcano. I finally got to see some birds!
We then drove through the town of San Juan del Sur and took the tender back to the ship.
Watching the sun set as we sail away from San Juan del Sur. The big movie screen (MUTS) movies under the stars is where I watched the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
