Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve
Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve
Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve
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Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
31 reviews
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BEMA4EVER
Miami, FL112 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
Amazing experience worth every penny and more. We got there late to hike to the top of the volcano, but had enough time to do the lower canopy. The guides were amazingly friendly and helpful. Looking forward to next time.
Written 1 October 2021
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.
AbqErica
Albuquerque, NM110 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
We visited Mombacho Volcano in July 2016. The cost was $20US per person over age 11. The steep truck ride to the top takes about 30 minutes. For $12 per group you can hire a guide for the 90 minute loop around the top of the volcano. We went without a guide.
The hike is moderate and the trails are immaculately maintained with cut tree stumps to provide steps and traction. If you have issues with your knees, hips or mobility, I would not recommend this walk. It is suitable for those with even moderate fitness and can be safely transversed with a little one in a backpack-style carrier. Kids about six and older could go independently. No strollers!
The volcano is in a cloud forest so expect we slopes. My Teva sandals were perfect. Sneakers may get wet. Views have the potential to be spectacular, but are subject to the weather.
We saw howler monkeys and a few other critters. If you take your time to really observe the environment, the flora and fauna are spectacular and teeming with life.
At the top is a small snack bar. It wouldn't hurt to pack your own water and small snack, especially if you are traveling on a budget. I was a bit envious of a couple who thought ahead and enjoyed a picnic lunch atop Mombacho.
The ride down is just as steep as the ride up. Hold on tight! There is a short stop at a coffee plantation in the way down where you can sample and purchase coffee. The same coffee is for sale in Granada at La Union (WalMart chain) for $2 less per pound.
Rudimentary bathrooms are available at the top, bottom, and at the midway stops. Toilet paper was provided but hand soap was not. When traveling Nica it's always best to travel with a few extra tissues, baby wipes, and insect repellent!
The hike is moderate and the trails are immaculately maintained with cut tree stumps to provide steps and traction. If you have issues with your knees, hips or mobility, I would not recommend this walk. It is suitable for those with even moderate fitness and can be safely transversed with a little one in a backpack-style carrier. Kids about six and older could go independently. No strollers!
The volcano is in a cloud forest so expect we slopes. My Teva sandals were perfect. Sneakers may get wet. Views have the potential to be spectacular, but are subject to the weather.
We saw howler monkeys and a few other critters. If you take your time to really observe the environment, the flora and fauna are spectacular and teeming with life.
At the top is a small snack bar. It wouldn't hurt to pack your own water and small snack, especially if you are traveling on a budget. I was a bit envious of a couple who thought ahead and enjoyed a picnic lunch atop Mombacho.
The ride down is just as steep as the ride up. Hold on tight! There is a short stop at a coffee plantation in the way down where you can sample and purchase coffee. The same coffee is for sale in Granada at La Union (WalMart chain) for $2 less per pound.
Rudimentary bathrooms are available at the top, bottom, and at the midway stops. Toilet paper was provided but hand soap was not. When traveling Nica it's always best to travel with a few extra tissues, baby wipes, and insect repellent!
Written 3 July 2016
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.
Erika E
6 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
If you're planning on going to Mombacho, I highly recommend booking a tour with El Tigre (Harold). He is a great guide who knows a lot about the native plants and wildlife. The hike was beautiful and it was fun learning about what we were seeing. After the hike, we got to taste their shade grown coffee and buy a couple bags to take home. We had a great time!
Written 19 June 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.
JoAnne M
Nashville, TN136 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
We had 9 people in our group and hired a minibus to take up out to the Reserve. They would not let the van drive us up but charged us $20 EACH (plus $2 each to walk on a trail) to get into a pick-up truck (yes, all 9 in one truck) where they drove us to the restaurant parking lot. Then we got into an open air bus for the rest of the ride up to the trails and museum. The museum is very minimal but we were instructed on how to follow the trails so as not to get lost. We took the shorter trail that went around the crater. The trail was very well maintained and there were a number of beautiful views. I was disappointed that we saw no wildlife and no fumaroles. We went back to the restaurant parking lot where we were told to get out and wait for another truck to get back down. We waited and waited. Everytime we asked the guy said the truck is coming. We waited for well over a half hour and several of us were considering just walking down. Finally, it arrived. It's too bad, it was a nice little hike but definitely not worth $120 and half a day.
Written 20 January 2024
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.
robjustrob
Calgary, Canada1,934 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
the tourist center at the base is awesome and has great info, but the volcano at the top is lacking in that sort of thing. overall the reserve is pretty remarkable and the volcano pretty amazing. we definitely stayed longer than the recommended time which is the advantage to going on your own and not with a tour bus.
Written 10 March 2018
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.
Judy J
Sedona, AZ25 contributions
Feb 2018
We took a taxi from our hotel to the entrance of the park then we rode the park's 4 wheel drive truck up the steep mountain road to the Mombacho guide and science center. Our guide Estella was so funny and full of scientific-historical information about the old volcano. We took the 2 hour hike which was very strenuous,( I'm 66) but do-able. Some portions of the path were steeper than 45 degrees, with rope to pull a hiker up. The work to the top was well worth it , we could see the 365 Islets of Granada in the Lago Cocibolca and the Apoyo Lagoon from a clear view. All of these beautiful formations were the result of an explosion of the very Mombacho volcano 20.000 years ago. We could see Granada and the smaller towns like Masaya from afar. Very unforgettable experience !
although the truck ride was $20 it was worth it. We could save our energy for the hike to the top for a better view.
although the truck ride was $20 it was worth it. We could save our energy for the hike to the top for a better view.
Written 4 March 2018
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.
Vacatn-dreamer
Portland, OR154 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
A hike on a volcano in a cloud rainforest is an amazing experience. You can walk up a long long long very steep paved road to get there or take a truck up. Mombacho: $22 for entrance & ride to top, at the top $4 for a bracelet to enter Mombacho hikes. You have 3 options: A short 1 hour easy hike good for families & or wanting less active. Or for a longer 2 1/2 hour hike of the short loop & bit of the Puma trail (there are some fairly steep parts where holding onto a rope hand rail is advised or option 3 which is part of the short loop & the whole Puma trail for 3 1/2. Options 2 & 3 require a guide (available at the upper check-in building) which is $17 additional (per group & no more 10 per group) The pictures posted are from the 2 1/2 hr hike. Our guide Kelton Farid Sirias was excellent - very knowledgeable & back at the building he showed us the collected butterflies, insects, spiders & snakes.
Written 21 January 2018
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.
clpayne
Missouri City, TX1,674 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
Spent an afternoon hiking on Mombacho Volcano. Puma Trail was unfortunately still closed due to Hurricane Nate AND they are expanding the trail from a 4 hr to 4.5+ hr hike. We instead did the Tigerello (sp?) trail. Requires a guide which I think was $17 for 2 people. Guide spoke near perfect English so was impressed. Trail was only 2 hrs.
Bus ride to the top plus park entrance fees for 2 people was nearly $50. Made for somewhat of an expensive day for only a 2 hr hike. Some hike to the top and back down and only pay a small park entrance fee. I’m in good shape (marathon runner) and wouldn’t dream of doing that!!!! We stayed at Mombacho Lodge on the volcano for 5 nts and hiked just from the lodge to the base and that was a heck of a workout. No way I’d do the entire trek up and back!
Cafe Flores is part way up. We stopped off there to look around but wasn’t much too see in our opinion. Good place to use their WiFi though.
We also did the Miraveille (sp) zip lining on Mombacho. OMG! Well worth doing. We have zipped in 8 countries and while they were not the longest or highest we have ever done they were the most fun based on what you got to do. Not to mention only $25!!!!!
If you want to hike Mombacho I would recommend staying at Mombacho Lodge and hiking around this property.
Bus ride to the top plus park entrance fees for 2 people was nearly $50. Made for somewhat of an expensive day for only a 2 hr hike. Some hike to the top and back down and only pay a small park entrance fee. I’m in good shape (marathon runner) and wouldn’t dream of doing that!!!! We stayed at Mombacho Lodge on the volcano for 5 nts and hiked just from the lodge to the base and that was a heck of a workout. No way I’d do the entire trek up and back!
Cafe Flores is part way up. We stopped off there to look around but wasn’t much too see in our opinion. Good place to use their WiFi though.
We also did the Miraveille (sp) zip lining on Mombacho. OMG! Well worth doing. We have zipped in 8 countries and while they were not the longest or highest we have ever done they were the most fun based on what you got to do. Not to mention only $25!!!!!
If you want to hike Mombacho I would recommend staying at Mombacho Lodge and hiking around this property.
Written 1 November 2017
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.
Tara K
london via thailand and australia30 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
Just come back from an over priced volcano trip that was a massive disappointment for us all so wanted to share with other families with kids under 14. Firstly I will start by saying do not attempt to walk up to the crater from the bottom car park unless you have extremely fit and eager kids - something they don't explain to you at the poorly run entrance where they charge you a fortune to either enter the area on foot - not for the faint hearted- or pay an even larger figure to be ferried up on a sporadically timed Bone shaking bus. Don't get me wrong the views are lovely and the crater and cloud forest are nice but to charge a family $60+ dollars (see photo of all the charges that we've posted up) and offer no information on arrival , no clear timings, extra charges to go on the main walks once at the top (as you are not permitted without a guide) leaves you feeling wripped off and unimpressed. To add to the bad experience they make you wait up to an hour for the $20 bone shaker bus but fail to make you aware of this until you get so fed up you have to enquirer what's going on. If westerns are charged such ridiculously high prices (as always there's a two tier price system here) then surely you should offer a service worthy of the price paid? Clear Information written in English for foreigners at the base car park would be a good start. Nicaraguan tourist industry has a lot to learn.
Written 16 April 2017
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.
We feel that your experience is not as expected, we will do our best to improve. Take into account that Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve is a place to make trails and it is divided into three paths: Crater, the shortest and easiest; Tigrillo, moderate difficulty and Puma with a high difficulty. Everything since you sign in is hiking and this does not necessarily have to be simple.
Written 21 February 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
msa23_2000
Chino Hills, CA1,455 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
I’m went here as part of the tour. You go to a spot then the road is closed to their tour vehicles. It was super cloudy so the views did not exist, but you can’t control the weather, you can only control your attitude. Our guide gave us lots of interesting information about the animals and the trees. It’s about an hour walk around the crater. The walk was pretty easy, had lots of steps so you need to be able to manage that.
Written 21 July 2024
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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