Trek Nicaragua

Teenage Cancer Trust Nicaragua Trek 04-12 Nov 2016

at a glance trip highlights ● Activity: Trekking ● Summit 4 Nicaraguan Volcanoes ● Location: Nicaragua, Central America ● Summit the Momotombo Volcano at sunrise ● Duration: 9 days / 5 days trekking ● Trekking through unspoilt rainforest ● Difficulty: Moderate ● Visit El Diablo National Park ● 2 night stay in an eco lodge ● A free day to enjoy activities with the local community.

We create world-class cancer services for young people in the UK, providing life-changing care and support so young people don’t have to face cancer alone. Around seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. They need expert treatment and support from the moment they hear the word ‘cancer.’ We’re the only charity dedicated to making this happen.

www.teenagecancertrust.org Trek Nicaragua

introduction This fully-inclusive adventure to Nicaragua will begin as soon as you register! You will 04th - 12th November 2016 receive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all the essentials you may need. On the day of departure you meet your group and Action Challenge leader at the airport in London. Whether you’re joining the challenge on your own or with others, you will instantly be made to feel welcome. As a team we will board Initial £299 deposit to sign up our flight to Managua in Nicaragua, ready to take on the Nicaraguan volcanoes and the Fundraising target of £3995. trekking adventure of a lifetime for Teenage Cancer Trust. brief itinerary For more information, please contact the challenges team at Teenage Cancer Trust Day 1 Arrive Nicaragua Day 5 Penas Blancas Massif [email protected] Day 2 Telica Volcano Day 6 Cerro Dantali - El Diablo NP Day 3 Cerro Negro & El Hoyo Volcanoes Day 7 La Bastilla Eco Lodge Day 4 Momotombo Volcano Day 8 Depart Nicaragua Day 9 Arrive UK what’s included ● International flights ● Action Challenge Representative ● Expedition Medic ● English-speaking local guides ● Local specialised guides ● All accommodation ● All meals, except in free time ● All participant and luggage transfers ● All National Park fees ● 3L of water provided daily ● All entrance fees as per the itinerary ● Tips for the local staff ● Invitation to a challenge briefing ● Fitness and training guide ● Discounts from UK retailers ● Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health

Why not stay on after the challenge and explore some more of Central America?

This is on a first come first served basis, so please get in touch if you would like to extend your trip: [email protected]

You will be trekking at the best time in Nicaragua as November is slightly cooler, around 31°C. Please also bring some warm clothes as the temperatures can seem to drop (22°C) at night as you have been trekking all day in the sunshine.

www.teenagecancertrust.org Trek Nicaragua

itinerary

Breakfasts each morning will be in camp DAY 1 - Nicaragua before setting off. Lunches will be en- route and delicious evening meals will be We have a day flight to Managua in Nicaragua. On arrival we transfer to our hotel in freshly prepared in camp or at your lodge. Leon for our first night in Nicaragua. Tonight we relax in our great hotel and have a good When you are not trekking, all meals will night’s sleep in preparation for our first challenge day. be at the hotel or a local restaurant, except in free time. Accom: Hotel All meals are full of carbohydrates, protein and nutrients to keep us well fuelled for DAY 2 - Telica Volcano our hikes. This morning we meet our team over breakfast for a comprehensive briefing on the challenge ahead. We transfer fifty minutes to the trailhead for the Telica volcano and We can cater for all dietary requirements from here trek through tropical forest past the steaming fumaroles to the active summit if informed in advance. crater. This is a great first trek as it introduces us to the views of the surrounding volcanoes. After some time at the summit crater we have lunch and then descend through dense vegetation and then across fields to our first overnight camp in the village of San Jacinto about 4 hours from the summit. Accommodation will be a mixture of ho- tels and camping. Meals: B, L, D Accom: Camping All accommodation is on a twin/triple- DAY 3 - Cerro Negro & El Hoyo Volcano share, single-sex basis and we will pair you with someone of a similar age, where Today our challenge gets tougher as we have two volcanic summits to conquer. Cerro possible. Negro at 726M is one of the youngest and most active volcanoes on earth. There are no trees or plants on its steep scree slopes so we have the advantage of uninterrupted If you wish to share a room with someone views from the summit of the Volcanoes that surround us and the Pacific Ocean. We you are travelling with, please specify this should be back at base for an early lunch, ready for a full afternoon on the El Hoyo on your registration form. Volcano 1088M. We hike along our trail to the summit, with great views of a unique volcanic landscape and on the descent we make our way to the ranger station between the volcanoes. This evening we have a camp-cooked meal under the stars and then retire for our second night under canvas. If you decide that you would like to have Meals: B,L,D Accom: Camping Trek time: 8 hours your own room on the challenge, we can accommodate this in the majority of DAY 4 - Momotombo Volcano places. We wake for a pre-dawn breakfast and mug of tea before setting off on our summit challenge. For the first hour we walk over the steep black volcanic surface, followed by two hours on the upper slopes of the volcano arriving at Momotombos’ summit in time for sunrise. This is the fifth tallest volcano in the country and its near perfect volcanic We will be walking for over 7 hours per day shape makes it the most impressive and recognisable volcano in Nicaragua. On our at temperatures ranging around 31 return to camp we transfer to the highlands of Jinotega on a route that passes stunning degrees Celsius. A good level of fitness countryside to the Carlos Augusto private reserve where we camp. will be necessary to deal with the temperatures whilst trekking and climbing Meals: B,L,D Accom: Camping Trek time: 7 hours the volcanoes.

www.teenagecancertrust.org Trek Nicaragua

DAY 5 - Penas Blancas Massif A kit list will be sent to you on receipt of After leaving camp we trek 2hrs to the Peñas Blancas Massif National Park, a large registration. Many everyday items can be mountain on the border of the Jinotega and Matagalpa districts. This is a stunning place used on this challenge, and we offer a kit that few have heard of and fewer still have visited, however its virgin rainforest, large hire service to keep costs down. waterfalls, superb viewpoints and rural communities are a wonderful addition to the challenge. Our trek today will push us much harder so after a traditional breakfast we start our climb through rainforest to the summit. After a packed lunch we descend via the great Rainbow waterfall where we stop for a swim and then continue to arrive at camp before sunset.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Camping Trek time: 7hrs

DAY 6 - Cerro Dantali - El Diablo NP For our final trekking day we continue to the community of Corinto all the way down to the bottom of the Gobiado Hill on rough gravel trails. Otherwise known as the ‘Devils path’ it leads us to the top of El Gobiado mountain and then down into the El Diablo National Park. This is the Dariense mountain range, with its tough trekking in the steep hills and valleys. As we get deeper into the forest we see the Matapalo and Date Palm trees along with a great variety of birds species including the quetzal and bell bird, along ● Insurance with flocks of howler monkeys. We eventually arrive at the Bastilla Eco Lodge, in the ● Vaccinations - up-to-date on boosters heart of the mountains, to be welcomed by our team and where we can finally relax after ● Spending money our 5 day trek.

Meals: B, L, D Accom: Eco Lodge Trek time: 7hrs ATOL is a scheme that protects you from DAY 7 - La Bastilla Eco Lodge losing money or being stranded abroad if your travel company collapses. Action Today we have a full free day at La Bastilla Eco Lodge where we can join in the activities Challenge is 100% ATOL bonded, which of the local communities. Tonight we enjoy a celebratory meal to mark the end of an provides you with full financial protection. incredible challenge. On receipt of your registration fee, you will receive an ATOL certificate explaining Meals: B, D Accom: Eco Lodge your protection.

DAY 8 - Transfer to the airport how to book This morning we transfer to Managua airport for our overnight return flight to the UK. To book on to this challenge, please Meals: B, L, D Accom: in flight contact Teenage Cancer Trust:

[email protected] DAY 9 - Arrive in London 020 7612 0370

Event Organiser, Action Challenge, have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life.