The cloud forest
Moss and mist at the top.
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Mombacho is a stratovolcano near Granada, 1,344 metres high, overlooking the city and Lake Nicaragua. Its top holds a nature reserve of cloud forest and dwarf forest, with plants and animals found nowhere else, and it is one of the finest nature trips close to the city and far cooler than the land below. Its last eruption was in 1570, and nothing is known of earlier ones. Studies say part of its slope collapsed long ago into the lake, forming Las Isletas and the Asese peninsula. It is one of 78 protected areas in Nicaragua. More than 700 plant species are recorded around it, including many orchids. The reserve has two trails: a moderate one around the main crater, and the harder El Puma, which must be led by a guide and is the only way to the dwarf forest. It runs about three km on steep slopes. The forest has trees covered in moss and mist, and on clear days you see Granada, the lake and the islets below. The reserve is 12.1 km in a straight line south of Granada. Mist and damp are common at the top, so bring a light jacket and sturdy shoes even on hot days. For El Puma, book a guide before setting out. Keep to the trails, do not pick orchids, and ask about entry times and transport to the top before you go.
Moss and mist at the top.
A moderate loop around the crater.
Steep slopes to the dwarf forest.
Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve, south of Granada
Yes for El Puma, while the crater trail is moderate.
Its last known eruption was in 1570.