Volcán Mombacho Biological Center

Located at the base of one of Mombacho [1]’s 14 communications antennas, on a small plateau called Plan de las Flores at 1,150 meters, the research station is also an interpretive center, hospedaje, cafetín, ranger station, and conference center, technically completed in 2000 but still expanding.

Find drinks and snacks here, including a simple meal for $3.50. As of press time, there are 10 dormitory beds in a loft above the interpretive center. It costs $25 to rent out the whole albergue (hostel), which sleeps up to 10 people. The package deal includes dinner, a guided night hike (on which you can search for the famous red-eyed frog and Mombacho salamander), and breakfast; or pitch a tent for $15 and buy meals on the side.

To make a reservation, contact the Biological Station (tel. 505/2248-8234/35 or 505/2552-5858); or contact Fundación Cocibolca in Managua [2] (tel. 505/2278-3224 or 505/2277-1681, www.mombacho.org [3]). Most Granada tour companies [4] will get you there; start with Mombotours or Tierra Tours.