Macuá Tours
City ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursBoat ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles144 reviews
Excellent
134
Very good
3
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
3

binbali
Newcastle, Australia428 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Couples
We found Macua Tours online and were impressed with the reviews so decided to take this tour whilst we stopped in San Juan for the day on our recent Coral Princess Panama cruise.
We had great communications when booking via email and had no problem meeting once off the cruise ship.
We opted for a private tour so just my husband and I.
We had Edwin as our tour guide and we were very impressed with his knowledge and good english.
It is a long day travelling but we covered so much and I wouldn't change a thing.
We visited Granada,which was a beautiful vibrant city, did a boat tour on the lake Nicaragua,saw monkeys on the island,went to the Masaya volcano,stopped at the cigar factory and a visit to the beautiful place of Catalina and we also had a beautiful lunch (included in cost) we decided to not shop in any of the markets so we had a bit of time so we got to go visit the statue of Christ overlooking the harbor,what an amazing experience.
My only complaint is we wish we had another day in this remarkable place.
We left at around 8am and was back to the pier by 4.30. I have to say this was our favorite tour and our best day of the cruise.
I will definately go back and would not hesitate to book another tour with Macua Tours.
Edwin is a great guide and lovely gentleman.

I did leave a little bit of my heart in the beautiful San Juan and look forward to returning one day.
Written November 12, 2015
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.

Charlie M
Southampton, UK5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Couples
Nicaragua with Macua Tours

In case you don’t want to read all the details of our tour, I’d like to say first of all that I would highly recomend Macua Tours for your visit to Nicaragua. Our visit, from a cruise ship, was limited to visiting the highlights within easy reach of the port but, if we had longer here, we would undoubtedly make greater use of Edwin Ruiz and Macua’s expert services.

Our initial contact with Macua Tours was through Trip Advisor, and communications, by email, with the owner, Edwin Ruiz, soon gave us confidence that our group of four were in the hands of a charming and friendly local expert.

Because we had to tender ashore from Queen Victoria in rather challenging conditions, our meeting with Edwin and Alex, respectively our guide and driver for the day, was later than we had planned. This meant that we had to slightly curtail the schedule we had pre-planned in emails with Edwin. In spite of our slightly later than planned arrival ashore, Edwin and Alex were waiting at the prearranged spot with a very comfortable air-conditioned people-carrier, well stocked with cold water.

I should say, at this point, that, when we are on a cruise, whenever we can find a suitable, trustworthy local tour company we prefer the small numbers, flexibility and value for money this allows. Being aware that cruise ship captains are not inclined to wait for tardy returnees from privately arranged trips, we had agreed with Edwin that we should drive first to the farthest out point of our planned trip, Masaya volcano, so that for the rest of the tour we would be moving ever closer to the port, to allow for any delays.

During the journey to the volcano Edwin entertained us with fascinating insights into the history and politics of his beloved Nicaragua. We were able to drive right to the rim of the crater - undoubtedly the closest we’ve ever been to an active volcano. We didn’t manage to see any glowing lava through the smoke but a few minutes in the sulphur-laden atmosphere were enough for us and we headed back for the rest of our planned tour.

After the volcano visit we drove to the village of Masaya for lunch. Edwin took us to an authentic Nicaraguan outdoor restaurant where we were the only tourists to be seen and where we had a delicious lunch.

Our next stop was for a walking tour of Granada, with Edwin. As always, he was a mine of interesting information about everything we saw and, being a small party, we were able to proceed wherever the fancy (and Edwin) took us, at our own pace.

Our return drive to the port was equally entertaining and stress free and, on the way we asked Edwin the name of a tree with large gourd-like fruits. He was delighted at our question and stopped the van to present each of us with a maracca, made from these gourds and with our name etched on the surface. This personal touch really elevated our day to one of the best we’ve experienced so far. We reached the port in good time and sadly said goodbye to our Nicaraguan friends. Oh, and the sea conditions had settled, making the trip back to the ship less eventful!

I have to say that, in addition to the excellence of the tour itself, and the service provided throughout, having the company of such a professional, courteous, friendly and knowledgeable guide as Edwin really made the day special and, if we are ever fortunate enough to be able to visit Nicaragua again, we will undoubtedly make use of Macua Tours’ first rate service.
Written June 7, 2015
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.

LisainGlendale
Glendale, CA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Couples
If you’re looking for a fabulous guided tour in Nicaragua, look no further. Our trip with Uriel and Edwin from Macau was perfect. I was a bit apprehensive in knowing what to ask for. What did I want to see in our short 7 hours in Nicaragua? No worries, they customized a trip to meet all of our needs and then some. First, Edwin was so quick to respond to my emails and shared all the necessary information. His pricing is beyond fair and he and his company are licensed guides. We had originally tried to join a group from our Cruise Ship, but decided to book a private tour – this was a GREAT call. We were greeted and easily met once we left the ship. It was hot hot hot that day and we were grateful to move right into a perfectly equipped Van with great A/C. Trust me, this is important. Our guide, Uriel was extraordinary in every sense of the word.

We did a lot that day and one thing I really liked is Uriel kept us informed on where we were going and how far it would be to the next stop. His English was exceptionally impressive and we learned a great deal. He answered every question and shared so much about the country, the people and the culture. We were on a cruise from Miami to San Francisco through the Panama Canal, with many stops along the way. Nicaragua turned out to be my personal favorite stop.

Our port stop was San Juan del Sur. We met Uriel easily then went to Rivas and checked out some cool stuff and sampled coffee. We stopped at the edge of Lake Nicaragua and were in awe. We then headed to Granada City which is the oldest town from the western hemisphere on the mainland and simply gorgeous saw an amazing cathedral, learned about the buildings and history. We had an unforgettable boat ride we visited part of the 367 little islands that were formed during the eruption of the Mombacho volcano In Lake Nicaragua (the 10th largest lake in the World), saw Spider Monkeys with their babies handing in trees on one of the islets…magic along with amazing birds and wildlife. This was my favorite part – they went out of their way to make sure the experience was special. We also went to the Volcano and had amazing views plus a great traditional lunch later in Masaya and visited an interesting market place.

We saw so much in a short time and had a much better time than the huge and expensive cruise ship excursions. Uriel took such good personal care of us and catered to what we wanted to learn and see. He got us back to the ship with plenty of time and we were sad to leave him. He went above and beyond to share personal information about his life and info on his country. We hope to return and would want to spend more time with him and this tour company to see more of this amazing country. At the end, he presented us with two Maracas with our names carved into them. It was such a nice gesture and we were touched.

We were treated like royalty and I can’t recommend this trip and these people enough. Book it now and tell your friends, but not too many as we want to come back.

Thank you Uriel and Edwin for the trip of a lifetime and for sharing your beautiful country with us.

Lisa and Simon Landt
Written May 19, 2015
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.

Wisga
Fayetteville, GA25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Couples
This tour was set up by a fellow cruisecritic.com person. There were 10 of us cruise critic people from our ship on this tour. Edwin Ruiz was our tour guide and Carlos was the driver. We walked off the ship as a group and were promptly met by Edwin. We got into the waiting ac van and off we went, way before the cruise passengers got into the tour buses arranged by the ship. Edwin was fantastic. It was about one hour to drive to Lake Nicaragua but he talked the whole time and what interesting things we learned about his country and about his own life. Once at the lake, we took a boat ride touring the small volanic islands close to the shore. Then, on to Granada where Edwin had arranged a wonderful lunch for us. Following lunch, we toured Granada on foot and then we went to the volcano. On the ride back to the ship, he gave each of us a maraca with our names engraved on it. Thank you, Edwin. This was a great tour but what made it so special was Edwin Ruiz!
Written May 14, 2015
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.

Joyce C
Fullerton, CA66 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2014 • Friends
We id a day tour with Macau while in San Juan del Sur on a cruise ship. Edwin was wonderful in booking the tour and David did a great job of showing us around his country. There were 12 of us and we had a fabulous day...saw a lot more sights then most cruise ship tours. The Masaya Volcano was amazing and the typical lunch we had was delicious.
Written April 19, 2014
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.

gypsywoman1312
Grapevine, TX116 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2013 • Friends
This was the best tour of our trip bar none! Oh! the place we went & things we saw! Edwin & his driver are great ambassadors for Nicaragua! Walking tour thru historic Granada City,Calle la Calzada, passing by the oldest Church in America; San Francisco, Episcopal Palace and the Granada´s Cathedral. The boat ride on Lake Nicaragua is not to be missed & the most incredible fish lunch ever! Then onto Masaya active volcano overlook, then a stop @ Castarin Lookout @ Apoyo inactive volcano. Will book this tour again on our next visit for sure to see what other wonders Edwin can find!
Written April 25, 2013
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.

Passenger76
Philadelphia, PA12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Our party of six spent a fantastic week in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua in February, 2012. We flew into Liberia, CR due to the very inexpensive airfare, but then faced the problem of crossing the Penas Blancas border into Nicaragua with a tight time deadline as we had to pick up our 4x4's by 6 pm in order to be able to reach our villa at balcones de majagual in the jungle north of town. I contacted Edwin Ruiz on the recommendation of someone on the tripadvisor forum, and it could not have worked out better. Edwin's representative met us promptly at the Liberia airport and drove us to the border, where Edwin was waiting to meet us in another shuttle van. We literally walked 50 feet across the border and continued on our way. Edwin filled out all the necessary immigration forms, and took our passports into the offices for the proper stamps while we waited in the air-conditioned van. The entire border crossing took maybe 15 minutes. The Penas Blancas border is very confusing, with poor signage and multiple lines to wait in. I know a couple personally who crossed the border on several occasions using Ticabus, and the process took them more than four hours each time! Edwin's fee for the transfer was more than reasonable, roughly equivalent to what we would have paid to cross the border with Ticabus or TransNica (while sorting out immigration on our own).

The transfer went so smoothly that we decided to ask Edwin to take us on a guided tour of Granada, an active volcano, a boat tour of Lake Nicaragua, and Rivas. We had a really great day with him, and were able to appreciate some parts of the country that we otherwise would not have gotten to see.

Both prior to and during our stay, Edwin always responded to emails and phone calls promptly. He speaks perfect English (as well as Spanish and French), is constantly smiling, and is genuinely fun to be around. He has an extensive knowledge of Nicaragua's culture, history, and politics, and spending time with him really enhanced our Nicaraguan experience. Whether you're looking for a guided tour, or a transfer from the Liberia or Managua airport, I would highly recommend that you contact Edwin Ruiz.

Written March 1, 2012
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.

Kathy O
Frisco, TX39 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022 • Couples
Princess has cancelled our port stop in Nicaragua but our deposit hasn’t been returned. Just be aware that you forfeit your deposit if you cancel or if Princess cancels.

Just a heads up!
Written January 12, 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.
Thank you for your review, Macua Tours always puts our customers' interests first, we appreciate your comments and your good will to help our valuable guests that soon become new friends. Unfortunately, you missed some important details like; We did warn every customer in the introductory letter and also before making any payment that in this particular case for our guests coming on a cruise ship the Deposit was not refundable, also you forgot to mention the amount of the deposit U$10 US dollars that were going to cover all your reservations at restaurants, boat company in Granada and other operating expenses that we needed to assure before your arrival, especially after a big pandemic that almost destroyed the tourism industry. When the cruise ship decided not to Dock in Nicaragua, we sent a letter to each customer stating that even though we all agreed the U$10 Deposit are not refundable you were all going to be able to use this credit U$10 in any of our tours and it could be transferred to a friend or family. I hope this helps clarify our future happy customers as we have served them for over 15 years and this is the first time a situation like this arises.
Written April 30, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

FloridaCharlie
Florida12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Couples
We were on 49 Day South America Cruise on the Royal Princess when we made stop at this location. David (tour guide) and Julio (van driver) were waiting for us at the port as soon as we made our exit. They were simply outstanding in all aspects of the Tour.I refer to them as "Proud Young Nicaraguans", very polite and respectful at all times, making sure that everyone was enjoying the tour. David's ability to communicate clearly in English was superb to say the very least. (there were 10 of us in the Van and only two of us were bilingual). I will not hesitate to recommend your Tour Company to anyone asking for our opinion. May God Bless You and your Country.
Written March 27, 2019
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.
Dear guest How could we not be so nice? if it were not BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST GUESTS! We are happy you enjoyed every aspect of our tour, we take pride in our collaborators' love and passion for Nicaragua and for what they do. Rest assured we will inform David and Julio that their job has been greatly acknowledged and appreciated. Thank you so much for your kindness and uplifting words. God bless you always. MACUA TOURS
Written March 30, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rick
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018 • Couples
We arranged this tour through Edwin since the tours offered through the cruise line didn't fit what we wanted. Edwin helped us organize a customized small-group (12 of us) excursion that included both a boat trip on Lake Nicaragua and a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city of Granada. Both experiences were amazingly enjoyable.

Our guide, David, kept us well informed about what we were about to see, and also, the state of unrest that the country was currently experiencing. Despite earlier concerns about safety -- including the US State Department advisory -- we felt completely safe and comfortable. David provided what seemed to be an honest and objective view of what was happening in some parts of Nicaragua. I will emphasize that we felt safe at all times.

The excursion was incredibly well organized. Because of weather conditions, our tender ride to shore was delayed for a considerable time. This cut into the time available for us, but David made sure that we enjoyed our full experience while still reassuring us that we would get back to the port on time.(Some other excursions had to be cancelled because of the problems in tendering.) At each onshore experience -- boat trip and carriage ride -- the tour operators were waiting for us and helped us take full advantage of the time available.

After talking with fellow cruise passengers who had taken other excursions, we felt that our small group had had the absolutely best experience. I would recommend MACUA to anyone looking to get a good feel for the country.
Written November 5, 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.

Showing results 21-30 of 140

Macuá Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)