There's a hiking train for everyone at Selva Negra, from seniors out for a stroll with their grandkids, to intrepid adventurers ready to charge up the side of a mountain. Regardless of the path you follow, prepare to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of pure nature. Each of our trails offers a unique experience. All you need is spare time, a good pair of shoes and an adventurous spirit. Please refer to our nature reserve's "rainforest and trail" section of the website where you will discover some helpful information for your next hike
Strenuous and Challenging!
Our more difficult trails will propel you straight into the heart of virgin cloud rain forest and leave you with muddy boots and sore legs when you come out the other end. Be prepared to heave yourself higher by grabbing roots and trunks on your 45-degree climb to the ridge.
Fountain of Youth We call this trail the fountain of youth because you'll feel as though you rediscovered your childhood if you complete it. This is a straight-line one-way trail up to the mountain and not much slack is given on the way up or down. Get ready to give your upper and lower bodies a tough workout!
Peter and Helen This is another one-way trail straight up the mountainside. We named it after a British couple who overheard Selva Negra's owners, Eddy and Mausi, extol the unforgettable beauty of a new trail they had just completed. So Peter and Helen set off for their hike late one afternoon, without flashlights and unprepared for a challenge that can take four hours to complete. Later that night one of staff noticed that they had not returned and organized a search party. We brought Peter and Helen down the mountainside safe, sound, exhausted and relieved. When the Eddy and Mausi decided to call the trail Peter and Helen in their honor, our guest had already checked out, and to this day they may not know that the trail bears their names!
The Mosquito Ridge Trail This trail is named after the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua whose Miskito Indians once reined all the way to the Matagalpa Highlands. It rides along the ridge of the mountain connecting to the Peter & Helen, Fountain of Youth and Canal trails.
Average Difficulty
You won't have to clamber on all four hands and legs to complete these less strenuous trails, but nonetheless they are not for everyone. These trails lead you into wild areas without hand rails or bridges.
Indiana Jones / Romantico This trail shares two names; Indiana Jones for its adventurous nature; and Romantico because you may need "someone to lean on" to help you over its more slippery sections.
Las Pilas (the water tank) This trail leads you from the Indiana Jones/Romantico trail to the water tanks by the lake. The junction of the two trails is a slippery incline so take care. If worse comes to worse, take a seat and slide your way down!
Atajo (shortcut)This trail start at the trailhead and is the shortest distance to Indiana Jones / Romantico. It's a great beginning and a good introduction to our network of less strenuous trails.
Bavaria Named to honor the German ancestors of Selva Negra's founders, Bavaria is the oldest of our trails. The path is very broad, making it easy to walk hand-in-hand with your partner.
Easy
These relaxing, easygoing strolls can take less than 15 minutes to complete. Better yet, take a seat on a bench or a tree and enjoy the sights and sounds for hours. They're perfect for kids!
Las Playitas (the beach) This trail circles the lake. It's ideal for helping you work off a bit of a hearty meal at our restaurant.
Cody This short trail starts at the trailhead and leads you to Las Playitas. It is co-sponsored by MARENA, the Nicaraguan government's environmental agency. Displays along the trail educate hikers about the life of the forest.
Horse Trails
Our horse trails explore the grounds of the estate but not the cloud forest (horses are not allowed in our nature reserve). These trails are also fun and easy to follow on foot but they are long, so hiking them may take a good part of your morning or afternoon.
Hortaliza (The vegetables) This trail leads to our vegetable gardens through our coffee plantation. During the harvest months (November to February) you might pass our employees picking the crop. Many of our visitors are surprised to see how quickly and expertly the people of Selva Negra select the beans.
El Corral (The stables) This trail leads to the estate's stables and is a wonderful way to learn about Selva Negra's ecological systems on horseback.