THE FIRST STEP ADVENTURE & ECO-TOURS operates out of the town of El Castillo, on the beautiful Rio San Juan in the southern region of Nicaragua, very close to the Costa Rican border. We have something for everyone! Are you up for the challenge and adventure of a five day kayak/jungle tour? Or just a mellow afternoon drift/paddle to Bartola? Or something in between?

Kayaks (and sometimes canoes) are used on the tours, which start in El Castillo and can go as far down as San Juan del Norte where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The tours explore the vast array of rainforest and jungle species found in and around the area. In this region is the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, about 2,600 square kilometers of spectacular habitat for jungle rainforest creatures such as Howler Monkeys, Poison Dart Frogs, crocodiles, alligators, turtles, iguanas, sloths, toucans, parrots, and much more. If you're lucky, you may even spot the elusive Manatee.

The tours can accommodate up to ten people at a time. Miguel is a well-respected guide fluent in English and Spanish, and one of the only guides licensed to have tours in the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve.

You'll be traveling downstream, but expect to do some paddling, and definitely expect to get wet! Food and
accommodations are included in all overnight tours. Accommodations are very basic, but the adventure and the scenery combine to make an unforgettable Nicaraguan experience. Ready to find out more? Check out details of our tours and tips for getting here. We also have a list of recommendations for what to bring. Nature is entirely unpredictable, so you'll never knowfor sure exactly what you're going to see - have a peek at our gallery for a sneak preview. And after you've returned home from your adventure, we'd love it if you'd send us some of your pictures so we can share them with everyone.