Upcoming trip to Nicaragua

Hola, we are planning to make our first trip to Nicaragua the day after Christmas and will have 10 full days to spend before leaving the afternoon of January 6. I’d like to ask for some advice from the experts in here on how we should spend that time. For a bit of background, my wife & I will be traveling with our kids, ages 14 & 12. We’ve done a decent amount of traveling outside of the US, including a couple trips to Costa Rica. One of those trips to CR included about 10 days on the Osa Peninsula, so we can handle roughing it a bit and we’re looking forward to an adventure. Here is what we are thinking for an itinerary, please let me know your thoughts;

Arrive in Managua on Wednesday night around 10 and get transport to Granada. We could spend that night in Managua, but would prefer to just get to Granada so when we wake up on Thursday, we can start our vacation and don’t have to mess with more traveling. Spend Wednesday – Saturday nights in Granada. While in Granada, we plan to make a trip to Mercado Viejo in Masaya and Volcan Masaya NP, hike and visit one or both Volcan Mombacoh and Volcan Bombacho. Any lodging and other recommendations would be appreciated.

On Sunday we’ll go back to Managua and fly to Big Corn Island. We plan to make a few dives there (we are all certified open water divers) and spend some beach time doing nothing. We’ve looked at Nautilis Dive Shop, but they have terrible reviews on Trip Advisor. Is there a good dive shop there? I think we have our lodging there decided, but would like any suggestions for anything else that is a must-do on Big Corn. I think we’ll leave Big Corn on the morning flight on Wednesday back to Managua, and then get transportation to Rivas and catch the afternoon or evening ferry to Isla de Ometepe. We’ve got an idea of what we’d like to do there, and we’re looking at staying at either Hotel Villa Paraisio or Charco Verde, but again, any suggestions would be welcomed. Also, recommendations on guides for hiking either volcano or kayaking or horseback riding would be appreciated. We also want to bring some books for the book lady who donates the books to schools on the island. Where would we be able to drop off some books for her?

We have a flight back home leaving Managua on Sunday afternoon. One thing I’m not sure of is if we can leave Isla de Ometepe on the first or second ferry Sunday and get to the airport around 11 a.m. to check in for our flight. Would it be better to get to Managua on Saturday night?

Another option we are considering would be to go Granada to Ometepe then to Big Corn. If we did that, to maximize our vacation time, we’d like to leave Big Corn on the first flight Sunday morning. But, if that flight is delayed, we would run the risk of missing our flight back to the US. We’re trying to avoid spending our last night in Managua, and would like to travel to the airport on Sunday morning from either Big Corn or Ometepe. How reliable are flights from Big Corn if we stayed there and plan on the Sunday morning flight to catch our Sunday afternoon flight? Is it possible to leave either Big Corn or Ometepe early Sunday morning and be to the airport around 11 a.m.? Our flight home leaves at 1:13 p.m.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Jason