The Chocoyero Natural Reserve is a great place for hiking and nature watching. This reserve is located less than 30 kilometers away from Managua. The last seven kilometers are mostly unpaved and cross pineapple, coffee, and banana plantations. This will slow you down but the road never bores and the views are magnificent. Old, volcanic ridges surround the reserve, and there is nature all around.
Chocoyero also houses lots of birds. The reserve is famous for its chocoyos, green parakeets that all nest right next to a waterfall and can be seen in big numbers in the morning when they leave, and in the late afternoon when they return.