Nicaragua 3-Week

The indigenous Nahuatl people called Managua Mana-ahuac, the "city surrounded by water." We'll learn quickly how this city earned its name as our plane descends and we receive our first glimpse of the majestic Lake Managua. From there, we'll travel to the colonial city of Granada. Here we'll settle into our hostel and get an introduction to this land of revolution, poetry, and wonder. A visit to the city center will treat us to a blend of colonial architecture, contemporary art, and monuments to the national heroes and inspirational leaders of Nicaragua. The spirit of this city provides the backdrop for us to bond as a group, learn some key Spanish phrases, and prepare for the community service adventure that lies ahead!

We’ll travel to the western part of the country and the quaint agricultural village of Villa El Carmen, a town is famous for its sugar cane production. Stay at a beautiful nature reserve while we get to know the community  with an introduction to the school and service projects we’ll be working on.  We will spend a week working alongside villagers on community-initiated endeavors to repair and build hand-dug wells and wash stations in the schools. We’ll also contribute to on-going reforestation efforts and water sanitation projects, and create English lessons for the young students. Of course, there will be time to play as well, as we’ll find ourselves enveloped in the area’s natural wonders. Our time here would not be complete without a day to view and learn about  the hundreds of murals that canvas the country. The murals depict everything Nicaraguan, from its indigenous roots to its modern-day educational reforms. After all our hard work, we’ll take a day trip to Pochomil beach for some ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and a picnic at the beach.  After watching the sunset over the ocean we head back for a relaxing night and a closing ceremony and bonfire. On our last day, we have a farewell fiesta celebrating our efforts to bring a healthier future to the very same children that we got to know and love!

From Villa Carmen, we'll head to Lake Nicaragua and the island of Ometepe. The island was formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua. Its name also comes from Nahuatl words: ome (two) and tepetl (mountain). The people of the island are stoic and lively, and will be sure to share their love of music, art, and life with us. Here we'll partner with the local people to assist in their efforts to build and renovate schools, to plant family gardens, and to install clean cook stoves. We'll be face-to-face with Nicaraguans who are empowering themselves and their neighbors to sustainably address their own needs using the resources that they have available to them. It will be impossible to leave untouched by the energy and beauty of this location and the people that you meet.

We travel to the Pacific Coast and the town of San Juan del Sur, famous for it’s unique combination of tropical dry forest and ocean settings. We'll spend a full day with options to enjoy boogie boarding or snorkeling. This is a major sea turtle nesting area, with some turtles present year-round. In addition to the aforementioned turtles, other common fish seen in the area include scorpion fish, noisy parrot fish, rays, eels, anemones, star fish, cornet fish, octopi, snappers and groupers. The beach and wave conditions in this area also provide the perfect opportunity for all levels to unwind by boogie boarding!

With new perspectives and open hearts, we'll prepare for our trip to come to an end. Departing is sad, but the final trip back to our hostel in Granada allows us to share our memories before we fly home. A celebratory dinner at a nice restaurant and an awards ceremony allow us to reflect upon the past weeks together. We realize that the Nicaraguan friends we have made will always be with us!