Well past the political turbulence of three decades ago, Nicaragua has become one of the safest of Central American destinations. Arguably, it has the most breathtaking landscapes in all of Central America. It is the least densely populated yet physically the largest in Central America. 

In the Americas only the Brazil Amazon rainforest is larger than Nicaragua’s rainforest; one-fifth of the country remains protected in national parks or biological reserves. A nationwide sustainable movement has taken hold visibly and a common language among Nicaraguans is sustainability - solar and wind power, clean water, eco-tourism and organic production initiatives abound.

Our home base is in the highland city of Jinotega. In the 'cloud forests' where the climate is cooler than the lowlands, Jinotega nestles at the base of a forested mountain range and resides in an area renowned for coffee production.

Service - Nicaragua is second only to Haiti as one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Our partner organization, Asociación de Voluntarios para del Desarrollo Comunitario (AVODEC), is an active grassroots NGO that works hard to address some of this issues of poverty. AVODEC supports rural communities by providing materials, labor and expertise for a variety of sustainable initiatives including potable water systems, compost latrines, plant nurseries, agricultural and other environmental projects.

You might also volunteer in an orphanage teaching handicrafts and building skills. Service in Nicaragua mixes sustainable construction, reforestation, agriculture, and assistance to micro-businesses. 

Culture - Nicaraguans embrace life with openness and equal measures of tranquility and optimism. It is our good fortune to spend a lot of free time with our hosts eating dinner together, dancing and karaoke nights, talking about culture, customs, and history. With a few Jinotega families, we travel to the countryside to spend time in their home villages.

Adventure includes an overnight stay on an ecological coffee farm, hiking in Reservas Datanli and to La Peña de la Cruz to the panoramic view of all of Jinotega, perhaps a fishing tip to Lago de Apanas. We tour Granada, the oldest colonial city in Central America, with its tree-lined plaza, cobblestone alleys and vibrantly restored colonial-era homes, and we take in the sprawling Masaya artisan market with wares from all over the country.

From our bus drivers the Blandon brothers and their families to Victorino and Alex from AVODEC to many other Nicaraguans, you’ll gain insight into Nicaragua’s history, culture, and dramatic beauty.

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