Nicaragua adventure vacation

Planet

Owing to its tumultuous recent history Nicaragua is only now developing as a tourist destination, and many hotels and service providers are keen to avoid making the mistakes committed in some other countries where growth of this sector has a negative impact on the environment and communities. We are conscious that as the country’s popularity increases and the infrastructure improves, this may change. On this tour we take you to some of those places where low-key local initiatives are maintaining the character of the place and having a minimum impact on resources. The little port of el Castillo on the river San Juan and the Solentiname islands, neither of which have vehicular access, are examples of this - we stay in their family run hotels and excursions on the river and Lake Nicaragua are focused on the wildlife and its preservation. On the shores of Lake Nicaragua you visit the Los Guatuzos Nature Reserve. This is part of the RAMSAR wetlands protection area and the fee goes towards the protection of the park’s flora and fauna. At the Joya de Ceren UNESCO world heritage site entrance fees are channelled into the conservation of the site.

People

This off the beaten track vacation tasks you to small, often reasonably self-sufficient communities with thriving local crafts and workshops where you can engage with local people and observe their way of life, such as the Solentiname Islands which are famous for their primitivist art: a number of local people have established workshops where they sell small objects d’art and we encourage you to support them. You visit the Los Guatuzos Nature Reserve. This is part of the RAMSAR wetlands protection area and the fee goes towards the protection of the parks flora and fauna. You also visit Indio Maiz Reservation, operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MARENA), where only members of local indigenous tribes are permitted to work as guides.

We stay at D’Santos Hotel which is in a Private Natural Reserve certified by Nicaragua Natural Resources Agency (MARENA) and Hotel Con Corazon, a foundation where profits are channelled into child education.