Nicaragua's troubled past has brought an outpouring of kindness from a broad cross-section of international non-profit and NGO aid projects. We invite you to visit some of these non-profit projects during your holiday and donate to one if you choose. The variety of non-profits agencies is such that we prefer to know your interests and preferences first, to try and match you with the proper organization(s). We suggest at least a one week visit, though time frames are easily tailored to your interests and needs. If you would like to donate to a Nicaragua non-profit organization and wish to use your visit to see exactly how your money will be used, we can take you into the field to verify both the non-profit's specific intents and results. Many generous people have helped Nicaragua's poor, but few take the opportunity to see with their own eyes what is necessary so that Nicaragua's poor have a better future. The suggested donor itinerary below also allows for time to at least two non-profit projects, as well ample time to savor cloud forest, organic coffee, the peaceful colonial cities of León and Granada, as well as meet with indigenous artisans in their homes. All visits include the assistance of an English speaking guide/translator, private transportation and quality lodging.

Suggested Non-Profit Donor Visit Itinerary

DAY 01: MANAGUA
Airport greeting by guide and transfer to Hotel Europeo in Managua's quiet gallery district. Culture and history tour of Managua for early arrivals.
DAY 02: CIUDAD DARIO - MATAGALPA - SELVA NEGRA
Transfer north along the eastern shores of Lake Managua to the quiet cowboy village of Darío, birthplace of Nicaragua's supreme hero of the same name. Suggested visit with an El Porvenir non-profit site. El Porvenir is a small but very efficient non-profit that brings essentials like clean drinking water, sanitation and reforestation to deeply rural Darío and other places around Nicaragua. Continue north into the Cordillera Dariense and the forest of the Selva Negra coffee hacienda. Selva Negra is a model of sustainability not just for its organic shade grown coffee, but also for its intensive recycling program. Lodging in private cabin.
DAY 03: SELVA NEGRA
Coffee tour of the farm at Selva Negra. This completely sustainable coffee hacienda has made groundbreaking use of recycling and grows a fine altitude shade bean. Time to walk in the quiet cloud forest and enjoy this highland paradise. Lodging at Selva Negra Mountain Resort in private cabin.
DAY 04: SELVA NEGRA - LEON
Breakfast at hotel and transfer through the adjacent mountains of the Cordillera Isabella, to the active Maribios Volcano Range and into colonial León for lodging at in the historic center of the city at the Hotel Austria. Meeting with leaders of a local grass roots project designed to help poor rural children afford education providing assistance with books, uniforms and other supplies so that they may attend school.
DAY 05: LEON - GRANADA
Breakfast at hotel and morning visit to rural school in the León area to meet with schoolchildren in their countryside classrooms (Monday - Friday, visits possible except during late-November through early February and two weeks in July). Transfer south to Central America's oldest European settlement, Granada founded in 1524. Lodging on historic central park at the Hotel Alhambra.
DAY 06: GRANADA - LOS PUEBLOS - MASAYA MARKET - GRANADA
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the ancient highland villages of "Los Pueblos de la Meseta", for visits to the indigenous artisan's workshops of San Juan de Oriente. Transfer to the indigenous barrio of Monimbó in Masaya to meet with artisans, folk musicians and the restored 19th century outdoor Masaya market to shop for hand made crafts of Masaya, Los Pueblos de la Meseta and other crafts of rural Nicaragua. Your purchases help directly independent indigenous artisans. Return to Granada and Hotel Alhambra.
DAY 07: GRANADA - MANAGUA
Breakfast at Hotel and transfer to Managua.

Non-profit Visit Program Includes:

• All transfers in private vehicle with a/c and driver
• Full time assistance of an English speaking guide/translator
• Breakfasts
• 1 night lodging at the Hotel Europeo in Managua
• 2 nights lodging at the Selva Negra Mountain Hotel
• 1 night lodging at the Hotel Austria in León
• 2 nights lodging at the Hotel Alhambra in Granada
• Visits with non-profit projects in selected areas

All non-profit visits are private and can begin any day of the year.

Hotels described in itinerary are standard and optional upgrades available at some locales. Please see below for hotel descriptions relevant to this itinerary. Visit costs depend on the number of travelers in your party; please specify number when requesting a quote. Custom visit itineraries are offered.

MATAGALPA, CORDILLERA DARIENSE

Selva Negra Mountain Resort, located in the mountains above the city of Matagalpa on a sprawling gourmet coffee hacienda and private cloud forest reserve. Owned by grandchildren of German immigrants, this precious property is Spanish for Black Forest. The coffee hacienda is 100% organic and the hotel restaurant sits in front of a mountain pond wrapped in rain forest. The private cabins of the hotel are set in the forest with lush gardens and flowers growing out of the Bavarian style roofs. Each cabin has a living room with cable TV and a bedroom and private bath with hot water. The cloud forest reserve has 14 trails that are crossed by howler monkeys, the quetzal and wild cats among many other species. The best cloud forest lodge in the country.

LEON - STANDARD

Hotel Austria, located one block from the cathedral and central park, this is one of the best-run hotels in Nicaragua with a very warm and attentive service. Owned and operated by an Austrian Nicaraguan couple, rooms are decorated with solid wood furnishings and as clean as any hospital. The restaurant is for breakfast only, but will soon offer full service. 17 rooms, private bath, A/C, telephone, cable TV, safe box. León's best located, best run 3-star hotel.

LEON - UPGRADE

Hotel El Convento, connected to the historical San Francisco church two blocks from the cathedral and central park, this could be Nicaragua's most beautiful hotel. A ground-up restoration of the 17th century Convent of San Francisco, this charming hotel has 31 rooms around a traditional interior garden and is decorated with antiques made in Nicaragua and Peru (made from imported Nicaraguan wood). The rooms all have A/C, private bath with hot water, cable TV and direct phones. The hotel has two restaurants both with view of the garden. León's best hotel.

GRANADA - STANDARD

Hotel Alhambra, located on central park, facing the cathedral with a great balcony for watching the life of Granada and dinning or enjoying a drink. This hotel owned and operated by one of the city's oldest families. A landmark in Granada and convenient to all attractions with a friendly staff. The interior of the hotel has an open-air garden and is smartly decorated with antiques and Nicaraguan art. 56 rooms, private bath, A/C, telephone, cable TV, swimming pool, restaurant. Granada's best-located 3 star hotel.

GRANADA - UPGRADES

Hotel Colonial, located a half-block from central park, this 27 room hotel is a ground-up restoration of a classic colonial home. The hotel has a great deal of charm with many colonial Nicaraguan touches. The hotel's top quality rooms are decorated with traditional Nicaraguan art and use four-post beds. Each room has private bath, A/C, telephone, cable TV, swimming pool, and restaurant. The restaurant is for breakfast only. This is very comfortable and charming hotel, one of Granada's two best.

Hotel La Gran Francia, located just off central park, this 15 room hotel is a ground-up restoration of a classic colonial home. The hotel has a great deal of charm with many colonial Nicaraguan touches. The hotel's Jr. suites have balconies with a view to the Cathedral. These top quality rooms are decorated with traditional Nicaraguan art. Each room has private bath, A/C, telephone, cable TV, swimming pool and restaurant. This is very comfortable and charming hotel, one of Granada's two best.

MANAGUA - STANDARD

Hotel Europeo, located in Managua's quiet gallery district, within one block of two of Managua's finest modern art galleries and minutes from both the old and new "centers" of Managua. This quiet personal hotel is part of a European non-profit organization. The hotel has charming rooms with telephone, private bath, hot water, A/C and cable TV. The lobby has Internet service and breakfast is served in the garden next to a swimming pool.

MANAGUA - UPGRADE

Hotel Intercontinental Metrocentro, located in the new center of Managua, next to the country's biggest shopping center and two blocks from the new cathedral and 20 minutes from the international airport. This is Nicaragua's newest 5-star hotel and it is in a great location with friendly and efficient service. 157 rooms, private bath, A/C, telephone, cable TV, swimming pool, restaurant, gym, and all the amenities of an international 5 star. Managua's finest hotel.

Please contact us