About Nicaragua: The largest nation in Central America, the Republic of Nicaragua is a country of remarkable diversity, with massive volcanoes beside huge, clear lakes. Small, quiet villages surrounded by pastureland stand in contrast to the pristine white and black sand beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The people of Nicaragua, descended from Spaniards, Africans, and Central American indigenous peoples, are friendly and eager to show travelers the hidden wonders of their country. Unlike its southern neighbor Costa Rica, Nicaragua’s stunning landscape and passionate people remain virtually undiscovered by tourists. A stable, democratic government has relegated to a troubling memory the hardships of the Sandinista Revolution and Contra war of the 1980s. Still, the challenges Nicas face are enormous. Economic development has been slow, and the natural disaster of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 was a major setback. Today, Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Despite these challenges, Nicaraguans are committed to educational, environmental, and political progress.

The Project: From the capital city of Managua the group travels south to Granada, situated on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, where students spend two days getting acquainted with Nicaraguan culture, geography, and history. They then board a ferry bound for a small village on Ometepe island in Lake Nicaragua which is their home for the month. Students work with local people on several projects that the community identifies as most useful. In past summers, our group’s main projects have involved building a community center and a classroom at a local school, teaching English to local children and adults, and rebuilding local roads. Each day students work in crews to complete each project. Conditions in Nicaragua are extremely simple and living accommodations are basic. Our group lives together in a small house near the center of town. The workday is full, starting early, including a mid-day break to beat the heat. There is time in the late afternoon to relax at the lake, take a short hike or swim, or join in a game of Nicaragua’s favorite sport, baseball. Students have the opportunity to help a local cook prepare traditional Nicaraguan meals of rice, beans, chicken, plantains, papayas, mangoes, and other delicious fruits and vegetables.

Weekends: The group spends weekends exploring the many natural and cultural wonders of Nicaragua. They can swim in the crystal waters of Lake Nicaragua, explore the volcanic shoreline of Ometepe, visit the historic colonial city of Granada and the tomb of poet Rubén Darío in the vibrant university city of León, hike along rainforest trails to find howler monkeys, sloths, and morpho butterflies, and try out a surfboard on the deserted Pacific beaches surrounding the quiet fishing town of San Juan del Sur.