Holiday in Nicaragua, Caribbean coast
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
The Pearl Lagoon region has some of Nicaragua’s most biologically important habitats. Most people living in this region survive from hunting, subsistence agriculture and fishing. These activities put a lot of pressure on the natural resources, by working within tourism and tourism funded projects the pressure on these natural resources is reduced as people have an alternative source of income.
Tour participants are given a powerful insight in to the challenges faced by the poor communities living in precious of great ecological value. This insight will surely broaden awareness and promote them toplay a part in conservation after the tour is over. On behalf of every participant a donation is also made to The Pure Earth Project
This project has three principle focuses - reforestation in Leon and Chinandega regions, forest conservation (avoided deforestation) and support of local conservation projects in the regions we work. During this trip we visit our forest conservation site, which is located on the Patch River. In the future as this trip becomes more popular we hope to invest in education programs in the Kakabila community as well as support programs by the Michigan State University and the Wildlife Conservation Society to conserve virgin rainforest and endangered wildlife such as Tapirs and the Hawksbill Sea turtle.
Contracting local guides plays a part to spread awareness to their local communities of the value of their local area. Employing local guides also reduces the pressure on the local environment by activities such as hunting and wildlife poaching, which are found in these remote regions.
Before trip departure we give a full briefing to all participants on safety, culture, sustainable trip practices and ways in which to limit environmental impact and observe the wildlife. This area is particularly culturally sensitive so this briefing is critically important to ensure cultural exchange in the right way and limit environmental impact.
The foundation of our tour company is built on sustainable practices, which are exemplified by our sustainable policy and responsible travel guidebook. This policy contains guidelines such as zero trash policy and using boats with a small motor. On this trip we use small engine boats to explore patch river and visit the Wawashang Reserve
Community
The Pearl Lagoon village and surrounding indigenous communities are outside of the main tourist route of Nicaragua. We make a conscious effort to buy all supplies and contract as many local guides as possible from within these communities to bring maximum benefit to the local economy.
Miskito and Garifuna culture and traditions are a precious part of Nicaragua heritage. This tour helps preservation of these cultures by promoting them to retain their customs and traditions. We aim to help set up an environmental education project in the miskito community of kakabila, which is one of the poorest communities in the region. There are 800 people 400 of which are children and there is only one small school for all.
We also aim to help fund The Foundation for Autonomy and Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua to develop a guide training and environmental education program in the Kabalia community. Thus giving them the opportunity to develop an alternative income from eco-tourism.
This tour supports The Foundation for Autonomy and Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua project in Wawashang Reserve. This protects over 1000 acres of rainforest and implements argroforestry and environmental education programs to over thousand local community members in the Wawashang and Pueblo Nuevo regions.
All our tour participants are provided with a digital version of our Responsible Travel Guidebook, which outlines ways to act socially responsibly in these sensitive areas.
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