Nicaragua: Adventure – with a purpose
(Not your usual MEDA tour!)

January 18-27, 2009
Tour leaders: Jimmy Membreño and Carol Eby-Good
Join other young and adventurous adults looking for nature, culture and adventure – but with a purpose – off the beaten path in Nicaragua. Jimmy Membreño, Learning in Community director, and Carol Eby-Good, MEDA's member engagement coordinator, want to show you a good time in Nicaragua.

You will enjoy the beaches, sun and sand, volcanoes and waterfalls of a more typical Caribbean vacation, but you will also get an insider's view of the country's culture, history and colonial architecture.

And you will see the world with new eyes when you meet MEDA clients who now have hope for the future. Their lives have been changed by small loans that have helped them to start or grow their businesses, and by technical assistance in production, processing and marketing , pulling them out of poverty.

Come to Nicaragua, where you can experience activity and adventure – with a purpose!

Itinerary
Sunday, Jan. 18 - Managua

• Welcome to Managua!
  • Tour orientation

Monday, Jan. 19 - Managua

• Overview of Nicaragua's history and current affairs
• Historical tour of Managua
  • Visit La Nueva Catedral (the New Cathedral) of Managua. Its modern style and cupolas provoked controversy, as its architectural style was a sharp departure from the colonial cathedrals located near main plazas elsewhere in the country.
  • See Tiscapa Hill, the site of the Presidential House before and during the Somoza Regime, and also the place where General Sandino was captured by the National Guard and then taken and assassinated. This marked the beginning of the dictatorship of the Somoza family, which lasted more than four decades, from 1937-1979.
  • From Tiscapa Hill, you can also view the former downtown of old Managua, which was destroyed in 1972 by an earthquake.
  • Visit the Peace Park where weapons used during the contra war are buried.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 - Managua

• Today you will have the opportunity to meet people whose lives have been touched by MEDA.
  • Visit some of MEDA's MiCrédito clients – a door manufacturer and an Oriental Market shop owner. See their flourishing businesses and learn about their hopes and dreams for the future.
  • Meet MEDA staff and find out what economic development in a developing country looks like from the inside. Ask the expats about the challenges of living and working in a foreign country. Ask the Nicaraguan staff about the challenges of working with a foreign NGO.

Wednesday, Jan. 21 – León

Day trip to León Visit the sesame producers' cooperative and later meet two MiCrédito clients – a sesame farmer and an entrepreneur with a craft stand on the square.

City of León León, located 80 miles northwest of Managua, is one of the oldest colonial cities founded by the Spaniards. Through good conservation efforts, León has maintained its architectural heritage, one of its main attractions. The home of Nicaragua's first university, León is also considered the center for Nicaraguan poetry as it has been home to most of the country's famous poets. Rubén Dario, one of the most famous poets in Latin America, is buried in the main cathedral. The city also has several museums about the history of this beautiful city, including the Museum of Legends and Myths.

Thursday, Jan. 22 – Ometepe

On the way, stop to see Volcan Masaya Travel by ferry to Isla (Island) Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua for fun in the sun! Friday, Jan. 23 - Ometepe Still on Isla Ometepe, visit the men's and women's cooperatives in La Flor. After lunch, hike the nature reserve of Chaco Verde, spend a tranquil afternoon on the sand at Punta Jesús María or soak up some sun on the beach at Playa Santo Domingo. Saturday, Jan. 24 - Ometepe Waterfalls, petroglyphs and swimming! Catch the beauty of the waterfall at San Ramón as it cascades down 56 meters from the lagoon of the Maderas volcano. Then hike to the top of the waterfall for some great views of gigantic Lake Nicaragua. Visit the ancient petroglyphs in Finca El Provenir and go swimming at Ojo de Agua. Sunday, Jan. 25 – San Juan del Sur

Ometepe Ometepe is the biggest island in Nicaragua Lake, the world's 20th largest lake. The island's name, in the Nauhtl language spoken by native Nicaraguans, means “between two hills,” reflecting that the island was formed by two volcanoes, Conceptión and Maderas. Ometepe is a great place for swimming, hiking, enjoying nature and learning about the petroglyphs (stone carvings) left by the indigenous people who lived on the island.

• Zip lines, forest canopy views
  • From its origins as a sleepy fishing village, San Juan del Sur, in the south of Nicaragua on the Pacific Ocean, is becoming a major destination for local and foreign tourists alike. The sea port offers not only an excellent beach for swimming, eating fresh seafood and lazing in the sun, but other diversions as well.
  • Option ($25 cost) – Try the canopy eco-tour or do the zip line and get a bird's eye view of the whole bay.

Monday, Jan. 26 - Granada

• En route to Managua, we will stop in Granada, Nicaragua's fourth most populous city, to visit the museum and take in other highlights, including the city's main plaza.

City of Granada Granada, named for the city of Granada in Spain, is the oldest city founded in the Americas by the Spaniards. Located on the shore of Lake Nicaragua, Granada was a departure point on an important shipping route during colonial times when the Spaniards navigated through the lake, then down the Rio San Juan to reach the Atlantic Ocean to ship products to Spain. The city, surrounded by a group of more than 300 little islands, the Isletas de Granada, is full of life and hosts visitors from around the world.

Tuesday, Jan. 27 - Departure

For further information, contact:
Carol Eby-Good - MEDA Member Engagement Coordinator
Call: (717) 560-6546
Email: ceby-good@meda.org

The small matter of price
$1,499 gets you nine days and nights in Nicaragua, including all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner daily), accommodation, all in-country transportation, fully guided tours and translation. Cost of travel to Nicaragua is not included.

Registration deadline
December 20, 2008. Please contact Carol before making your flight arrangements.