Nicaragua Network

Travel to Nicaragua this summer! 

Deadline for applications --  July 3

This delegation to Nicaragua will explore Nicaragua’s efforts to confront climate change. Nicaragua is one of the most vulnerable countries to the threat of rising sea levels and unstable climate which will bring more hurricanes and floods as well as more droughts. It also has a progressive government that is doing more than most to prepare for climate change. Last year Nicaragua achieved the production of 52% of its electricity from renewable sources and is on track to exceed 90% by 2020.

The delegation will visit projects coping with climate change, in Managua, Masaya, Granada, Carazo, Juan Venado Island, and Las Peñitas beach. The group will learn about conservation projects and meet with government officials and non-governmental organizations working on climate and ecological issues. Delegates will learn about the proposed inter-oceanic shipping canal and talk to people for and against it. A cultural night and a beach day will also be part of the itinerary (see below).

Delegation Cost

The $1,000 cost covers all in-country travel, housing (double occupancy), food, translation, and materials. It does not cover international airfare. For an application or more information send an email to: Chuck@AFGJ.org or call 202-540-8336 x1. 

Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change):

Sunday August 3

All day: Arrivals—pick up at airport, drive to hotel

(The hotel for the delegation will be the Hotel Los Felipe in Managua except where otherwise specified.)

Monday, August 4

8:30 am           Introductions and Orientation
10:30 am         Climate Change Tour of Managua
1:00 pm           Gloria Cardenal, Director, Center for Research, Development and Promotion of the Rural Economy (CIPRES)
3:00 pm           Lago Xolotlan/Lake Managua Water Treatment Plant

Tuesday, August 5

9:00 am           Paul Oquist, Public Policy Adviser to President Daniel Ortega for information on Canal
11:00 am         Reflection
1:30 pm           Katherine Vammen and Iris Hurtado, Center for Research on Water Resources (CIRA)
4:00 pm           Herling Perez, Director, Masaya Community Solar Project.
Overnight in Masaya—Hotel Maderas

Wednesday August 6

8:30 am           House of Recycled Bottles in Granada
11:30 am         Meeting with officials at the climate change office of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), Managua
2:30 pm           Visit to La Chureca garbage dump project in Managua
4:30 pm           Meeting with Young Environmentalists group

Thursday August 7

9:00 am           Victor Campos, Deputy Director Humboldt Environmental Center to discuss the Canal
11:30 am         Reflection
1:30 pm           ‘Healthy Patios’ Program – food sustainability, backyard gardening
3:30 pm           Women in Action lakeside barrio project                                                                                

Friday August 8

10:00 am         Meeting with Padre Miguel d’Escoto, adviser to Pres. Ortega on the ALBA initiative to reinvent the UN as Guardian of Mother Earth
1:30 pm           Campesina Women Association
3:30 pm           Eco-rock and other cultural workers
7:00 pm           Revolutionary cultural event

Saturday August 9

8:30 am             Leave for day at Eco-Farm in the Department of Carazo
                        Spend day at farm
Overnight at farm

Sunday August 10

8:00 am           Leave for day at Pacific Ocean and Juan Venado Island, site of rescue project for endangered Olive Ridley turtles
Overnight at Hotel Playa Roca at Las Peñitas

Monday August 11

9:00 am           Meet with representatives of Caribbean Coast indigenous peoples on climate change impact on the Caribbean Coast
11:00 am         Nicaraguan National Apiary Society—climate change effects on vital crop pollination.
2:00 pm           Norwin Torres, Director, Amigos del Rio Foundation on climate change & the San Juan River
4:00 pm           Maritza Centeno, Matagalpa indigenous community on Indigenous peoples and ecology, with concluding earth ceremony
7:00 pm           ‘Bringing it All Back Home’: where do we delegates and Nicaragua Network go from here?

Tuesday August 12

Leave for home—trips to airport

To download a printable flyer for this Nicaragua trip, click here.