Granada Chinandega
Leon Map
Bluefields  

Note: Social Entrepreneur Corps is currently in the process of potentially establishing a program in Nicaragua. If you are interested specifically in a Nicaragua program please contact us. If you are interested in current programs please visit our four week and eight week programs established in Guatemala.

 

Granada


Founded by the Spanish in 1523, Granada has many old ornate churches and old Spanish-style buildings which date back to the colonial period. It is sometimes called 'The Great Sultana' in recognition of its beautiful colonial architectural heritage. Even though it was badly damaged during the mid-1850s whilst being captured by the American William Walker, it is still a popular city and is one of the country's main destinations for international travelers.


Situated less than 30 km from the country's international airport, Granada is an excellent starting point for visiting some of the Nicaragua's main attractions. These attractions include viewing some of the active volcanoes in the area, enjoying a visit to a cloud forest ecosystem – something somewhat unique to the area – or enjoying some of the many beaches lapped by the Pacific Ocean. You can also take in the natural beauty of Lake Cocibolca or spend time amongst nature enjoy natural wonders such as the annual sea turtle egg-laying - Granada is at the center of it all!


When you're not out and about enjoying the wonders of nature, you can spend time discovering the city. Like most colonial cities in this part of the world, the whole metropolis is built around a main square known as Parque Central. This is really Granada's social, cultural and economic hub. It is around Parque Central that you will find Granada's cathedral, city hall, cultural centers, banks and hundreds of small shops and stalls which are dedicated to the sale of traditional food and hand crafted goods – the perfect place to get some mementoes of your trip. To the west of the main square, you will find the central market – great for fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, cheese and meat.


You may also make your way down 'La Calzada' Avenue which is flanked by large colonial houses, known as casonas, and interesting churches. It ends on the lakeshore of Nicaragua Lake where you will find a beautiful boulevard for pleasant evening strolls. You will also find the 'Centro Turistico' here where you can enjoy restaurants, beaches and discos. Most of the attractions can be reached on foot and are most enjoyable.

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Leon


Situated in western Nicaragua, Leon is the second most important city after Managua. Blessed with graceful old architecture and a fascinating history, Leon has played a pivotal role in the country's history many times over.

 

 

Modern day Leon may not be as important as it once was, but it boasts the National University which has proved to be a constant injection of life to the city.


The original city of Leon was established by Spanish conqueror Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1523 at the foot of the Momotombo volcano. Unfortunately the volcano exploded in 1610 causing the city to become damaged beyond repair and subsequently abandoned. A new city was established in Leon's current location with the official name of Santiago de los Caballeros de Leon – though the long form of this name is seldom used today. The ruins of old Leon – Leon Viejo – still lie at the foot of Momotombo and make for a fascinating tour.


Leon was the capital of Nicaragua for more than 200 years. It saw much friction in that time and some of the bullet-holes and cracks caused by the warfare can still be seen. Most of the wars were between the Liberals and the Conservatives. When the issue of the country's capital came up, the Liberals wanted Leon to remain the capital while the Conservatives pushed for Granada to become the new center of government. Managua was chosen as a compromise and thus Leon lost its long-standing position as the center of the country's government.


Most visitors to Leon come to see the town's interesting architecture. One of the most popular attractions is the 18th century cathedral which is the largest in Central America. Also of interest is the La Merced and the Xalteva churches, the Old Spanish Ammunition Fortress, the San Francisco Convent and the beautifully carved Casa de los Leones. However there are many more interesting old buildings to see. The hotels here provide a fairly good level of accommodation and the town is well worth a short visit. Leon is also known for being the capital of Leon Department and for it's manufacture of furniture, shoes and leather goods.

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Bluefields

Situated on the south end of Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast is Bluefields – a small, unusual little town with a distinctive flavor. With a population of roughly 42 000 the town itself has little to see and do, even though it is Nicaragua's chief Caribbean port. The real attraction at Bluefields is the surrounding natural attractions.


According to legend, Bluefields is named after the Dutch pirate ‘Blauwveldt' who was the first to settle in the area. In the 16th and 17th century it served as a rendezvous point for English and Dutch buccaneers and soon became a port with some prominence. 1678 saw it becoming the capital of the British protectorate over the Mosquito Coast. Unfortunately, much of the progress made in this little sea port was destroyed along with the town in 1988, but it has been somewhat rebuilt and the current town of Bluefields is an odd mixture of past British colonial, west Indian cottages and Louisiana plantation influences. Most of the inhabitants are English-speaking but there is occaisional interaction with Indians from the Miskito, Rama and Sumu tribes that share the coast. While most of the town's inhabitants are friendly and relaxed, a visitor should remain cautious and alert at all times.


The area surrounding Bluefields is, in many respects, an ecological and cultural paradise. The tropical rain forest environment is full of plant and animal life that is just waiting to be discovered. It is also quite close to Monkey point, Rama and Corn Island making it the ideal departure point for these attractions as well as many other interesting parks and nature reserves. Corn Island is idyllic and makes for a great outing. Besides exploring the sandy beaches, crystal clear water and coral reefs, you can enjoy the opportunity to investigate a Spanish galleon which is just a short distance away from the island. There is no better place to go snorkeling, diving, fishing, swimming and sun bathing. Also of interest is the Pearl Lagoon and Keys, which are not far from Bluefields.
The trip to Bluefields is in itself an adventure. You can either travel by bus and then take a trip down the Escondido River or you can fly there from Managua. Whatever you choose, you are likely to find Bluefields to be a destination quite unlike any other.

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Chinandega

Far up on the most north-western part of Nicaragua you will find the very attractive department of Chinandega. Peppered with interesting attractions and beautiful sights, you can be sure that Chinandega will prove to be a most delightful holiday destination with no shortage of things to see and do. Perhaps this is why it is fast becoming one of Nicaragua's most popular tourist destinations .


What is it about Chinandega that makes it so popular? Perhaps it's the beautiful forests and beaches? It could also be the magnificent volcanoes. Or it could even be the fact that Chinandega is one of the main producers of the high quality Flor de Cana rum. Or it could be the sites of historical interest that are just waiting to be further explored. Whatever it is, it drives thousands of visitors to this small part of the world every year as both locals and foreigners enjoy their time here.
The beaches of Jiquilillo and Corinto as well as the inlet of Paso Caballo are generally the most popular attraction in Chinandega. Every year people flock to them to enjoy the find sand and sun as well as the beautiful waters of the ocean. Some venture a bit further inland to the four volcanoes which can be found here. The dormant Cosiqoina Volcano has been declared a Natural Reserve and is located in the northern part of the department. The volcano has well forested slopes both inside and outside the crater and a lagoon in the crater. From its towering height of 859m above sea level, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Gulf of Fonseca and if the weather is good you can also see both Honduras and El Salvador – now that is a sight worth seeing! Southwards you will find El Chonco, El Apante and San Cristobal which is the biggest active volcano in the country. There is also the Natural Reserve Padre Ramos which is great for its watery ecosystems such as that found in its creeks and mangrove swamps.


If you enjoy a little history while on vacation, the city of El Realejo will prove fascinating. The city is quite old and was used as an important sea port during colonial times – even seeing the likes of several English pirates in times gone by. However, if that sort of thing bores you, you can be sure that activities such as hiking volcanoes and wetlands or taking a boat ride of the Gulf of Fonseca will prove more entertaining. Chinandega has a wealth of activities and attractions just waiting to be discovered.

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Map

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Social Entrepreneurship Corps testimonial


Social Entrepreneur

Traveling down to Guatemala and participating in the Social Entrepreneur Corps program was one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. The intensity of being submersed in the diverse culture, taking part in the language, and witnessing the economic challenges faced by locals, was not so much overwhelming, but rather was gratifying as we worked together to not only discuss solutions, but actually create realistic relief models. Aside from long days and hard work, we had plenty of time to explore Guatemala and enjoy its beautiful landscape. From climbing the active volcano Pacaya to picnicking on the countryside or watching the sunset over Lake Atitlan, it was always a breathtaking experience that no photograph could ever completely capture. I think it is important for everyone to realize that this experience is not just an opportunity for volunteers to use their resources and knowledge to teach the indigenous how to solve local problems, but also serves as a learning experience for us just the same. The leadership’s consistent guidance, understanding, support, kindness, positive outlooks and delightful personalities truly made this experience as great as it was, encouraging us to be and do the best that we knew how."

 

Eva M.., June 2007 Participant,
Student - University of Connecticut

To read more testimonials from past Social Entrepreneur Corps participants, CLICK HERE

 


Social Entrepreneurship in Action...

CE Solutions / Partner For Surgery Announce New Collaboration

CE Solutions is proud to announce a new collaboration with Partner for Surgery (“PFS”). This US and Guatemala based organization is dedicated to bringing surgical care to the most remote and disadvantaged Guatemalan communities. PFS' and CE Solutions' philosophies and methodologies are very similar in that both organizations strive to provide the appropriate training and human/financial resources necessary so that local leaders can earn an incentive- based income whilst playing an integral role in solving local problems. PFS employs local regional managers who work to identify people with surgical needs in their surrounding communities. These managers then guide those with the greatest needs through a process whereby US and European doctors volunteering their time in Guatemala can perform life changing surgeries. To date, PFS has helped bring surgery to almost 2,300 people in rural Guatemala.

The alliance offers a compelling opportunity for both organizations to enhance their outreach and provide greater services to people in need. As we work in geographic regions where PFS currently does not, PFS will be training select Vision Advisors (amongst others) to conduct initial surgical needs evaluations in remote villages. This will allow PFS to quickly broaden its reach and improve its ability to bring surgical care to people in rural communities. Conversely, as PFS works in regions where we have not yet established a presence, CE Solutions will be training select PFS regional managers to become Vision Advisors and thus earn greater income while creating broader access to reading glasses and vision care. All of this translates to an efficient leveraging of resources on an organizational level, but most importantly to the creation of more opportunities for hard working Guatemalan social entrepreneurs to help more people in their communities with essential health care. We view this as yet another means whereby CE Solutions can provide intelligent development solutions through our network of entrepreneurs who are constantly looking to solve more problems in their communities. We thank PFS for their support and confidence.

 

 


Social Entrepreneurship Corps testimonial

"As a Kenyan national, I thought I had witnessed enough organizations in my home country to know what effective development work was all about. Therefore, I took the journey to Guatemala anticipating to be part of just another development organization. Instead, I found a family. A family whose passion for their work is truly what constitutes effective development.   It was the genuine hearts of all those individuals that continues to drive the organization. The success of Community Enterprise Solutions is depicted in the ability of its staff, to give hope to so many men and women. For example, watching Guatemalan women working with the organization make their very first journey for a conference to a city only a few hours away from their own homes. Or watching what would have appeared like a 'miracle' to local Guatemalans when given access to a simple pair of eyeglasses. The organization endeavored to give responsibility and support to local Guatemalans to carry out the work needed to revive their own communities. This kind of empowerment is what gives people real hope.   Hope that liberates and enables both men and women to stand on their own two feet with the opportunity of a brighter future. It is the sincerity of genuine hearts that has made and will continue to make Community Enterprise Solutions the success that it is. Looking back on the experience now, I can truly say that I could not take in enough of the country's beauty but most of all; I fell in love with the people I met there."

Elsie M., 2006 Participant,
Student
Tufts University

To read more testimonials from past Social Entrepreneur Corps participants, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

Social Entrepreneur Corps is an initiative of New Development Experience LLC, 2007