The Next Central American Hotspot?
In the past, two Central American countries dominated the claim to picturesque beaches, peaceful vacations and tropical getaways. Mexico and Costa Rica has claimed a vast majority of the tourism pie for the past decade. Today, however, Nicaragua aims to get their own slice of that market. An image of violence and political unrest has hung over Nicaragua in the past, keeping potential tourists from exploring what the country has to offer, but this perception of the country has changed as more and more adventurous souls have wandered across the Nicaraguan border. The changes in perception are...
Read MoreNicaragua is Ahead of the Curve: a Hydropower Destination
A whopping 33.8% of Nicaragua’s energy came from renewable resources in 2008. That is more than twice as much as China (17.8%) and well over three times as much as the United States (10%). What is Nicaragua doing that allows it to be so reliant on renewable energy? Investing in hydroelectric power. Nearly 46% of Nicaragua’s renewable energy comes from a hydroelectric turbine. Turbines like the one found on Lago Apanás are responsible for powering the small country. source Lago Apanás, or Lake Apanas, is a quick 10-minute drive from the municipal of Jinotega. The 51-square...
Read MoreThe Caribbean Goes Wild
The more we prepare for Honduras, the more delighted we become about running this trip. Check out this video clip that originally came from the BBC’s Wild Caribbean special: (source: BBCWorldWide) You can see that we’ll be staying in the perfect place for visiting the Mesoamerican reef. (The Roatán islands are above the northern Honduran...
Read MoreGrowing Beyond Rice and Beans
In off-the-grid Nicaraguan villages, lack of infrastructure has it’s consequences. Labeled as “food deserts,” families have little to no access to certain food essentials that most of us take for granted. Almost all of the farm land in these areas is used for subsistence farming: staple crops like corn and beans. The crop from these staples is one of the only food sources the community has. While corn and beans can fill tummies, a diet based on only a few ingredients leaves gapping holes in the nutritional intake of growing children. These holes are widened further in the...
Read MoreSneak Peek: Honduras Scuba, Spanish, and Service Trip
Calling all 2012 Honduras travelers! We’ve just gotten back form a week in Honduras, and have a fantastic trip set up for you. Check out these pictures, and start packing your bags! July 30th can’t come soon enough. Our team made a quick trip to the Mayan city of Copán to scope out the best views for you…. …and took a tour of the nearby town where we’ll spend a week. This will be home-base while we converse with our Spanish instructors, explore the ancient temples of the Maya, and take horseback excursions into the surrounding mountains. Even today you can...
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