“The Land of Lakes an Volcanoes”

Nicaragua

Experience true Nicaraguan culture as we visit locals in their homes, eat traditional food, and travel across the beautiful countryside.

Dates

Summer 2026

dates may change +/- a day or two based on flight availability and prices.

Costs

$1,600

Covers all expenses (lodging, food, activities, etc). Airfare not included

Airfare

$1,000

This is an estimated cost to fly to Managua, Nicaragua

On the Itinerary

Please note that itinerary is subject to change from year to year.

Mombacho Zip-line Canopy Tour

Situated in the Mombacho Volcano Reserve, Mombacho is an extinct volcano that sits at 4409 feet high. You’ll have incredible views as you move through the different landscapes and eco systems of the volcano, eventually arriving at the cloud forests. As you emerge at the top from cloud forest into dry forest, you have fantastic views (if the cloud allows) of lake Nicaragua, Apoyo Lagoon and the city of Granada. You’ll then make your way down the volcano one zip-line cable at a time. Covering a distance of two kilometers, with 17 platforms, 11 cables and three hanging bridges.

Mombacho Zip-line Canopy Tour

Situated in the Mombacho Volcano Reserve, Mombacho is an extinct volcano that sits at 4409 feet high. You’ll have incredible views as you move through the different landscapes and eco systems of the volcano, eventually arriving at the cloud forests. As you emerge at the top from cloud forest into dry forest, you have fantastic views (if the cloud allows) of lake Nicaragua, Apoyo Lagoon and the city of Granada. You’ll then make your way down the volcano one zip-line cable at a time. Covering a distance of two kilometers, with 17 platforms, 11 cables and three hanging bridges.

Visiting Locals in Their Homes

Before you leave you’ll select a family to support on the trip by providing them clothes. About a month before leaving for Nicaragua, you will be given clothing sizes to collect for your Nicaraguan family. You’ll deliver the clothes to your family and visit them in their humble home. In the homes is where you will see true Nicaraguan culture and fall in love with the people you serve.

Visiting Locals in Their Homes

Before you leave you’ll select a family to support on the trip by providing them clothes. About a month before leaving for Nicaragua, you will be given clothing sizes to collect for your Nicaraguan family. You’ll deliver the clothes to your family and visit them in their humble home. In the homes is where you will see true Nicaraguan culture and fall in love with the people you serve.

Apoyo Lagoon

Laguna de Apoyo is a clean, blue, and thermally vented 48-square kilometer body of water contained inside the crater of the Apoyo Volcano (think big warm clean lake!). It is a great place to rest, relax, swim, kayak and recharge after some hard traveling (or service), or to just spend a day lounging in the water and sun.

Apoyo Lagoon

Laguna de Apoyo is a clean, blue, and thermally vented 48-square kilometer body of water contained inside the crater of the Apoyo Volcano (think big warm clean lake!). It is a great place to rest, relax, swim, kayak and recharge after some hard traveling (or service), or to just spend a day lounging in the water and sun.

Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro

Volcano Boarding is an absolute must in Nicaragua. There is nothing quite like the feeling of racing down an active volcano at speeds of up to 40 miles/hour. Now don’t freak out, those videos you see online are a little misleading. You only reach insane speeds if you actively try to, you have the ability to control your speed at all times.

CNN has put volcano boarding on Cerro Negro on their list of 50 Crazy things you must do before you die, and not only is this activity is on the list, but it is number two.

Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro

Volcano Boarding is an absolute must in Nicaragua. There is nothing quite like the feeling of racing down an active volcano at speeds of up to 40 miles/hour. Now don’t freak out, those videos you see online are a little misleading. You only reach insane speeds if you actively try to, you have the ability to control your speed at all times.

CNN has put volcano boarding on Cerro Negro on their list of 50 Crazy things you must do before you die, and not only this activity is on the list, but it is number two.

Holding Baby Sea Turtles

Nicaragua is made up of some of the most beautiful beaches on the south Pacific. The pure white sand is bordered by tropical forests on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Certain hidden beaches are home to thousands Olive Ridley turtles that come each year to make their nesting areas. You will visit the reserve and hold the baby sea turtles and help them make their way to the water.

Holding Baby Sea Turtles

The La Flor Wildlife Refuge in Nicaragua is made up of one of the most beautiful beaches on the south Pacific. The pure white sand is bordered by tropical forests on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. This beach is also where 30,000 Olive Ridley turtles come each year to make their nesting areas. You will visit the reserve and hold the baby sea turtles and help them make their way to the water.

Las Isletas Boat Tour

Las Isletas are located in Lake Nicaragua, just southeast of the city of Granada. The isletas are a group of 365 small islands scattered in the lake which were formed when the Mombacho volcano blew much of its cone into the lake thousands of years ago, thereby creating the archipelago. Most of the isleta s are covered with vegetation and rich with bird life.

You will take a cruise around the islands and even visit the fort of San Pablo which was built on one of the isletas in order to protect the city of Granada from pirates in the 18th century.

Las Isletas Boat Tour

Las Isletas are located in Lake Nicaragua, just southeast of the city of Granada. The isletas are a group of 365 small islands scattered in the lake which were formed when the Mombacho volcano blew much of its cone into the lake thousands of years ago, thereby creating the archipelago. Most of the isleta s are covered with vegetation and rich with bird life.

You will take a cruise around the islands and even visit the fort of San Pablo which was built on one of the isletas in order to protect the city of Granada from pirates in the 18th century.

Masaya Volcano Night Tour

The Masaya volcano is very unique because while it is an active volcano, you can actually drive right to the crater. You’ll learn about the volcano from the museum at the entrance of the Masaya Volcano National Park and then you’ll make our way by vehicle up to the top of the volcano. From the top you’ll look down into the crater where you can see lava at the bottom. We will be taking the evening/night tour which will give you a chance to se the lava in the day, and also see the glow of the lava at night.

Masaya Volcano Night Tour

The Masaya volcano is very unique because while it is an active volcano, you can actually drive right to the crater. You’ll learn about the volcano from the museum at the entrance of the Masaya Volcano National Park and then you’ll make our way by vehicle up to the top of the volcano. From the top you’ll look down into the crater where you can see lava at the bottom. We will be taking the evening/night tour which will give you a chance to se the lava in the day, and also see the glow of the lava at night.

Cultural Food and Dance Event

You’ll attend a welcoming cultural event shortly after arriving in Nicaragua. You’ll see traditional dances, hear traditional songs and other unique customs of Nicaragua. The local people will be very excited to show off their traditional entertainment and welcome you to their country.

Cultural Food and Dance Event

You’ll attend a welcoming cultural event shortly after arriving in Nicaragua. You’ll see traditional dances, hear traditional songs and other unique customs of Nicaragua. The local people will be very excited to show off their traditional entertainment and welcome you to their country.

Beginner Surf Lessons

Surfing in Nicaragua is a surfer’s Paradise. Here you’ll find the most high quality waves, and consistent surf conditions in all of Central America. Offshore winds groom perfect almond-shaped barrels from sunrise until sunset. The consistent perfect swells make it ideal for beginners to learn to surf, enjoy the beaches and the islander vibe of the small costal towns.

Beginner Surf Lessons

Surfing in Nicaragua is a surfer’s Paradise. Here you’ll find the most high quality waves, and consistent surf conditions in all of Central America. Offshore winds groom perfect almond-shaped barrels from sunrise until sunset. The consistent perfect swells make it ideal for beginners to learn to surf, enjoy the beaches and the islander vibe of the small costal towns.

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Yuda Ventures Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome all that would like to join us. Teachers, parents, students, etc. Minimum age for Nicaragua and Guatemala is 14, for Zimbabwe is 16 unless accompanied by a parent or older sibling. We have taken volunteers as young as 9 y/o and as old as 85 y/o.

The fees range from $1500-2500 depending on the trip. Volunteer fees cover your accommodations (hotels/lodging), food, transport, service project expenses, activities, inter-country airfare (Guatemala only), etc.

Yes, all money paid to Yuda Bands is tax deductible.

A trip can fluctuate +/- a day based on a variety of factors like airfare, departure location, etc.

Zimbabwe: 13 days

Guatemala: 9 days

Nicaragua: 7 days

See upcoming trips here >

We visit our students and other families in their homes on all trips and bring them clothings/food. Each Yuda Venture varies based on the country and the group of volunteers. A few examples of past projects are:

-Building chicken coops
-Pouring cement floors in homes
-Installing electrical wires in homes
-Leadership trainings with students
-Planting trees
-Painting a hospital and schools
-Painting street traffic signs/cross walks.

Depending on the country and depending on the city we stay in either hotels or lodges/BNBs.

Yes, if you have a group of 10 or more we can do a private trip for your group to any of our three locations. We can be flexible and find travel dates that work for your schedule as long as they don’t interfere with existing Yuda Venture travel dates.

Yes, we encourage all Yuda Venture participants to invite friends or family to join our trip. That being said, many volunteers do not know anyone before joining the trip.