Description
Visitors interested in the communal life at a rural farm will probably greatly enjoy the services offered at the Nicaragua Libre community. Here, on a small scale, farmers offer lodging, food, tours, and other services that enable visitors to experience the country life of these farmers.
Tourists are housed at the communal lodging area which also serves as dining place. There are three shared bedrooms available for an accessible price. Tours also start from this site and there are also some handicrafts for sale, made by the farmers.
Nicaragua Libre offers guided visits to the plantations where corn, beans, coffee, and watermelons are grown, among other products. The price for a guide is US$3 per person for such a tour (for a group of no more than five people per guide). Another interesting event that takes place here are the cockfights with covered spurs (unlike regular cockfights, the cocks are not hurt during these fights). From Nicaragua Libre there is also a hike possible to the nearby Mombacho Volcano.
Nicaragua Libre is managed by a cooperation of farmers that are members of the Union of Cooperative Agriculturalists ‘UCA Tierra y Agua’. This organization also offers other activities in this area like the trails of Aguas Agrias, visits to the La Granadilla community and visit to the Charco Muerto community on the lake's shore and a tour on horseback along the southern slopes of the volcano Mombacho.
Getting There
The Nicaragua Libre community is located in the department of Granada. To get there, take a unpaved road to the left (coming from Granada) at the Monte Verde community, located at kilometer 60.5 of the highway between Granada and Nandaime. Take another left after 300 meters and continue for 200 meters to reach Nicaragua Libre.
Comments
Clara wrote on Jun 26, 2015:
I have the luck to live in Nicaragua Libre for 5 month and help out with the tourism. I work with UCA Tierra y Agua in Granada, but live and help out in NL. I live with the families from the community, each month with a different one :)
It is the most amazing experience, getting to know these kind and giving nicaraguan locals. I learned a lot about their culture and living in the countryside. I don't even know how to describe my feelings towards this place and the people that live there. I fell in love with nature, every single tree and animal. I deeply care for these people!
I have to leave soon and can only hope that other travellers get to experience the beautiful community and its beautiful residents.
Spreading love and words about this community <3 <3 <3
Doro wrote on Jun 26, 2015:
Staying in Nicaragua Libre was an amazing experience. The families in the community are very welcoming and nice. I did not stay in the communal lodging area, but with a host family. It was a great experience to get to know their culture and share some of mine. I went horseback riding and took a guided tour through their agricultural areas. I loved it and will definitely come back one day :)