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Visit to the ecotourism experience at the Finca Esperanza Verde

ViaNica.com | Oct 16, 2008

Salvador Espinoza Rivera
Special correspondence

The scenery from the heights of the mountains near Matagalpa is simply impressive, a view which can be enjoyed from the Finca Hotel Esperanza Verde, located in the district of La Chispa, community of Yúcul, in the San Ramón municipality, at just 30 km from the city of Matagalpa along the highway to Hobo.

ViaNica.com was invited by the non-governmental organization Rainforest Alliance (RA) to become acquainted with the work or this organization. The visit was organized as part of the Central American Travel Market, which took place in Managua between October 10-12, and which involved so-called "pre tours" to present national tourism destinations to international press and businesses.

The aim of the trip was to show one of the rising Nicaraguan sustainable tourism options to the international and national media, such as Univisión, BBC London and Nica Times.

This farm-hotel, which has not yet received their certification from the RA, has a long history of important development projects, such as environmental education for their workers and for the community, waste and water treatment, and the promotion of the community's culture and social work.

The farm has 115 manzanas (almost 200 acres) of land for coffee cultivation, and 35 manzanas (60 acres) as ecological reserve. It was presented as a tranquil place that offers several recreational activities that help disconnect from daily life; the visit to the farm-hotel by itself also guarantees being contributing to the integral development of the community.