Nicaragua Pacific Coast: Sea Turtle Conservation, Environmental Restoration & Volcano Sandboarding

My trip to Jiquilillo with GIVE Volunteers was nothing short of life-changing. Nicaragua is a beautiful country filled with beautiful souls. I was amazed at how the community comes together to build houses and teach kids and clean up the beaches. The kids were incredibly helpful and kind-hearted. One of them, I think his name was Carlitos, was playing with the blow-up globe that was donated. He came up to me and a few other volunteers and wanted to know where we were from. It really put into perspective how much we mean to this community and how badly these kids want to learn from us and the world in general.
You can tell how much GIVE being back in Jiquilillo means to the community. One single mom, Sarah, welcomed us into her home and taught us how to make cheese. While we were there, we got to know each other and she told us all about how her husband had divorced her and she was left alone with the house and the kids. I don't think I have ever met a woman as strong as Sarah. She was truly inspiring and her story moved us to tears. She spoke about how GIVE being back in Nicaragua after a time of political strife symbolized hope for the community. It is now our duty to go back into the world and tell everyone about how Nicaragua is not the scary, conflict-torn place that the media portrays it to be. We need to humanize Nicaragua and tell the stories of those who can't tell their own.
I am forever grateful for my time in Nicaragua. The people I met, locals and volunteers included, left a permanent mark on my heart. I hope that everyone gets a chance to have an experience like mine, as it will truly change your life for the better.

Nicaragua was truly a life changing experience. I was able to interact with the community of Jiquillio on a more personal level and create friendships that will last forever. I worked side by side with a climate change refugee, Donã Socorro, to build her new home. The first time seeing her unlock her front door was a feeling that will stick in my heart. I also taught English to a levels of age groups. Arriving to the the bottle school and seeing everyone so eager to learn was inspirational. I had the opportunity to learn to how surf, salsa dance, make cheese and tortillas, fillet a fish, make bracelets, and refresh my Spanish. A review can only explain so much but being immersed in an amazing country with incredibly talented people will send warmth all throughout your body.

This was by far the most amazing trip I have ever been on. I cannot stress enough how important it is to give places like Nicaragua a chance - especially Jiquilillo!!! Monty's was absolutely wonderful (the food was INSANELY good) & the town itself is so simple; every local I came in contact with was so friendly. The sense of community within this place is absolutely astounding - I have never felt safer in a place. The staff at monty's has my whole heart, as well as each of my guides - Daniela, Carmen, & Alvaro. I am so excited to travel back tooth's little fishing community with GIVE; there is so much potential here... from Carlos teaching English to Ramon giving mangrove tours to Felix making bracelets & teaching us how to surf. Ever person in this community is so pure at heart - such beautiful souls all around. I encourage anyone who is on the fence about this trip to just do it - take the leap, step out of your comfort zone, find yourself, whatever it is. I did, & it was the best decision I have ever made.

Nicaragua was one of my very first experiences outside of the USA without my family. This country is full of beautiful people and beautiful places. I'm so happy I found GIVE when I did because it's completely changed the way I travel.

I really enjoyed the adventure and volunteering aspect of the trip. Even the volunteering ended up being an adventure and some of my favorite memories were the little moments where I could unplug and disconnect. Nothing beats playing soccer with the local boys on the beach at sunset. I went not knowing anyone and found some of my best friends on this trip, learned so much about different people and the complexities behind development. Once I got home it completely changed what I studied in school.

Everyone should go on a GIVE trip!

I went to Nicaragua with GIVE Volunteers during one of their winter trips in January. It was the mainland program so we spent 9 days in Jiquilillo, a small fishing village on the northwest coast of Nica, and then 4 days in Little Corn Island in the Caribbean part of Nica. I cannot speak highly enough about this organization. The guides were so fun, interactive, and knowledgeable on the country and I learned so much from them about being a global citizen, environmentally conscious, and part of Team Human. There was never a dull moment on my trip, and I made friends for life that I still talk to almost every day, one year later. GIVE Volunteers is the best volunteering organization I have worked with, and I’m so excited to be traveling with them again this upcoming May to Thailand and Laos! Don’t think, just do it!!!

This trip not only took me on a journey of enlightenment, but it also led me to my people. I got to connect and network with such genuine, good hearted individuals and that was an absolute blessing. Immersing myself into the community that we visited and appreciating their way of life made a wonderful impact on me and altered my outlook on life. Point blank, my trip changed my life, in the best possible way. With GIVE, you’ll travel the world sustainably while giving back to this beautiful planet, go on exciting adventures and excursions, and meet your people. This not something you will regret partaking in, buy it is something you will regret not doing. Nicaragua is now my home away from home. Spending my days teaching the local children English, and my night in a hammock under the start surrounded by my new family was one of the best things I have ever experienced. Not to mention, sand boarding down an active volcano is pretty gnarly too!

It's difficult to put my experience with GIVE into words. I never thought I could learn so much about myself and the ocean in one trip. The staff, the dive shop, the island and the people were so incredible during this experience. You can tell when you are on a give trip that it is about more than just running a volunteer trip but they genuinely take the time to get to know every single volunteer. Reef conservation was amazing. After learning so much about the ocean and it's mysterious ways, we actually got to build an artificial reef! I made so many friends and truly felt like I was making an impact. I have always loved the ocean unconditionally but when I learned how much it needed protection, it made my love even deeper. After my GIVE scuba trip, I not only had my certificate in open water diving but I also had motivations to live more sustainably to help make a positive impact on the oceans and reefs. 10/10 would recommend Scuba diving with GIVE!!!
It is also safe and a good starting point for new divers!

Everyone that knows me knows how much I was truly impacted by my GIVE trips. After spending a month in SE Asia with GIVE, I immediately came back and signed up for another trip, this time to Nicaragua. Nica was everything I could’ve imagined and more. Our first week was spent in Jiquilillo right on the beach where the staff was so friendly and accommodating (not to mention had the cutest dogs). We spent our days on the worksite mixing concrete for the school kitchen we were helping build with the locals, and spent our evenings releasing baby sea turtles into the ocean while enjoying the most incredible sunsets you have ever seen. The best thing about GIVE is how interconnected the volunteers and the locals are and how conscious they are about what the community needs and empowering them to achieve their highest success. We then traveled from Jiquilillo to Little Corn Island where we were offered the chance to learn how to scuba dive, learn about climate change through first hand experiences, and help teach kids in the reading room. To this day Little Corn Island is one of my most favorite places I have ever traveled to, and I am positive my experience would not have been the same had I not gone with GIVE. I met so many amazing people on my trips, from my guides, to the locals, to my fellow volunteers, who have become life long friends. I can’t recommend this trip and GIVE enough!