Help Support Local Schools in El Manzano Uno, Nicaragua

Aserradores, Nicaragua

SF
Surf For Life
  • Email address verified
2 reviews
Feb 22 - Mar 1, 2025
Group size: 5 - 13
Help Support Local Schools in El Manzano Uno, Nicaragua
Aserradores, Nicaragua

Surf For Life
  • Email address verified
2 reviews

Feb 22 - Mar 1, 2025
Group size: 5 - 13

About this trip

TRIP EXPENSES AND FUNDRAISING REQUIREMENT

The total commitment for your Surf For Life adventure is $2,750. This includes:

  1. Trip Cost: $750
  • This amount covers all of your expenses for the trip except for airfare, and optional additions like alcohol. (See 'What's Included/not included?' at the bottom of the page).
  1. Fundraising Requirement: $2,000
  • This is your chance to make a big impact! Each participant is required to contribute or fundraise $2,000 as a direct donation to the in-country community partner and the bricks-and-mortar project we will be executing, as well as ongoing Surf For Life projects. This donation is tax deductible.

For the $2,000 donation, you have several options:

  • Donate it yourself - Be your own hero!
  • Fundraise for it - Rally your friends and family around a good cause!
  • Leverage a company match program, if available - Double your impact!

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Surf For Life will support our participants in fundraising for the donation portion by sharing our own fundraising ideas- including contributions from friends and family, company matches, fundraisers, or other creative means.

Our Community Partner: Waves of Hope

We are once again uniting with Waves of Hope to embark on a transformational venture to the coastal communities surrounding El Manzano #1 in northern Nicaragua. Building upon the remarkable collaboration between Waves of Hope and Surf For Life, our unwavering mission is to extend our commitment to local education, health and infrastructure. Our focus remains steadfast on the High School and elementary schools that have already benefited from our collective efforts.


We are poised to engage in a spectrum of meaningful projects, encompassing essential infrastructure enhancements, necessary maintenance, creative improvements, and fostering an environment conducive to learning. Through our actions, we aim to nurture an atmosphere where students can thrive and the community can take pride in its educational institutions.


While Waves of Hope's primary mission centers around educational advancement, our journey is multi-faceted. With a deep commitment to holistic engagement, we are dedicated to fostering connections and forging lasting relationships. Interactive sessions with students, dynamic extracurricular activities, and cultural exchanges will infuse our expedition with vibrancy, ensuring our impact resonates far beyond the projects themselves.


Waves of Hope is the cornerstone of this transformative initiative. With a commitment to community-driven change, they have spearheaded meaningful projects that resonate with the soul of the surrounding communities. Our collective efforts will build upon this, fostering progress and empowerment.  


Find out more at www.waves-of-hope.com and https://visitcocoloco.com/ 

About the Location: El Manzano Uno

The community of El Manzano #1 has a relatively short but interesting history.  First settled in the 1950s as an area for the Samoza dictatorship to grow cotton, the principal industries are now fishing, farming and tourism.  While it is still a very rural and quaint area, tourism has helped the area to become more established with better infrastructure and safer employment opportunities.  

With consistent and fun waves for all levels of surf, the area has become an off the beaten path surf destination. The beautiful beaches, pristine mangroves, friendly community and natural wildlife offers adventure and charm. 

Accommodations: Coco Loco Eco Resort

As we step foot into this enchanting coastal realm, our home will be Coco Loco Eco-Resort


Nestled within nature's embrace, this eco-conscious sanctuary aligns seamlessly with our ethos of sustainable living and community engagement. Cozy and comfortable, the palm roof cabanas sit amongst a variety of tropical flowers, coconuts and other fruit trees, offering a serene haven for reflection and rejuvenation.  The open air yoga studio, restaurant and pool area allows volunteers to enjoy the peace and tranquility of Coco Loco both before and after a hard day’s work at the local schools.

What’s included

  • Pre Trip Support
    support in travel planning, fundraising, and all things to set you up for a great trip
  • Accommodation
    7 nights luxury shared accommodation
  • Meals
    breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
  • Local Liason
    in country and SFL leaders
  • Transport
    daily transport to and from worksite & activities
  • Airport Pick Up/Drop Off
    to/from Managua Int'l Airport on arrival/departure days
  • Acitivities
    daily activities and excursions curated by our local partner to engage in the local culture and community

What’s not included

  • Project Donation
    Each volunteer is required to fundraise an additional $2000 for a tax deductible donation to the bricks and mortar project, community partners, and future Surf For Life projects
  • Airfare
    from your home base to Managua International Airport
  • Travel Insurance
    medical/emergency/travel Insurance; we strongly recommend purchasing insurance; please see our FAQs for guidance
  • Additional Food/Drinks
    alcohol, snacks, drinks outside of meal time
  • Weekly surfboard rental
    additional surfboard rental beyond initial surf lesson

Available Packages

Shared Double Room, 7 day project

Shared double occupancy room; please note on the participant info page if you are booking with a friend and would like to share with them. Single occupancy based on availability at an extra cost.

$750
Deposit: $150

Your Organizer


SF
Surf For Life
2 reviews
Surf For Life is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that sponsors high-impact, sustainable infrastructure projects in underserved international communities. We design these projects in collaboration with our in-country partners and local community members to alleviate the area’s most pressing needs as identified by the local families, including access to education, healthcare, and economic development.

Reviews

Surf For Life and our leaders, Lisa and Lara organized a life changing experience with the help of their local partners in El Manzano Uno. We were met at the airport in Managua and set off on a beautiful drive north, past farmland and volcanoes. Coco Loco's cozy cabins are nestled in the Palms adjacent to an incredible beach and surf break. We have never experienced a more warm, welcoming and friendly community. Each day brought one delicious meal after another served with big smiles and attention paid to all dietary needs. Every person in the community was genuinely excited to meet us and connect with us while working together to build the shed that was designed to protect the potable water pump that served the entire village of El Manzano. We were all excited to get to the work site each day, but to be sure, it was not all work and no play; the daily schedule included surf, yoga, chocolate making, ice baths, sunset walks as well as other fun and restorative activities before and after our service work. The highlight of our week was spending time with the local children during "Kids Club", the after school program sponsored by Coco Locos. It was hard to leave our new found Nicaraguan family and we hope to join another Surf for Life trip in 2026!
By Kathryn Z for Help Support Local Schools in El Manzano Uno, Nicaragua on Apr 07, 2025
WL
Amazing! Cultural exchange in Nicaragua where we got to immerse ourselves in the local community, learn about a new culture, contribute to a needed brick and mortar project, surf in a beautiful spot and leave with friends for life.
By Wendy L for Help Support Local Schools in El Manzano Uno, Nicaragua on Mar 11, 2025