TRIP EXPENSES AND FUNDRAISING REQUIREMENTThe 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). Your trip cost will be due 2 months prior to the first day of your trip. 

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. Your donation is due before the first day of your trip. 

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. 

A Journey of Continued Impact: Empowering Rural Communities with Surf For Life and 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.

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.

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. 

 While our 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 www.cocolocoecoresort.com.  

We will be staying at Coco Loco Eco Resort.

Surf for Life Cancellation Policy

The total financial commitment of your trip includes:

●      the direct volunteer expenses (the Trip Fee paid at booking) and

●      the direct donation to the in-country partner and Surf for Life (either fundraised with outside sources or directly donated through our website at least one month prior to trip start).

Our cancellation policy was developed to primarily honor the contracts with our in-country community partners, local businesses and the SFL team. Additionally, we want to give grace and flexibility to our volunteers with their ever changing schedules and unexpected circumstances that come up. Without your financial support, these projects wouldn’t be possible. Things happen, plans change. We get it!

We highly recommend that you purchase insurance that includes a clause “cancel for any reason”. Please read the policy carefully to ensure that you will be covered. Travel Insurance should be purchased 2-3 weeks from your initial deposit date.

Surf for Life Cancellations:

●      If your trip needs to be canceled by Surf for Life due to any unforeseen reason beyond our control (such as a natural disaster, political unrest in the trip destination country), Surf for Life is not liable for refunds or travel costs (your direct volunteer expenses). This allows us to honor and protect our local partners in extreme circumstances. In purchasing your own travel insurance, you will alleviate any financial burden on yourself and Surf for Life.

If the community project is no long happening due to the unforeseen circumstances that caused the cancellation of the trip, you will have the option to either continue to use any money fundraised to donate towards our non profit partner on the ground or to have your donation refunded to you or whomever contributed towards your trip. We will reach out to discuss what you would like to do with your directly donated funds.

●      SFL requires  a minimum of 5 participants per trip. If your trip is canceled due to not enough participants, , we will notify you as soon as possible at a minimum of 60 days prior to the trip start date. We will issue a full refund to you of any money paid or give credit payment towards another SFL trip should you choose to do so instead. .

Volunteer Cancellations:

●      Cancellation more than 60 days before the start date of the trip:

○      Transfer your Trip Fee and direct donation directly to another SFL trip within 365 days

○      Apply as a credit for a future trip within 365 days

○      Receive a full refund minus the $50 administration fee.

If you choose to transfer your trip fee or receive credit you will not be charged the $50 administration fee

●      Cancellations within 30- 60 days before start date of the trip:

○      Transfer your Trip Fee and direct donation to another SFL trip within 365 days

○      Apply as a credit for a future trip within 365 days

○      Receive a refund of Trip Fee minus the $50 administration fee

○      As the project commitment has been made at this point which is only possible through your direct donation, we are not able to refund your donation at this time. If you have not yet made your donation towards the project, we will invoice you for this amount.

If you choose to transfer your trip fee or receive credit you will not be charged the $50 administration fee

●      Cancellations within 30 days of the trip:

○      There will be no refund given after 30 days.  Any unpaid/remaining balance after cancellation within 30 days is still due and we will invoice you for the amount.

***The majority of your financial commitment is a direct donation to Surf for Life and our local community partner. If you need to cancel your trip but would like to make a full or partial donation to support this project, please let us know and we will provide you with a donation receipt for your records.

***(For any questions, comments or curiosities regarding our cancellation policy, please email trips@surfforlife.org

Please note this is a sample itinerary of day to day activities; our actual itinerary might change according to needs of the community, weather, etc.

Day 1 (Saturday): 
● Arrival in El Manzano #1 
● Welcome, itinerary overview & group dinner 

Day 2 (Sunday): 
● Morning: Group surf lesson  

● Afternoon: Community Service Project Orientation, yoga
● Sunset Optional Surf and Group Dinner 

Day 3 (Monday):  

● Morning: Optional Early Surf and Community Service Project  

● Afternoon Activities-  Yoga, Chocolate making class   

● Sunset Optional Surf and Group Dinner   

Day 4 (Tuesday):  

● Morning: Optional Early Surf and Community Service Project  

● Afternoon: Kickball with local Women's Team, yoga 

● Sunset Optional Surf and Group Dinner   

Day 5 (Wednesday):  

● Morning: Optional Early Surf and Community Service Project  

● Afternoon: Free time, Volcano Experience, Leon tour, Flor de Caña tour, etc. 

● Sunset and Optional Surf and Group Dinner   

Day 6 (Thursday):  

● Morning: Optional Early Surf and Community Service Project  

● Afternoon: Help with Local English Classes, yoga 

● Sunset Optional Surf and Group Dinner   

Day 7 (Friday):  

● Optional surf, yoga 

● Mangrove Boat Tour/Snorkeling 

● Sunset Surf and Final Group Dinner  

Day 8 (Saturday):  

● Shuttle Transport back to Managua, Nicaragua