Cascada Blanca Day Trip from Matagalpa

VAYA Partners with Littlecob Library

VAYA Volunteers is proud to bring English, yoga and dance classes to Littlecob this summer and fall. It was apparent when we walked through the wooden gate and entered the fairytale-like grounds of Littlecob Library that these kids love to be there and want to learn. Everyday is a new experience inspired by the kids willingness to participate in any activity. It is a very wonderful feeling working there! 

Kelly Page and myself, Aubree Christian are the founders and directors of VAYA Volunteers and Experience Exchange, which brings volunteers to Matagalpa, Nicaragua to travel, experience the Nicaraguan culture and give back to the community through volunteering. We focus on teaching English as that is a skill that most volunteers enjoy doing and we find that the kids are eager to learn as much as they can from native speakers. We can really tell which Littlecobblers have been taking advantage of studying English with other Littlecob volunteers! 

VAYA’s English program is based on learning through play. Children are introduced to English as a second language through games, songs, and activities similar to the way they learn their mother tongue. We want children to have a positive, fun experience with English when they are first trying to learn it. This is the best way for them to form a strong English foundation and stay motivated to continue learning English throughout their adolescence.

Another program we are very proud to offer is our free-form extracurricular program. Volunteers can share with the children their interests and skills such as dance, art, photography, sewing and gardening. These are short-term workshops that are organized and executed by volunteers and community members giving kids the opportunity to explore their interests and creativity.

This July we had a volunteer, Camille, who taught kids’ yoga classes using animals in English and basic ballet. The students enjoyed participating and expressing themselves in activities such as freeze dance, mirroring and the name game with movements. It is very exciting to see the kids come together and do something creative and healthy after school. The Littlecobblers always leave each class with smiles on their faces! The classes were such a success that after Camille’s 2 weeks were over the students begged for us to continue the classes with them. All I can say is, we are doing our best to fill Camille’s shoes!

This August we are starting a recycling project using plastic and cardboard materials to build garden sculptures that later on the students will paper mache and paint. We are trying to encourage the Littlecobblers to keep their neighborhood clean by throwing their trash in the bin and helping the environment by reusing and recycling appropriate materials. 

It’s been an honor to partner with Littlecob to provide these classes and VAYA looks forward to many more years of collaboration and growth!

Why Pay to Volunteer with VAYA?

Why Pay to Volunteer?

VAYA does not charge our clients to volunteer whatsoever. Our costs and fees are all associated with our all-inclusive travel package. This includes airport pick-up and transportation, accommodations, three meals a day, 24/7 in-country support, history and walking tour, informational packet, and volunteer training.  Any and all volunteer placement and work is absolutely free - as it should be!

What Volunteers Receive Pre-Trip!

Our volunteers are prepared for their volunteer experience!

Pre-volunteering training and education is provided. Volunteers are sent a pre-departure packet that contains important information about our program, travel requirements, packing list, travel tips and information about Nicaragua. 

What Volunteers Receive Pre-Volunteering! 

On-site orientation including a briefing of the city, explanation of volunteer requirements, safety / health advice, and cultural / historical facts. 

Free walking tour that visits important sites in the city and practical places you’ll need to know (ATMs, pharmacies, supermarkets, etc.). Entrance into the Matagalpa Museum with exhibited about the history of Matagalpa and the coffee industry.  

Your volunteer experience will be organized and impactful! VAYA provides you with all the materials and support you’ll need to teach fun, educational lessons. 

VAYA provides teaching tips and strategies, a teaching journal containing previous lessons the class has had and continual support along the way. We are with you in every lesson to assist. 

Don’t worry if you don’t have any teaching experience.You may opt for a day of assisting with the class before you teach in order to get acquainted with the students and familiarize yourself with the materials. 

What Volunteers Receive Throughout the Trip! 

VAYA is concerned for our volunteers’ safety and well-being. We realistically prepare you for your trip! We have first aid on site and our staff is trained in basic first aid.

We are in contact with excellent clinics and doctors in town as well as helpful pharmacies that can get you what you need. 

A member of VAYA staff is in contact with the volunteers at all times. We know where our volunteers are at and when to expect them back.  We know that traveling to a foreign country can be scary. We provide the peace of mind for you and your family that can take a lot of the stress out of traveling.

Our staff is available 24/7 to your family members back home in the case of an emergency or just to maintain contact. 

VAYA maintains contacts all over Matagalpa and throughout the country. We can help organize reliable, trustworthy transportation, Spanish classes and reservations for hotels and tours. 

At the end of your trip you will have a final meeting with the directors to receive your letter of recommendation and certificate of completion. During this time you can provide feedback about the program and suggestions to help us continue to improve our program. You can reflect on your experience and evaluate your work and impact you made in the students’ lives. 

Experience the rewards you will feel after stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing something so challenging and worthwhile! 

Travel from Matagalpa to Masaya

Although it has a huge cultural center, incredible nightlife, and a volcanic national park, Masaya is often overlooked for its neighbor to the East, Granada. Granada is one of the cities at the top of most tourists’ lists when they come to Nicaragua because of its architecture and it being the oldest colonial city in the country. Because of this, it can feel overwhelmingly touristy - the kind of place where you can’t sit down on a park bench without 10 separate people coming up to you trying to sell you something.

Masaya has managed to stay (at least for the moment) under the radar of many tourists entering the area, which gives it a much calmer feel. This may not be for lack of trying on their part, however, because Masaya boasts the largest artisan market in the country. Craftsmen and artists come from all over to sell their handmade creations here. This essentially has drawn day-trippers from Granada to visit Masaya solely to purchase souvenirs and trinkets and then be off again.

What they are missing is exactly what is worth staying for. Unknown to many tourists is that just a short distance away from the market is Masaya’s baseball stadium, as well as its beautiful municipal park. Here there is a lookout point where you can gaze upon the Laguna de Masaya, and the Volcano National Park directly behind it.  

 Following the boardwalk, you can enter the park. Here you can find people playing chess on tables with newly painted chessboards, families playing with their children on playscapes, couples out for a jog, or people exercising on the built-in ellipticals at the exercise station. Not to mention, there are several restaurants in the center where you can grab a bite to eat. The best thing about this park for tourists, however, is the fact that it is well-lit and there are security guards around every corner. It feels very safe here.

Masaya also has a thriving nightlife. There are several dance clubs close to the park, and a variety of different bars in and around the central park.  One bar in particular called Zona Alf’s, (Del Cuerpo de Bomberos Una Cuadra al Este) located a few blocks from Calle Central has Karaoke, a pool room where yes, even women are welcome to play, and a disco. 

Day-trips outside of Masaya are pretty incredible as well. The Volcano National Park is just 20 minutes away by cab. Here you can either take a tour of Masaya’s active volcano and bat caves in the surrounding areas, or just check it out for yourself. 

Laguna de Apoyo is also a must-see destination. Located between Masaya and Granada, this fresh-water lagoon was formed by a crater and is situated in the middle of lush forest and vegetation. For $6 per person, you can enter Laguna Beach, a beautiful resort with a restaurant, wifi, picnic tables and lounge chairs. Your admission also covers all-day rental of stand-up paddle boards and kayaks. 

You can make the trip by catching a bus at 9:30 in the morning from the bus station in Masaya. The cost is around C$10 cordobas and it will drop you off at the triangle where Laguna Beach is just a short walk. Make sure to catch the bus back at 4:30 in the afternoon because this is the last bus of the day. If you want to stay longer, you can always take a taxi. 

GETTING TO MASAYA FROM MATAGALPA

There is one direct bus from Matagalpa to Masaya that leaves daily at 3:00 pm. The cost is C$70 cordobas and it is 3 hours. You will leave Matagalpa from the South Bus Station, and arrive to Masaya at their Central (only) Station. One detail worth noting, however, is that the direct bus does not run on Thursdays or Sundays.

If your travel plans dictate that you need to leave on a Thursday or a Sunday, or if you would like to leave earlier than 3:00 pm, there is another option - you will just have to have do a bit of fancy footwork and change busses.

First, you will need to take the EXPRESS BUS to MANAGUA. This bus leaves every hour from Matagalpa at 20 minutes past the hour starting at 5:20 am. (5:20, 6:20, 7:20, 8:20, etc.) Unlike Ruteados (normal chicken busses), on Express Busses, you need to buy your ticket in advance and will be given a seat assignment. You can buy your ticket at the ticket window in Matagalpa’s South Bus Station - the cost is $76 cordobas. 

You will travel almost all the way to Managua, but get off at Tipitapa - La Gallera. Plan on it being almost a 2 hour trip. When the attendant comes to check your ticket, just let him know that you are getting off at La Gallera in Tipitapa and he should be able to advise you when it is time. This is a big stop, and many people should be getting off the bus at the same time as you are.

After you disembark, stay at the bus station and look for a chicken bus that says TIPITAPA - MASAYA. One comes every 30 minutes so you shouldn’t have to wait long. This bus will cost C$11 cordobas and will take you all the way to the bus station in Masaya. Plan on this ride taking approx. 45 minutes.

A trip to Masaya is definitely worth the effort if you have time enough to make the treck. It is the perfect weekend getaway after a week of volunteering with VAYA Volunteers! 

Getting to the Managua Airport

Ok, so you’ve had your trip to Nicaragua. You’ve taught English lessons, taken some Spanish classes, traveled to coffee plantations, done some crazy adventurous things — maybe slid down the side of a volcano, surfed San Juan del Sur… You’ve generally had the best time in your entire life, but now it is time to head home and post all your pictures and videos for your friends to be jealous of on your various social media outlets.

But where was that airport again? And how do you get there?

Luckily for you, there is only one airport in all of Nicaragua - the Augusto Sandino International Airport in Managua. Also lucky for you, Managua is pretty centrally located within the country, so it should be no more than a few hours bus ride from your last anywhere around Nicaragua. The only problem is that you were so excited when you arrived, that now the airport is but only a faint memory.

Since Managua is the hub for business and travel around Nicaragua, most big cities have direct busses there. If the bus doesn’t stop at the airport, it is easy to catch a cab straight from the bus station that will take you there. Don’t pay more than $6 for a taxi around Managua.

If you are coming from your home base in Matagalpa, it is really easier than easy to get to the airport. All you have to do is catch the EXPRESS BUS from the Matagalpa Sur bus station. Remember to buy your ticket in advance for the Express Bus because seats are assigned. Busses leave every hour at 20 minutes past the hour.

The bus ride takes almost exactly 2 hours, and it will drop you off right across the street from the airport — just make sure to tell the attendant that your final destination is the airport and they will signal to you when it is time to get off.  Grab your belongings, and voilà! you have arrived! It’s almost too easy.

 Now all you have left to do is cross the street and get on with the rest of this sad, sad day. The Augusto Sandino International airport is tiny, so it is hard to get lost. Head to the right side of the building and follow the signs to your airline to check in. Everyone working there speaks English so you don’t have to worry about how you forgot to learn “I would like to check a bag” in your Spanish classes.

  

There is a small food court with around 7 restaurants to choose from if you are hungry, and several gift shops if you need to pick up that last-minute box of cigars for your uncle. You will then go through security which is located behind the circular statue of heads. Yes, there is a giant circular statue of heads in the airport.

Security should be a breeze for you, provided you haven’t decided to bring any drugs or handguns home with you as souvenirs. You will ride the escalator up to where your gate is located. In this part of the airport, you will find more shops, a Subway, and a small restaurant/bar that you can hang out in if you have lots of time before your flight. There is also a Duty Free Shop where you can buy one last bottle of Flor de Caña, so that you may take those signature Nicaragua hangovers home with you. Once it’s time to board, just take a deep breath and try and hold back the tears. Remember, VAYA Volunteers and Nicaragua will always be here for when you decide to come back.

VAYA Primary School English Classes

VAYA's Primary School English Classes this Spring!! These kids are so fun to work with!! Opportunities abound! Come volunteer with us this summer and see for yourself! Travel with a purpose!

Spring Volunteer Teaching Program 2016-Preschool Classes

We were a little hesitant at first to take on preschool classes, but they have been so rewarding!! The kids have learned so much and we've had a great time! We're looking for volunteers to teach these kids throughout the summer months.



Go to VAYA to fill out an inquiry form if you are interested.

Advice on Traveling with Cash, Credit/Debit Cards and iphones in Nicaragua

Travel tip 1- Always travel with cash!! You'll want to make an effort to keep small bills with you to pay taxi drivers, street vendors and bus attendants. Use your 500 cordoba bills at grocery stores and restaurants where they are more likely to have change. 

Travel tip 2- Jingling coins!! You'll need a small purse or bag for all the coins. Your pockets will fill up fast! 

Travel tip 3- Practice your rounding skills! Don't be surprised at grocery stores if they round up your total to the next cordoba or at least a multiple of 25. For example if your total is 312.48 they will charge you 312.50 cordobas or sometimes C$313.00. This is because there are only 10 cent, 25 cent and 50 cent coins. Pennies and nickels don't exist in this currency.

Travel tip 4- Credit/Debit cards take a back seat. Cards are accepted at some hotels, supermarkets and nice restaurants. However don't be caught off guard by not traveling with cash as well and make sure you ask if they accept cards before you plan on using one. Most cities have a bank street where all the ATMs are located. Ask for "la calle de bancos." 

Travel tip 5-  Lock your credit/debit cards up and do not travel with them whenever is possible! I suggest leaving your credit/debit cards at your accommodations if you are just traveling for the day and have a private room or a locker. My suggestions is always to bring enough cash with you for the day and only bring a debit card with you if you are going to the ATM to withdraw money. That way you don't need to worry about losing or getting your cards stolen, which is a huge pain in the butt! 

Travel tip 6- Download the app for your bank on your phone. A very useful thing to do before you travel is figure out how to freeze your accounts or alert your bank immediately. If your cards do get stolen, you’ll want to act quickly!

Travel tip 7- If you are traveling with an iphone or a mac you will want to log onto the icloud before leaving and activate “find my iphone” or “find my device."  If you don't register your device, it is impossible to use this helpful program to find your device if it is lost or stolen. 

Travel tip 8- Don't put any of these valuable things in outside pockets. While traveling it's common to want to put things like money and phones in easy to access spots in your bag because you are constantly getting them out and putting them away. Just keep in mind that it's also easy access for others!

Being Bilingual Changes Your Brain!

You may have noticed, as we have, how quickly children learn a second language compared to adults. It's inspiring to watch how children pick up new vocabulary words or use grammar correctly after hearing it just once!

Well adults, don't be too hard on yourselves...children are still able to use and change their brains in ways that are not available to adults. There is something known as the Critical Period Hypothesis, which explains how when learning a language as a child, you are able to use both the left and right side of the brain.

Watch this short 5 minute TED talk for more information about this interesting subject!
TED Talk- The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain

Then visit www.vayavolunteers.com to find out how you can volunteer to teach English to children in Nicaragua who at lucky to be in this critical learning period!

Also check out what we're doing in our classes!
VAYA's English Classes

Tips for traveling by bus in Nicaragua

Travel tip 1- Know before you go!! Make sure you know what bus station you are going to before you get on a bus or in a taxi. Most cities have multiple stations that service different areas of Nicaragua. They can be in completely different locations in the city and may be known as estación norte or sur. It may be hard to find the names of the bus stations online but if you say your destination, the taxi drivers will know which bus station to leave you at. For example if you are trying to go to Leon from Managua you would say, “La estación de bus a Leon.” 

Travel tip 2- It's up to you!! Use the restroom before you go to the bus station or wait until you arrive to your destination. The bus stations have hidden bathrooms that you can pay to use however because they are public restrooms you’d probably rather pay to not have to go into them. Do not drink a lot of liquids on the bus, travel with toilet paper always and if if you're worried about hygiene pack your own hand sanitizer or wipes. 

Travel tip 3- Recommended!! Show up for your bus 30 minutes early. Because most of the buses fill up fast, you’ll need to get there ahead of time to secure a seat. Otherwise you could be standing for a long time. You have to buy tickets for the expreso buses because they have assigned seating. There should be a desk at the bus station that sells the tickets. If they've sold all of the seats they will still sell tickets without a seat number, this means you will be standing in the aisle until someone gets off the bus and gives up their seat.   

Travel tip 4- This is a good one!! If you're hungry but running out of time, just get on the bus and wait for the vendors to come to you. They will walk up and down the aisles of the bus selling soda, water, breads, donuts, fruits and many other products. Most of the bags of food or drinks will cost between 10-20 cordobas. If you are getting a bag of rice, chicken and plantains or a quesillo it will be around 25 cordobas. 

Travel tip 5- Don't be overcharged! You should not have to pay extra to bring your bag on the bus. Occasionally bus attendants have been known to tell backpackers that they have to pay for their bag. Just tell them no and keep your bag with you. It is normal to charge extra for bikes or larger items they have to put on the top, usually 10-20 cordobas a piece. 

Travel tip 6- Nicaraguans are really helpful!! If you’re not sure exactly where to get off the bus or the bus doesn’t end at your location, sit close to the front or back of the bus so you can ask the bus attendant to tell you where your stop is. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you can just say the name of where you are going and they will usually tell you when you’re close. 

Traveling in Nicaragua- Helpful Tips about Taxis and Buses!

Travel tip- When you get off a bus and are trying to figure out where to go from there it can be overwhelming how many people will approach you and ask you where you are going. We’ve learned that it’s best to push past these initial people and get out of the station area for a minute. Get yourself organized and make a plan and then you can ask a person or taxi how to get to the city center or your hotel. The initial mob will always be there if you can’t find someone to help you, you can walk back and talk to one of them. They will usually give you a quote that is very high so make sure you know what the taxi ride should cost you before you go. 

You should never pay more than 50 cordobas or $1.50 a person for a transfer in a taxi, Laguna de Apoyo has been the only exception we’ve found so far. 

Travel tip- Very often the bus stations are located next to the market areas. If you get a city map from hotel or tour office, the bus stations will not always be marked on the map but the markets will be. That’s a good starting point 

Travel tip- You do not pay the bus fare when you enter the bus. During the drive an attendant will walk through the bus and collect the money. The mini buses will stop halfway through the trip and collect the money from everyone. 

Travel tip- Certified taxis with have a license plate with red strips on the top and bottom. License plates for normal cars will not have red stripes and will have a blue shape of the country behind the plate number. 

Las Peñitas, Nicaragua- Best Beach Vacation

If you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation that's affordable, look no further! Las Peñitas is the place for you! Las Peñitas is a picturesque little fishing village on the northern pacific coast of Nicaragua. It is the perfect get-away, just 3 hours by chicken bus from Matagalpa. Here you can watch the waves roll in and out as you lounge at one of the bars/restaurants on the beach. There are also several surf shops that offer lessons or board rentals for those more adventurous travelers.

VAYA Kid's English Lessons

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Check out this 4 minute video to see what our classes are like!

How should I pack for my trip to Nicaragua?

*Try to only travel with a bag that you are able to carry on your lap if need be. (45 liter bags should be the max, 60 liters is just too big!) Some chicken buses and mini buses will have storage in the back or top racks but not all of them. If you have to travel with multiple bags, make sure you put all your valuable in a smaller bag that is attached to you at all times. 

*Don’t let your luggage out of your sight, especially if it contains valuables. This includes putting your luggage in the top racks above your head where you can’t see it at all times. It’s best to put your luggage above the seat in front of you so you can always see it. The buses tend to fill up with many people having to stand in the aisle and hold onto the bars. It’s very easy for them to reach into bags that are open or not being watched. 

Bus Routes and Prices from Matagalpa

Las Peñitas: Nicaragua's Northern Coastline

Just 3 hours southeast of Matagalpa lies the sleepy beach town of Las Peñitas. Far from the crowds, noise, and general party scene of the more well-known San Juan del Sur to the south, Las Peñitas offers another type of beach excursion that is no less amazing.

Because it is not as well known as San Juan del Sur, the prices at hotels and restaurants are cheaper, the beaches are cleaner and less crowded, and you don’t have to worry about vendors coming up to you every 5 minutes selling hammocks or sunglasses. 

In fact, you don’t have to worry about anyone selling anything to you… at any time. Because of its relatively undiscoveredness (is that a word?),  this is not your typical beach town where you would expect to find surf shops on every corner selling any number of beach-related necessities like towels or sunscreen. Forget about that idea right now. There is one mini-mart-esque store ( they are called pulperias in Nicaragua) that will sell you snacks and water, but that’s about it. 

Bottom Line: Bring everything you need. That means towel, sunblock, bathing suit, extra bathing suit in case your bottoms get carried away after you bite it on a particularly gnarly wave, flip flops, shampoo, floss, sunglasses, etc. Las Peñitas has everything you could ever want, but nothing that you need when your contact falls out of your eye.

In short, Las Peñitas really doesn’t know what it has. This is a one-street town where every other beach-facing house is either abandoned or in disrepair. There are a handful of hostels and hotels that cater to tourists, but it’s easy to mistake many of them as closed from the street. 

That being said, don’t judge a book by its cover. Just take one stroll along the beach and you will be in awe of its pristine coastline dotted with palm trees to one side, and rock formations jutting out of the water on the other. Several surf shops line the beach offering board rentals and lessons as well – Another secret: Las Peñitas offers up waves just as good as SJDS.

Several hotels and hostels here are situated right on the beach, meaning you can literally roll out of bed, walk out your door, and have your toes in the sand to enjoy a $2 breakfast piña colada in less than 30 seconds. Not bad for between $20-$35 a night for a private room, right?

So now that you are extremely excited to go, here are some tips on how to make it happen:

• The chicken bus to Leon leaves Matagalpa at 6am sharp. Get up early. Sleep on the bus. It’s worth it.
• Once you arrive to Leon, take a taxi to the Sutiyaba Bus Station. This should run you about 30c per person. On the corner of the bus station, you will catch another chicken bus bound for Poneloya and Las Peñitas. Hop on. This leg will cost you 13c pp.
• The chicken bus will first take you to Poneloya, then turn around and head for Las Peñitas. Again, this town is only one street, about 2km long so you can’t get lost. Just ask someone on the bus, or look out the RIGHT-BEACH-FACING- WINDOW to see where your hotel is.
  
• It is a good idea to book your accommodations prior to leaving Matagalpa. We recommend Playa Roca ($7/dorm, $20/semi-private room, $35/private room with a/c per night). This place is amazing and RIGHT ON THE BEACH.
• Most places don’t offer refrigerators, so you will most likely be eating all of your meals out. We recommend Barca de Oro. This place is also an awesome hotel, if you find that Playa Roca is booked. They have the best fish tacos you have ever had in your life. Their ambiance is awesome, and they are affordable (around 80c-120c for a meal) They are located at the very end of the bus route. You can’t miss it.
  
• Again – Pack smart. Don’t forget your towel! If you are planning on staying in a dorm, don’t forget to bring a good lock.
• There are no ATMs in Las Peñitas so get money out before you leave Matagalpa or Leon. Most hotels and restaurants take credit cards, and will keep a tab for you for food and drinks,  but have some cash handy – especially to get back. 
• Getting back: The chicken bus comes through town every hour and blasts its horn to let you know it’s on its way. The last bus to Leon is at 6:40.
• The last chicken bus from Leon to Matagalpa is at 2:45. You can catch it at the main bus station. Be aware that since this is an Express Bus, you will need to buy your ticket before you board. We suggest you get to the bus station no later than 30 minutes before your bus is scheduled to depart. Buy your ticket from the driver as you get on the bus - you will be given a ticket with an assigned seat.

Now all that’s left to do is plan your journey! And above all, for the love of God, don’t forget your towel.