Programa de Agro-Ecoturismo, UCA San Ramon, Ingles

About UCA San Ramón……………. 1
Tourism Offerings…………………… 2
Community Profiles…………………. 4
La Reyna………………………...... 4
La Pita…………………………....... 6
La Corona…………………………. 8
El Roblar………………………....... 10
El Trentino………………………… 12
La Hermandad……………………. 13
Cafetería Monte Grande…………… 14
Volunteer and Internship
Opportunities……………………… 17
Group Information…………………... 18
Pre-Arrival Information……………... 19

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A second-level cooperative, La Union de Cooperativas Agropecuarios Augusto Cesar Sandino (UCA San
Ramón) works with 18 agricultural cooperatives in farming communities in the municipality of San Ramón.
UCA San Ramón was formed on April 26, 1992 primarily to work in defense of small landowners during the
agricultural reform of the 1990s. As such, UCA San Ramón’s primary focus is and has been to support and
aide small landowners. UCA San Ramón is democratically controlled by its associates and strives to promote
integrated and sustainable community development. In order to fulfill this mission, UCA San Ramón’s primary
activities are as follows:
− Providing loans to help advance agricultural production (primarily coffee, basic grains, vegetables,
and cattle)
− Offering legal advice
− Providing training and technical assistance
− Promoting gender equality in the cooperatives through various campaigns and workshops
− Promoting and teaching sustainable agriculture techniques and methods
− Working on projects related to environmental conservation
UCA San Ramón also works on various social projects and programs in order to increase the standard of
living of associates. These include but are not limited to student grants for secondary, technical, and university
studies available to the associates and their children; housing and latrines; support with increasing access to
potable water; improvement of community trails and pathways; and support with special healthcare needs.
Over the past ten years, UCA San Ramón has worked to develop an ecotourism sector as a way to
diversify the income of associates. This program provides a way for associates to share their culture and
livelihood with tourists while also helping to educate the general public about the need for just business
practices in the coffee industry.

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These offerings are applicable to all of our communities that have agro-ecotourism programs. Distance-wise, it
is easier to do a half or full day tour in the communities of La Reyna, La Pita, or El Trentino.
HALF DAY TOUR
Cost: U$D 17.00 per person for groups larger than three
people, U$D 28.00 per person for groups smaller than three
people
Includes:
− Coffee Tour, includes hike to a viewpoint (you may
substitute in another tour if you desire)
− Lunch with a family
− Guide services
− Sample a cup of coffee
FULL DAY TOUR
Cost: U$D 22.00 per person for groups larger than three
people, U$D 33.00 per person for groups smaller than three
people
Includes:
− Coffee Tour, includes hike to a viewpoint (if
community does not have coffee tours, you may
choose another kind)
− Lunch with a family
− Depending on community:
o Gold mine tour (La Reyna)
o Pool access (La Pita)
o Historic artifact tour (El Trentino)

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Contact us to set up your eperience today! Give us a call, send us an email, or stop by our office. We are
located in the community of San Ramón, Matagalapa next to Hotel Las Orquideas. In order to visit us from
Matagalpa, you can take a bus from the station in the Guanuca Market (9 córdobas) or a collective taxi from
the San Ramon taxi stop in Guanuca Market, near the Maxipalí (20 córdobas).
ONE DAY, ONE NIGHT
Cost: U$D 40.00 per person
Includes:
− All meals
− Coffee Tour
§ Tour of toastaderia (El Roblar)
§ Hike to waterfall (La Corona)
§ Gold mine tour (La Reyna)
§ Access to pool, meeting with women
artisan cooperative (La Pita)
§ Historic artiact tour (El Trentino)
§ Agroecology tour (La Hermedad)
− Cooking Workshop
− Specialty coffee from Cafetería Monte
Grande
THREE DAYS, TWO NIGHTS
Cost: U$D 85.00 per person
Includes:
− All meals
− Coffee tour
− Guided hikes and bird watching
− Meeting with artisans
− Cooking workshop
− Information about how the cooperative functions and
background history
§ Tour of toastaderia (El Roblar)
§ Hike to waterfall (La Corona)
§ Gold mine tour (La Reyna)
§ Access to pool, meeting with women artisan
cooperative (La Pita)
§ Historic artifact tour (El Trentino)
§ Agroecology tour (La Hermedad)
− Specialty coffee from Cafetería Monte Grande

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Population: 2,000 people
Cooperative: Danilo González
Altitude: 900 msnm
Average Temperature: 18°C a 21°C
How to Get There: La Reyna is located 3.5 km from the UCA office in San Ramón. It is just a short bus ride
(10 córdobas) or taxi ride (100 córdobas) away. If you have your own vehicle, we recommend four-wheel drive.
ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE:
Cooperativa Danilo González received official status on September 6, 1986. Made up of 69 members, 35 of
who are men and 34 of who are women, they primarily produce coffee as well as basic grains over a land area
of 629 manzanas. Their coffee is sold through a program with Community Agroecology Network (CAN) called
AgroEco to Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company and Universities in California.
INTERESTING FACT:
As the center of gold production for Northern Nicaragua during the 1930s, La Reyna has a rich history
surrounding the mining industry. During your stay in the community, you’ll have the opportunity to go on a
historic gold mine tour that includes a chance to explore one of the old mines.
TOURISM OFFERINGS:
• Coffee tour
• Guided hikes to view flora and fauna and a viewpoint
• Gold mine tour
• Meeting with guitar and seed (for jewelry) artisans
• Traditional Nicaraguan cooking workshops (tortillas, nacatamales)
• Natural medicine workshop
• Access to the community eco-park
• Biodigestor
• Cultural activities
• English speaking guide
• Guest houses
• Volunteer opportunities
HISTORY:
The community of La Reyna initially formed in the early 1900s as a result of foreign interest in the land and
minerals of the area. Originally, La Reyna belonged to a wealthy North American, Augustine Framberg, and his
German wife. The Framberg family bought the land when coffee cultivation began in the area.

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Gold mining began shortly there after. A company of North Americans and English men called the “Matagalpa
Mine Company” rented land from the Frambergs to mine for gold. The 30 families living in La Reyna at the time
became the company’s principle workforce. Further up the mountain, the Framberg family continued producing
poultry and coffee in a part of the community that has now become known as Monte Grande.
The gold mines in La Reyna became the main source of income for many people, both nationally and
internationally. The community’s name “La Reyna” (The Queen) comes from the quantity and quality of the
gold the community produced.
Despite the prosperity the mines created for some, they also had many devastating effects in the lives of the
workers. Very few, if any, safety precautions were taken to protect the health of the workers. Sometimes, they
would cut into a water source and the trapped men would drown. Most worked barefoot and bare-chested
without facemasks in poorly ventilated conditions. Food and eating utensils were scarce and often
contaminated. As a result, germs passed easily among workers and several developed lung problems from
consistent inhalation of dust. Tuberculosis was the most common disease passed between workers.
Additionally, although the mines generated employment that many in the community relied on, they also
resulted in great destruction to the land. They contributed to deforestation and deep evacuations in the water
resources. The actions of the Framberg family were not much better. They stripped much of the land bare,
resulting in the loss of vast amounts of virgin forest.
The final foreign owners of La Reyna abandoned their land in 1986 as a result of their disagreement with the
agrarian reform implanted by the Sandinista government. Because La Reyna had essentially been built upon
foreign interests, they were dependent upon outside investment. When this investment left, many families were
left without a viable way to provide for themselves. At this time, a group of community members saw the
necessity to work together and form a cooperative.
The cooperative received official status on September 6, 1987 with 80 members. They chose the name “Danilo
González” because of a young member of the community who was called up for military service when he was
only 16 years old. He was just about to end his service when he was shot and killed in the nearby city of
Jinotega. Although there were many people in the community who lost their lives in the war, the cooperative
chose to honor this young boy for his bravery in fighting for the land and rights of the people.
The cooperative aims to guarantee each member a piece of land to produce coffee, basic grains, and
vegetables while also working to conserve the virgin forest and ensure the sustainability of their water sources.

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Population: 135 people
Cooperative: Denis Gutiérrez
Altitude: 900 msnm
Average Temperature: 18°C to 21°C
How to Get There: Bus service to La Pita is infrequent and unreliable so it’s best to take a taxi (100 córdobas)
or hike the 3 km from San Ramón. If you have your own vehicle, we recommend four-wheel drive.
Cooperativa Denis Gutiérrez received official status as a cooperative in 1985. Made up of 15 associates, 13 of
whom are men and 2 of whom are women, they primarily produce coffee, as well as a small amount of basic
grains on 292 manzanas. Their coffee is sold through a program with Community Agroecology Network (CAN)
called AgroEco to Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company and Universities in California.
INTERESTING FACT:
La Pita is home to a women’s artisan cooperative that works with recycled paper to craft beautiful stationary
products—everything from cards to journals and bookmarks. They also have an eco-lodge and community
pool.
TOURISM OFFERINGS:
• Coffee Tour
• Guided hike to a small nearby waterfall
• Meeting with women’s artisan cooperative
• Access to community pool
• Traditional Nicaraguan cooking workshop (tortillas, nacatamales)
• English speaking guide
• Guest houses
• Hotel Albergue eco-lodge
HISTORY:
Although the community of La Pita is now built around the production and exportation of coffee, the community
was formed around the gold mining industry. First discovered in the early 1800s, many migrant workers arrived
in La Pita to work for a mining company owned by two American brothers.
Mining activity in La Pita eventually came to a halt as a result of a disagreement between the two brothers—
even though gold remained in the mines. One of the brothers stayed with the company but decided to dedicate

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it to the production of coffee. Community life continued to revolve around the company until the brother was
forced to leave the country due to debts owed to the bank. At this time, the bank seized control of the farm and
sold it to a businessman named Carlos Santi.
Under Carlos Santi, the land became a successful plantation producing coffee and poultry. Following Carlos
Santi’s death, the community demanded the rights to the land and began organizing themselves into a
cooperative. After many hard fought battles, they eventually received official rights for the land in 1985.
Cooperativa Denis Gutiérrez began with 23 members. Shortly thereafter, many problems began affecting
cooperative membership and the community as a whole. Some members found the transition between working
for someone on a plantation and working in a cooperative difficult. There was more security in working on a
plantation, as they got paid at the end of everyday. Although there was more independence and opportunity
with a cooperative, the people had to tend to their piece of land and live from what they produced.
Another challenge arose with the formation of UNO, a group of 20 political parties that united against the
Sandinista government. When the government changed, community members were told that the land of their
cooperative would be returned to the original owners. Many community members became frightened that they
would have nothing once the land was taken and relocated. Six members decided to remain on and fight for
the cooperative’s land rights, despite political pressure. By 1992, they won the fight and were guaranteed that
the land would remain with the cooperative. Also in 1992, UCA San Ramón was organizing and Cooperativa
Denis Gutiérrez became one of the founding five members.
Today, the cooperative has 15 associates and works primarily with coffee production. The agro-ecotourism
program is very important to the families in the community.

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Cooperative: Café Orgánico
Altitude: 600 to 1000 msnm
How to Get There: La Corona is located in the region of Yasica Sur, about 28 km from the UCA office in San
Ramón. One of the farther communities to visit, the bus to La Corona takes around 60 minutes and cost 60
córdobas. If you have your own vehicle, we recommend four-wheel drive.
Cooperativa Café Orgánico received official status on April 15, 1997. The cooperative produces organic coffee
with 18 members, each of whom cultivate coffee on 5 manzanas of land. Thirty percent of their coffee is sold
fair trade through UCA and, as of 2016, they obtained a Rainforest Alliance certification.
INTERESTING FACT:
The community of La Corona offers a hike to a beautiful waterfall, where you can even take a dip in the pool
below! Additionally, you can learn about the process of producing organic coffee first hand.
TOURISM OFFERINGS:
• Organic Coffee Tour
• Hike to a waterfall
• Traditional Nicaraguan cooking workshops (tortillas, nacatamales)
• Guest houses
HISTORY:
The organization of farmers that formed Cooperativa Café Orgánico has roots that go much deeper than the
birth of the cooperative. The farmers share histories beginning with years spent as landless workers on large
plantations and continuing with their collective fight during the revolution. Many of them gained access to this
land as part of the agrarian reform process during the revolution, while other members have purchased their
land or received it as inheritance. Coffee is part of a long tradition, more than half of these farmers learned this
art from their grandparents and parents.
In 1997, 33 of these small-scale coffee farmers interested in producing and commercializing organic coffee
formed Cooperativa Café Orgánico. At the time, there were farmers throughout the municipality of San Ramón
who were interested in cultivating organic coffee. Because of this, the structure of Café Orgánico is unique

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compared to other cooperatives because their members are spread out between multiple communities.
Although members produce coffee in distinctly different zones, the production of organic coffee unites them
under one cooperative.
When the cooperative received official status, it became a founding member of CECOCAFEN (whose name
means Northern Center of Coffee Cooperatives), another second-level cooperative that works in the Matagalpa
area. CECOCAFEN offered important training and support to the cooperative members, but because of
increasing hardships within the cooperative and falling membership between 1999 -2000, CECOCAFEN
passed Cooperativa Café Orgánico to UCA San Ramón.
Training for the farmers and their families as well as community projects such as the Agro-Ecotourism Initiative
have helped coffee farmers negotiate the coffee crisis of the early 2000s and in the continuous improvement of
their standard of living. The cooperative has a commitment to producing high quality organic coffee while
working for an improved quality of life and environmental protection.

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Population: 850 people, 170 families
Cooperative: El Privilegio
Altitude: 950 meters
How to Get There: El Roblar is located in the region of Yasica Sur, about 35 km from the UCA office in San
Ramón. One of the farther communities to visit, the bus to El Roblar takes around 90 minutes and cost 60
córdobas. If you have your own vehicle, we recommend four-wheel drive.
Cooperativa El Privilegio received official status in 1995. An all women’s cooperative, El Privilegio has 20
associates and 100 manzanas for coffee production. They also produce a small amount of basic grains, most
of which is for personal consumption. They applied for Rainforest Alliance certification in 2016 in order to
improve the price for which they sell their coffee. They also sell some coffee nationally.
INTERESTING FACT:
El Privilegio is the only all-women’s cooperative that UCA San Ramón works with, offering a unique opportunity
to understand their origins and how they work. Additionally, El Privilegio has their a tostaduría where they roast
and sell their own coffee under the name “Café Yasica.” This coffee is sold and served in Cafetería Monte
Grande in San Ramón.
TOURISM OFFERINGS:
• Coffee Tour
• Tour of the toastaduría (process of selecting, toasting, grinding, and packing the product)
• Traditional Nicaraguan cooking workshops (tortillas, gallo pinto)
• Natural medicine workshop
• Guest houses
HISTORY:
The all women’s cooperative in the community of El Roblar chose the name “El Privilegio” because it is a
privilege for these women to manage and commercialize their own coffee and participate in a strong female
cooperative. The history of the cooperative begins with the participation of various (11) women in a cooperative
that is run by men in the same community. When this cooperative was formed in 1995, the women considered
themselves active participants and valuable members of the cooperative. Overtime, however, the women
noticed that the male members of the same cooperative were less willing to share the decision making power
with the women.

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The most vocal women began to talk amongst themselves, and eventually with more women throughout the
community, about starting their own organization.
The women continued talking informally and holding occasional meetings while they explored options for
organizing themselves. When CECOCAFEN began work in El Roblar with another organization named Coffee
Kids, they found the alliances and tools they needed to take their informal conversations to the next level.
Coffee Kids and CECOCAFEN proposed a pilot project of small savings and loan collectives for women called
GMAS (Grupo de Mujeres en Ahorro Solidario). Twenty-eight women accepted the proposal. By the end of
1999, the women had organized their own group and were receiving micro-credit and gender workshops.
Coffee Kids provided 5,000 Córdobas in initial capital and CECOCAFEN helped with professional cooperative
staff and infrastructure to help manage the money and the trainings. The women began developing micro-
enterprise projects; some expanded their small stores, others purchased cattle or planted more coffee. As this
process continued, they saw the necessity to formalize the group into a cooperative. The women sought help
from UCA San Ramón, with which the men’s cooperative was already affiliated. UCA San Ramón facilitated
the legal process and in October of 2001 the women finally received official status as a producers´ cooperative.
Nine of the women were already producing coffee yet wanted to receive further training; and for the rest, the
cooperative offered a window of opportunity to develop their micro-enterprise projects and develop important
skills in financing, accounting and independence/self sufficiency. Participation in the cooperative has provided
the women with a space to grow self-confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills while challenging gender
roles that are still an oppressive reality for many Nicaraguan women.
In 2013, the women of the cooperative finalized business plans to construct a tostaduria for their coffee. They
launched their own brand, “Café Yasica,” in 2016. This coffee is sold and served at Cafetería Monte Grande.
Today there are 20 women in the cooperative and it
continues to be a strong and very stable cooperative.
The women are active participants in the agro-
ecotourism project and participate in cooperative
sponsored trainings including a natural medicine
course, small cooking stove improvements, and
workshops on gender and finance. Some of the
women leaders have represented the cooperative in
international forums and they continue to share their
experiences in their powerful yet humble voices.

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COOPERATIVE: Ramón García
Altitude: 500 msnm
How to Get There: El Trentino is located 4 km from the UCA office in San Ramón. A bus to Trentino passes
every half hour and takes around 15 minutes (and costs 10 córdobas). You can also take a taxi from San
Ramón for 100 córdobas. If you have your own vehicle, we recommend four-wheel drive.
Cooperativa Ramón García began in 1990. Today, there are 20 members, 10 of who are women and 10 of
who are men, with 200 manzanas of land. They principally produce basic grains and vegetables, along with a
small amount of coffee.
INTERESTING FACT:
El Trentino has 16 historic sights where you can view houses from the indigenous era and hear the stories that
go with them. You’ll also have the chance to view some indigenous artifacts such as grinding stones, mud
bowls, and hunting instruments.
TOURISM OFFERINGS:
• Tour about sustainable agriculture techniques in the production of beans
• Historic indigenous artifact tour
• Historic tour about El Trentino and the defense of their land during the revolution
• Guest houses
HISTORY OF THE COOPERATIVE:
Cooperativa Ramón García began in 1990 in the period of president Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. The
community was formed from 60 campesina families and agricultural laborers who came from San Ramón,
Samulali, Susulí, and the West Coast (Leon, Achuapa) who decided to come together to form a cooperative
and settle down under the trees, without a many resources.
The name of the cooperative is in honor of a martyr who was killed in the Municipality of San Ramón. Today,
the cooperative has 20 members.
Cooperativa Ramón García is one of the 18 cooperatives that works with UCA San Ramón. Although their
agro-ecotourism program is fairly new, the community has a number of interesting activities for tourists and is
full of warm and welcoming people.

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Cooperative: La Hermandad
Altitude: 950 msnm
How to Get There: La Hermandad is located 8 km from San Ramón in the community of Los Andes, San
Antonio in the region of Yasica Sur. There is no public transportation to La Hermandad, but the cooperative
does provide transportation in a truck for $20. You can also walk to the community. If you have your own
vehicle, four-wheel drive is necessary.
Cooperativa La Hermandad was formed in 1996. Today, they have 20 members, 10 of who are women and 10
of who are men. They primarily cultivate coffee on 230 manzanas of land.
INTERESTING FACT:
La Hermandad offers camping for tourists who are interested. There are three campsites available for use,
provided that you bring your own tent and sleeping bag (the climate can get rather chilly at night).
TOURISM OFFERINGS:
• Coffee tour
• Agroecology tour (learn more about organic and sustainable farming practices)
• Guided hike to view flora and fauna of the area
• Three viewpoints: Peñas Blancas, Las Limas, y Los Maribios
• Biodigestor
• Guest houses
• Guest cabanas
• Campgrounds
HISTORY OF THE COOPERATIVE:
Originally a farm known as “La Niña” and then as “La Mina,” the community members formed an agricultural
production cooperative in 1996. In beginning the cooperative, they sought to create a small partnership
between producers from the community. Once people began to visit, they started to call it 'Finca la Hermandad'
(brotherhood farm), a name which has stuck with the cooperative ever since. The cooperative became
associated with UCA San Ramón in 1998. One of the main objectives of its members is to maintain a true
‘brotherhood’, regardless of politics, race, or gender.
They began formally welcoming tourists and guests to the cooperative in 2007 and have been a part of UCA
San Ramón’s agro-ecotourism program since 2013.

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ABOUT CAFETERÍA MONTE GRANDE:
Cafetería Monte Grande is an initiative of women cooperative members of
Cooperativa Danilo González in the communities of La Reyna and Monte Grande.
After beginning plans for the cafeteria in 2010, they finally celebrated their grand
opening at the end of February 2016 thanks to support from UCA San Ramón and
other partner agencies. Entirely staffed by women from Monte Grande, the
cafeteria serves gourmet coffee drinks such as cappuccinos and frozen mochas
as well as delicious food.
ABOUT CAFÉ YASICA
Café Yasica is the brand name of the coffee grown, processed, and roasted by
the women’s cooperative El Privilegio in the community of El Roblar. The women
of the cooperative produce the entire product in the community. Launched in the
beginning of 2016, it is served and sold in Cafetería Monte Grande.

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Our long-term volunteer programs are designed to facilitate cultural exchange and immersion, help people gain
a greater understanding of rural life in Nicaragua, and teach about the cultivation of coffee on a cooperative
level while also generating the capacity of the communities that volunteers are living and working in. We offer
an opportunity for students, researchers and volunteers to stay for a longer time in a cooperative to conduct
environmental research and small community development projects.
The volunteers in UCA San Ramón could participate in the following areas:
COOPERATIVISM
Systemizing the experiences and the history of cooperativism in San Ramón, improving the ways the
cooperatives work, integrating youngsters and women in the cooperatives, etc.
MAINTAINING OF THE SOIL
Working with soil analysis experiments, other projects.
RURAL YOUTH COOPERATIVISM
Increasing the youth participation in cooperatives and organizations, working with the themes of sexual health
and reproduction, identify the educational level of the youth and increasing it.
AGRICULTURE, MARKETING AND SALE
Identifying and suggesting improvements, working with the youth as promoters for the cooperatives, working in
the farms, study and/or identify the changes the fair trade have made for the families.
ENVIRONMENT
Identifying the flora and fauna, making brochures about the environment, study the coherence between the
coffee production and the flora and fauna in the areas, working with fair trade, improving the environment.
SOCIAL THEMES WITH WOMEN AND YOUTH
Making network for exchange of experiences, knowledge etc., and working with and/or making campaigns
about sexual health, reproduction, HIV/aids, violence.
VARIOUS OTHER WAYS OF SUPPORT AND PROJECTS
Re-enforce the knowledge of the guides and hosts about: art, food, communication, attention to the visitors,
English, etc., teach English to the guides or the youngsters in the communities, work in the health clinic, work
in the local schools, teach computer and Internet, working with the organizations websites, producing photos
and videos, translating different documents, publicity, finding funds, etc.
More information is available on our website. If you wish to join us as a volunteer please send us an
email in Spanish with a description of your interests and abilities. We hope to hear from you soon!

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WE HAVE SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR GROUPS!
Volunteer opportunities, cultural activities, presentations about UCA San Ramón and the coffee market, and
more! Stay for just an afternoon or an entire week. We can work with you in order to design the perfect
schedule for the needs and interests of your group.
EXAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR THREE DAYS:
DAY ONE
− Presentation about UCA
− Travel to La Reyna
− Coffee tour
− Lunch
− Hike to a lookout point
− Bird observation
− Dinner with family
− Spend the night talking with your host family
DAY TWO
− Breakfast
− Time to explore La Reyna
− Gold mine tour
− Lunch
− Mountain hike
− Cooking workshop
− Dinner
− Cultural night with the community (includes dancing,
traditional music, activities, etc.)
DAY THREE
− Breakfast
− Travel to San Ramón
− Meet with a group of women artisans
− Visit Plaza de Identidad Historica (plaza with
information about the history of San Ramon)
− Lunch at Cafeteria Monte Grande
Contact us for more information!

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WELCOME TO MATAGALPA!
You are soon to visit the lush green mountains of northern Nicaragua, a land of diverse and unique ecology, waterfalls,
colorful birds and orchids, as well as cooperatives of small-scale coffee producers working to produce excellent coffee
and improve the quality of their lives. Your experience will give you an understanding of where exactly that cup of coffee
you are drinking comes from and how the family that produces it lives. We also hope your experience will enhance or
change your perception of many issues, including globalization and trade, organic agriculture, and the nature of the lives
of the people in the campo.
To make the most of your time with us in the campo, it is important that you come prepared and informed so that you
know what to expect and can focus on learning, participating, and enjoying yourself while you are here. This information
sheet is designed to allow you to prepare for your visit by describing some conditions you will encounter in the campo and
some necessary items you should bring along with you to make your visit more comfortable.
While this information is mostly geared toward home stay experiences, it includes information applicable to all visitors,
even those who only plan to spend a few hours with us in the campo.
COOPERATIVES AND FAIR TRADE IN NORTHERN NICARAGUA
Two of the goals of developing a small community-based ecotourism project are to diversify the sources of income for
families of small-scale coffee producers and to promote fair trade coffee by creating direct relationships between
producers and consumers. As a visitor, you are going to learn not only about coffee production, but also how small-scale
farmers live and how fair trade positively improves their position in the market and their standard of living in concrete
ways, such as offering them a better price, access to credit, and the opportunity to organize and develop collective social
programs to improve levels of education and health. Your participation as a visitor helps the community achieve and
maintain all of these goals. After your experience, you will be able to return to your own community and promote fair trade
as a real and viable alternative.
WHAT IS THE “CAMPO”?
The direct translation of the Spanish word “campo” in English is “field”, but it more commonly refers to what we call the
countryside. It can refer to different zones, like deserts, mountains, etc. You can conceptualize the campo in different
ways, in terms of economic activities that take place there, in terms of space and place, and in terms of lifestyle.
The campo is primarily agricultural, rather than industrialized. In the municipality of San Ramón, there exist both large-
scale and small-scale farmers, who produce coffee, basic grains (corn and beans), cattle, and various fruits and
vegetables in their yards or interspersed with their other crops. Many families have small stores in the front rooms of their
houses, where members of the community can buy things such as salt, bread, pastries, etc.
The North of Nicaragua, made up of the departments of Matagalpa and Jinotega, is a traditional coffee-growing region
dating back to the middle of the nineteenth century. Coffee from this area is internationally renowned for its high quality
and balanced cup. The geography of the north is favourable for coffee cultivation. These areas possess rich volcanic
soils, a humid tropical forest climate, and lush vegetation, including a great variety of lichens, moss, ferns, and orchids.

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CONDITIONS TO EXPECT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STAYING HEALTHY
In the north of Nicaragua, the campo is mountainous, green, cool, and wet during the rainy season (May-December), and
hot in the daytime during the dry months (January-May). Always bring a rain jacket and boots, as it can rain unexpectedly
any time of year. Mud can be plentiful, so be sure to have shoes that can get dirty. If you don´t have good rubber boots
with you and would like to bring them with you, you can buy them in the Mercado (market) in Matagalpa before you head
out for the campo. Also, it is chillier in the mountains than in the rest of Nicaragua, so we recommend bringing warm
clothing with you (such as a long sleeve shirt, sweater, and pants).
If you are spending the night in one of the guesthouses, you will have your own room and a private bathroom. All
bathrooms are equipped with flushing toilets and showers. Plumbing in Nicaragua is not designed to handle toilet paper,
so all paper should be placed in the bin next to the toilet and it will be burned later. Your bed will have a mosquito net for
you to use, but it is recommended that you also use repellent.
Food in the campo is simple, and consists largely of what is grown in the campo itself—tortillas made of corn, red beans,
chayote (a green squash-like vegetable), yucca and malanga (a bit like taro root), chicken, and cuajada (a salty, soft,
fresh cheese). Vegetarians should have no problem; just inform your hostess and ask for your plate without meat. All of
our guesthouses use purified or filtered water when preparing food for human consumption. Additionally, your host family
is open to questions and requests in the case that you need something.
One of the main ways your hostess will show her hospitality is through ensuring that you are well fed. This may mean that
you’ll be receiving more food than you are accustomed to eating at meal times. For this reason, it is important to
communicate with your hostess about the amount of food you are going to eat before mealtime in order to avoid wasting
any food.
INTERACTING WITH YOUR HOST FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY
Sharing time with a host family in the campo is undeniably valuable, both for the family and for the visitor. However, it is
often difficult to open up and have a truly personal interaction that is rewarding for both. Learning about how the family
lives, how their lives are affected by coffee, the crisis, etc., might require a little effort on your part to open up the channels
of communication, namely that you share with the family a bit about your life and home. To facilitate this experience,
bring some pictures of your life, family, home, and maybe some postcards of your community. It is also a good idea to
bring a coloring book or notebook and some crayons, for playing with children.
When you arrive, make an effort to learn the names of each member of the family, which will help you to get acquainted
more quickly. Also, get to know the children of the household by asking if they can show you around the house and its
surroundings.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO BE COMFORTABLE AND STAY HEALTHY
Towel
Water bottle
Rain jacket
Rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots
Mosquito repellent
Flashlight or headlamp

21
Hat for the sun
Sunblock
Bathing suit
Rubber sandals for bathing
Camera
Earplugs
Coloring books or notebooks and crayons for playing with kids
Pictures of your city, family, and your life to share with your host family
AFTER YOUR VISIT
After your visit, share what you have seen and experienced with your community and family. Use your memories and
photos to teach those around you what fair trade is—how it is not just an idea, but a real alternative trade system that
actually helps to improve the lives of small-scale farmers who produce the products that you consume or use every day:
coffee, chocolate, tea, bananas, and much more. Coordinate with your university or place of work to give a talk or two
about the cooperatives and fair trade in Northern Nicaragua. Even better, start a campaign to make fair trade coffee (and
tea) the coffee served in your office or university cafeteria.
THESE DETAILS ARE PROVIDED TO HELP MAKE YOUR TRIP MORE PLEASURABLE. WE KNOW THAT THE CULTURE,
NATURAL BEAUTY, AND WARM HOSPITALITY YOU WILL FIND IN THE “CAMPO” WILL GIVE YOU MEMORIES TO LAST A
LIFETIME. HAVE FUN AND AS THEY SAY WHENEVER ONE STEPS OUT THE DOOR IN NICARAGUA, “QUE LE VAYA BIEN” OR
“MAY YOU ENJOY YOUR TRIP.”

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These binders were made possible with funds provided by the organization Amigos de las
Américas, for the benefit of 72 families, for a publicity project for the Rural Community Agro-
Ecotourism Program at UCA San Ramón in May 2016.
We would like to thank everyone who voluntarily contributed to the compilation of these binders;
through giving interviews about community histories, taking photos, the attention and kindness of
many families, sharing information and graphics such as logos, giving testimonials, translating
documents, and revising documents, among other items. This work is meant to increase the demand
for our various tourism services in the different cooperatives and communities associated with UCA
San Ramón for the purpose of increasing and diversifying the income of campesino families,
facilitating cultural exchange, and sharing information about the coffee market and the necessity for
just business practices.
Thank you to:
Blanca Rosa Molina - UCA San Ramón Manager
Mayra Gámez Hernández - President of UCA San Ramón and Cooperativa El Privilegio
Emelda Rayo García - Representative of Cooperativa Danilo Gonzalez
Israel García Díaz - President of Cooperativa Denis Gutiérrez
Women involved in the agro-ecotourism program, Cooperativa Danilo Gonzalez
Personal at Cafetería Monte Grande
Personal from the Development and Agro-Ecotourism Departments at UCA San Ramón
Gabriella Gensheimer - volunteer with UCA San Ramón
Produced by:
Rebecca Dalum
Volunteer, Amigos de las Américas—UCA San Ramón

Programa de Agro-Ecoturismo, UCA San Ramon, Ingles

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