During our hearty breakfast with a view, we'll review our itinerary and host an orientation before taking a walking tour of Managua, the capital city. During this time, we'll learn about the history of the country, its heritage, and gain an understanding of life today. 

After lunch, we'll depart for Jinotega, journeying through the Nicaraguan countryside to a region where many of our beneficiaries live. Along the way, we'll see rice fields, other farms, and catch a glimpse of rural life. Once arrived, we'll settle into our new surroundings and enjoy a siesta. 

That evening, we'll host a group dinner at a local restaurant serving traditional foods for an authentic Nicaraguan experience. We'll be joined by Keyla, a team member from WCCN's due diligence team, who will share insights into the process of assessing potential local lending partners. 

After a delicious breakfast, we will meet our first local lending partner. Once we get well-acquainted with the team and understand the organization more in-depth, the group will visit a small-business owner who will share their story about their coffee farm from bean to cup. We'll also learn how micro-lending improved their lives and their families. 

After, we'll enjoy a farm-to-table lunch before visiting a coffee processing plant to understand how the fourth-largest exporter of Nicaraguan coffee helps 2,600 farmers gain access to international markets. 

Once we've taken some downtime in the afternoon, we'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and some time to explore the town.

At breakfast, we'll meet with an executive from our third local lending partner, deepening our understanding of what makes them unique, as well as their greater impact on the regional community. We'll pack up at our hotel before taking our lunch on the road.  

Our next stop: León, the former capital of the Republic of Nicaragua and the second-largest city in the country. Post downtime, guests are welcome to an optional local cooking class, where we'll make a traditional Nicaraguan dish, learn how to make tortillas and enjoy the fruits of our labor. 

Our day starts with a delicious breakfast before we take an optional walking tour of this historic city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll learn about the history and more recent events that molded Nicaragua as we know it today.

That afternoon, we will meet our fourth local lending partner and a small business owner. This partner focuses on improving the quality of life for women through funding, health services, and education. More about loan recipients will be shared in preparation for the trip, so please keep an eye out for your communications and payment schedules. 

That evening, we'll enjoy local cultural favorites at dinner together before nestling in for the travel day ahead. 

Once again, we will enjoy breakfast in León before taking a 3-hour drive to visit Volcan de Masaya and explore the town. There, we'll meet with another local lending partner and visit a woodworking business that took a loan to expand its artisan product offerings into the US. 

After, we'll continue on to Granada for some downtime before dinner on exploring one of the most famous streets in Nicaragua. 

After breakfast, we will take a walking tour of the colonial town, venturing through the open-air market, visiting famous cathedrals, and enjoying a surprise workshop. 

After lunch, we'll enjoy a free afternoon to enjoy Managua, purchase last-minute souvenirs, and rest. To conclude our trip, we'll celebrate with our private "Feliz Viaje!" dinner, delectable eats, and share our favorite moments and experiences from a very special week in Nicaragua. 

All good things must come to an end, but it doesn't mean you can't take a part of Nicaragua with you. We'll be sharing a (bonus) folder of candid pictures from throughout our trip along with a special thank you message. 

Please confirm your departure date and time with us so we can coordinate your transportation to August C. Sandino International Airport for a safe return home.