Nicaragua Holidays - Mosquito & Rama Communities

Few places can offer the rural natural beauty and rich cultural diversity of Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast. A land of forested rivers, pristine lagoons and virgin white-sand cays, this precious nature is home to numerous unique cultures. The famous Miskito people, who give the coast its name, are the dominant cultural force and over 154,400 Miskitos (out of a world population of 166,000) call Nicaragua home. They share magnificent natural landscapes of the Miskito Coast, like Pearl Lagoon, with the fascinating Garifuni culture and cultures unique to Nicaragua like the Sumo and Rama. We visit the Rama Indians, who once populated a great expanse of the Miskito Coast, but are now limited to the small island of Rama Cay in Bluefields Bay, where the last 649 Ramas live, 24 of which still speak the ancient Rama language. Lead by an historian author of 4 books on Nicaraguan pre-Columbian and colonial life as well as an history teacher at one of the Nicaraguan Universities (or by a journalist native of the region, who has extensive experience with cultural rescue programs in the area.), we visit Miskito Coast in private motorboat, touring in many of the precious waterways of the region with visits to everything from Rama midwifes to Garifuni bush doctors. We, of course, become familiar with many friendly Miskito villages; like Tasbapouni a settlement located on the narrow strip of land that separates Pearl Lagoon from the Caribbean Sea and the Pearl Cays: little, white sand islands surrounded by the crystal clear Caribbean.

DAY 1: Managua
Airport greeting and transfer to the Hotel Europeo. Welcome cocktail and trip briefing in Managua.

DAY 2: Managua - Bluefields
Morning transfer to national terminal in Managua. Domestic flight to Bluefields. Airport greeting and transfer to hotel. Walking cultural tour of Bluefields with visits to Miskito and Garufuni artisans. Night tour of Creole Bluefields clubs. Lodging Hotel Tia Irene. (BLD).

DAY 3: Bluefields - Rama Cay - Kukra River - El Bluff - Bluefields
Morning departure in private boat to the last outpost of the vanishing Rama Indians, Rama Cay in Bluefields Bay. Meeting with these shy people in their community. Continue journey with trip down the Kukra River to visit a well known Rama midwife. Finish of the excursion of the Caribbean coast at El Bluff a critical port for the Miskito Coast. Lodging in at Hotel Tia Irene. (BLD).

DAY 4: Bluefields - Pearl Lagoon - Orinoco River - Tasbapouni
Morning departure in private boat to Pearl Lagoon, home to the endangered Manatee and many diverse rural communities. Visit to the Orinoco River and its Garifuni communities to meet with bush medicine men and learn about the cultural rescue project there. Finishing at the important Miskito village on the isthmus between the Caribbean and Pearl Lagoon: Tasbapouni. (BLD).

DAY 5: Tasbapouni - Pearl Cays - Tasbapouni
Morning departure in private boat to some of the Caribbean Sea's least travelled islands. Full day to visiting this paradise, white sand keys and the sparse Miskito settlements there. Swimming in the warm, clear Caribbean Sea. Return to Tasbapouni for lodging. (BLD).

DAY 6: Tasbapouni - Ratapura - Kukabila - Pearl Lagoon
Morning departure in private boat to visit some of the most interesting Miskito communities in the precious Pearl Lagoon like the Ratapura and Kukabila settlements. Finishing in the village called Pearl Lagoon for lodging at a bed and breakfast on a Creole farm. (BLD).

DAY 7: Pearl Lagoon - Bluefields - Managua
Morning walking tour of the Creole farm, Haulover and Pearl Lagoon Village. Return in private boat to Bluefields for lunch and then transfer to airport for afternoon flight to Managua. Airport greeting in Managua and transfer Hotel Europeo. Farewell dinner. (BLD)

DAY 8: Managua
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or continuation of your holidays in Nicaragua.(B)

Photo courtesy of Richard Leonardi

Rated: Easy

Tour Tariff - Private Departures
N° of Participants	2-3	4-5	6+	SGL Supp.
USD	$ 1594	$ 1068	$ 812	$ 90
EUR	€ 1323	€ 886	€ 674	€ 75
GBP	£ 893	£ 598	£ 455	£ 50

(*) Price last updated on 13 February 2003. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
(**) Discount for larger groups

Included: All transfers, all land and boat transports, round-trip domestic flight: Managua - Bluefields - Managua, entrance fees, shared accommodation, specified meals, hotel taxes, bilingual experienced guide

Not included: other meals

Mosquito & Rama Communities

"Nicaragua"