Granada

View of Granada and the volcanoes on Lake Nicaragua from the top of a church. 

Gina rocking Jazemines safari hat.

Last sunset in Nicaragua.

We wandered around Granada for the majority of our last day and got to see the colonial city, shop, and eat something other than rice and beans(haha).

Playa Maderas

There were a group of howler monkeys in the trees throughout our hotel during the last few days. You could hear them at night and they sounded like they were at our door. They were not scary though and didn't seem to want much to do with us.

A few bars and restaurants along Playa Maderas for those who were taking a break from surfing, swimming and boogie boarding. Good food and a good atmosphere for sure.

Jamie gazing out over Playa Maderas from the tide pools. It was very low tide so there were lots of rocks!

Zip lining- San Juan Del Sur

Jamie and I looking super cute in our helmets!

Giners is a professional zipliner

Katie being rescued 

Our ride to the hotel in a truck bed!

Zip lining was fun but I missed the monkey sitings. The view of the coastline was amazing and I can imagine how much more green and full of creatures the rainforest is during the wet season.

Playing Around at Playa Hermosa with the Fish Eye

 Learning about Comunidad Connect

Creepy fish head but she ate the whole thing(including the eye balls). Also found a tongue eating maggot in one.. yumm!

My lady and I in front of the green house watching the women with Comunidad Connect make Jam. JAMMIN 

Riding dirty, waiting for cows and horses to cross the rode on our ride back to playa Hermosa from the Comunidad Connect English class and lesson on how to make Jam.

 San Juan Del Sur--> Playa Hermosa

Hi Katie's Mom, heres proof that Katie ate!

Caravaning to Playa Hermosa

bug net fun

The van we took from San Juan Del Sur to Playa Hermosa was one of the coolest ways we traveled because we were driving through the middle of the "dry rainforest" and got to see monkeys and other creatures up close and personal. The road was bumpy, but it was a good experience, and coming over the hill and seeing Playa Hermosa is a sight I will never forget. The location of our lodge was amazing, but the bug nets and tsunami warnings were a little freaky. Overall happy I got to go out of my comfort zone and I would say I would definitely do it again.

Last Day In Gigante

Project Woo Office
The view from the office was amazing, overlooking the waves splashing against the rocks.

#groundswellnica

Me and G doing our thing

Project WOO works out of this office and has the best view of the water. Lisa said she doesn't want to leave or rent out the space to visitors but she knows that bringing in tourists will help the village.

Playa Gigante

Crazy little trouble maker

Singing "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"

The cooks and women of the house were relaxing in the cool on hammocks.

Beautiful View

Mural at the health center that Project WOO and the people of Gigante helped build.

Last day on the beach in Gigante

From playing with the kids at an primary school, to lunch overlooking the water, to surfing on the beautiful beach of Amarillo(?). This was one of my favorite days because we saw local kids and teenagers and how they live their daily lives. Also, the beaches in Gigante were so peaceful and pretty. They were very empty and the water was clear. A local surfer helped me surf this day and I found it interesting that he was able to help me and explain what I was doing wrong even though we do not fluently speak the same language. Gigante was a quant little village and I am glad I got to see into the lives of the families that live there and the volunteers that work there.

Playa Gigante

The fishermen bring their fish to the place on the right so that the restaurants and local people can have fresh fish for meals.

Jamie catching some sweet waves on the first day of surfing

I think this is a picture of Gina falling but still cool

Pretty sunset and getting hit on by teenagers of Gigante:)

Playa Gigante is not where I expected to end up after driving next to worn down shacks for 2 hours on a two lane highway. It is a small town with happy, friendly people and beautiful beaches. The hotel we stayed at is cute and beachy. Lisa, from Project Woo took us to a local restaurant and I loved eating fresh fish(before I was sick of fish, rice and beans haha). I have never seen sunsets as amazing as the ones I saw over the water in Nicaragua.

Managua

On the first day, I thought this was going to be the most interesting way we traveled around Nicaragua. I was surprised to find out that we would be riding in style in many other trucks, vans, and open caravans.