Prior to your arrival in Casa Congo, our team will reach out to provide you with details around airport transfer, meal plan and your volunteering activities. These will range from bamboo construction to turtle patrols or permaculture work and will be tailored to your passions and skills, as well as the primary needs of the El Astillero community. Our programs are flexible and guarantee maximum exposure to engaging conservation experiences. If you propose a project and it’s accepted by Casa Congo’s board, you will also be able to develop and implement your own ideas in collaboration with Casa Congo and in alignment with the local community’s values and principles.

Citizens of Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and all Latin American countries require a passport valid 6 months (minimum) from the anticipated return date and can obtain a 90 day tourist card at the airport of Managua before crossing immigration. The cost of the 90 day tourist visa is USD $12 per person. If you are a citizen of another country, please contact the Nicaraguan Consulate or Embassy closest to your native country to determine specific requirements.

As of January 2024, there are no mandatory vaccinations required to travel to Nicaragua. Things change rapidly in today’s world, so it’s is highly recommended that travelers conduct appropriate research to assess individual needs at least two months before departure.

Nicaragua has a tropical climate and most of the country is warm all year round with temperatures ranging from (22C to 36C) on the Pacific Coast. There is very little rain during the dry season (December to July). In the rainy season (August to November), it often rains for short periods, and these can be spectacular tropical downpours. September and October tend to have ongoing torrential rain. The hottest month in El Astillero is April where day temperatures can reach 40C degrees, but there is often a pleasant wind to cool down the evenings.

Option 1: via Managua (best option),

The first option is to land at Managua International Airport. Prior to your arrival send us your flight details so we can arrange your transport to Casa Congo with a trusted local driver. You can also organize transportation yourself; there are car rental agencies, taxi services and bus schedules available at the airport.

Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be required to pay $12 for a 90 day tourism visa. Remember to keep the paper receipt.

Main airports with direct connections into Managua are Panama, Mexico City, El Salvador, Miami, Houston and Ottawa.

Option 2: via Costa Rica,

The second option is to land at San Jose International Airport or Liberia International Airport.

From here you can reach Nicaragua by bus (https://www.ticabus.com/) or by taxi (we can arrange a driver in Costa Rica + Nicaragua) . The border at La Cruz / Penas Blancas opens from 6 am to 10 pm, so make sure you arrive in time. Visa costs $15 here upon arrival and $3 upon departure.

Option 3: via Guatemala,

There are several options to reach Nicaragua from Guatemala directly by bus. “Transporte del Sol” and “Autobuses Cristobal Colon” offer connections from Guatemala City to Managua. Shuttle buses of different providers (eg. Gekko Trails) connect Antigua in Guatemala with Leon in Nicaragua. Often bus operators provide information about visa regulations crossing Honduras and El Salvador borders, but make sure to check all the documents required before hand.

Once you proceed through immigration, luggage claim, and customs, you will be met by one of our drivers holding a sign that reads “Casa Congo”. The approximate driving time from the airport to the El Astillero is 2 hours.

The local currency in Nicaragua is the Cordoba, however, US dollars are accepted in most places, including gas stations and grocery stores. You can withdraw Cordoba or USD when you land in Managua or any other Nicaraguan city. We recommend arriving with US dollars in small bills (10, 20). The closest ATM to Casa Congo is a 40 minute drive away.

Although we encourage digital detox during your stay in El Astillero, you will have access to WiFi at Casa Congo to stay in touch with your loved ones or work remotely. WiFi speed is good enough to have Teams / Zoom calls or work on large files in the cloud. A local SIM card with data costs $5 - $10 USD/week, however, we strongly advise you to unplug and stay away from your smartphone during the trip.

Located on the Pacific Ocean in the fishing village of Astillero, surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes, Casa Congo has a bamboo co-living space with 6 bunk beds, a communal kitchen, a coworking space and outdoor gardens with direct access to the beach and to the Astillero coastal road. Up to 6 volunteers staying in this structure will share 2 bathrooms and 2 showers. There is also 1 bamboo private lodge with 2 bedrooms and their own dedicated bathroom. This structure sleeps up to another 5 people.

Passport, credit/debit card, US$ cash, water-flask, prescription and over-the-counter medication, bug spray, portable phone battery charger, sunscreen, beach towel, at least 1 rain jacket for forest hikes, comfortable shoes, and, of course, your energy and enthusiasm! It’s best to pack lightweight, cotton, and/or linens. We recommend long pants and long sleeves for forest excursions and dirty activities, shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits, walking/running shoes, and flip-flops.

There are 3 food & beverge options for visitors and volunteers at Casa Congo:

1. You can do your own groceries and cook your food in the communal kitchen. Once a week, Casa Congo goes to buy supplies from farmers, markets and large shops. This is the opportunity for you to purchase what you’d like and store it in the volunteers fridge, freezer or pantry. If you bring / cook your own meal, you should align with other volunteers to be an efficient team in the kitchen. We welcome volunteers to rotate activities in the kitchen and our local staff will help prep and clean from 8am to 6pm.

2. You can buy food and drinks from Casa Congo’s delicious menu, which costs around usd $20 / day for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner (excluding beers / alcohol). Ranging from traditional indigenous meals to fresh sea food, Casa Congo’s staff will be delighted to serve you.

3. You can go to restaurants / bars in the area (Casa Congo’s team will recommend options in El Astillero, Popoyo, Guasacate, Limon Dos or Jicalite).

Clean drinking water is always provided.

If you have dietary restrictions, please notify us at the time of reservation – we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Our programs can't exist without your support and any contribution makes a difference. Click here to make a monetary donation. Casa Congo also welcomes donations in kind. Things like water sports equipment, apparel, equipment for conservation activities, power tools for carpentry, stationery products, books and school supplies will be much appreciated. Donated items should be clean and not in need of repair. Give new life to your old items by helping families in need!

Casa Congo is structured in two distinct legal entities: a social enterprise in Nicaragua and a non-profit association in Italy. The Nicaraguan social enterprise, Arrecifes del Pacifico S.A, is responsible for running our programs with the local community. It harnesses funds by hosting volunteers, selling eco-friendly products or offering ecotourism services and it invests 100% of its profits back into the local programs. The Italian non profit association, Casa Congo APS, is our parent company responsible for raising funds through grants and crowdfunding campaigns to invest in local infrastructure and community training.

Nicaragua has a lower crime rate than many US and European cities. Since formally opening our venue and launching our programs, no volunteer or visitor of Casa Congo has had issues with physical or psychological safety.

According to the United Nations Regional Human Development Report (2016/2017), Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America. 2018 was a challenging year in Nicaragua due to internal conflicts, but the situation is now stable.

Casa Congo has facility managers on site 24/7 to look after the property and ensure visitors and volunteers are safe. Casa Congo has a strong bond with the local community who always has an eye out for people visiting. Many past visitors and volunteers have formed friendships with the local people of El Astillero.

Casa Congo keeps a medication kit and basic medicines on site to help you with things like cuts, bruises, fever or stomach pains. In case of more severe medical issues, there are 2 trusted doctors in El Astillero who can come visit you at Casa Congo. For emergencies, Casa Congo’s staff will help you quickly reach the private clinic of Rancho Santana or the hospitals of Rivas / Managua. We recommend taking out private health insurance and travelling with any prescribed or over the counter medicine you may require during your trip.