Unique Adventures with Agritourism in Nicaragua

Agritourism is fast gaining popularity around the world and many authorities are predicting that it will soon be one of the largest sectors of the tourism industry. People are showing an interest in how their food is produced and this type of vacation allows tourists to visit a farm and get involved in farming related tasks, such as the picking of produce, while gaining an understanding of exactly what is involved in running a farm. Many of the coffee plantations in Nicaragua offer agritourism programs and the response to this has been very positive.

In 1997 the drop in coffee prices on an international scale prompted the establishment of an organization of coffee cooperatives in Northern Nicaragua to set up and manage an agritourism project. Agritourism has allowed farmers to supplement the income they receive from coffee farming, thereby enabling them to sustain their local farming communities.

The Selva Negra Farm in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, is a self-sustaining coffee plantation. Everything needed to run this little corner of paradise is produced on the farm. Situated in the highlands of central Nicaragua, Selva Negra is set in evergreen hills where the temperature is always pleasant. There are fourteen trails that make exploring the forest a pleasure. Six of these trails are designed for horses. Visitors can spend many enjoyable hours wandering along the trails examining the marvels of nature. There are endless varieties of bright flowers against shades of green foliage and the singing and twittering of birds can be heard all around.

During the coffee harvest and processing seasons guests who are staying at the farm are given a tour of the plantation, and all aspects of growing and processing coffee are discussed. On Selva Negra Farm coffee production is carried out in an ecologically friendly manner. Special machines convert the pulp of the coffee beans into a rich fertilizer that is used on the flower and vegetable crops. The mucilage is converted by bio-digesters into methane gas that is used by the plantation workers to generate heat for cooking, preventing the cutting down of trees for firewood.

The farm employs five forest rangers in order to protect the wildlife and plant-life in the area, and they have a school for the workers’ children. A water powered generator provides electricity and a dairy farm provides milk, butter and cheese. The result of using ecologically compatible processing methods is that the streams in the area are unpolluted and the forests remain undamaged.

If you long to take a complete break from the stresses of daily life, consider taking advantage of the fantastic experiences that agritourism in Nicaragua offers. The unspoiled area of Selva Negra will surpass your every expectation.