Rivas & Hacienda Amayo, Nicaragua
Today we woke up anchored in the bay of San Juan del Sur. This small port used to be very busy in the mid 1850’s, when Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Accessory Transit Company gave transportation to thousands of dreamers, from the east coast, in their search for the gold of California.
After a dry landing in the pier, we were taken in couches to the city of Rivas, about 30 miles north of San Juan del Sur. There, we visited the museum of Rivas where we also attended a traditional dance presentation, organized by the local elementary school.
Children between 4 and 7 years old shared their best knowledge and skills in their artistic traditions.
Later on, a fleet of pepanos were waiting for us at the exit of the museum. These tricycles are the popular taxis in Rivas, with two available seats for the guests. Soon we started our caravan through the colonial streets of Rivas, with colorful “bahareque” constructions, some of them in perfect conditions; our destination was the central market, for a flavor of the local products, including tropical fruits that we had never before. This market together with the later visit to the main church offered a great opportunity to get to know the culture of the people of Rivas.
After this morning’s visit, we went to Hacienda Amayo for lunch and more activities for the guest families. This farm is owned by a family with political history and is located right on the Lake Nicaragua. This is the only lake in the world with an island of volcanoes in the middle. The view of the Maderas and Concepcion volcanoes was clear and impressive.
We had typical dishes and marimba music, and then the surprise, a baseball game with a local children team. The guest families gathered in a rival game against the locals, which finished with a farewell piñata to share among the players.
The day ended with cocktails, wonderful memories and a colorful sunset.
Today we woke up anchored in the bay of San Juan del Sur. This small port used to be very busy in the mid 1850’s, when Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Accessory Transit Company gave transportation to thousands of dreamers, from the east coast, in their search for the gold of California.
After a dry landing in the pier, we were taken in couches to the city of Rivas, about 30 miles north of San Juan del Sur. There, we visited the museum of Rivas where we also attended a traditional dance presentation, organized by the local elementary school.
Children between 4 and 7 years old shared their best knowledge and skills in their artistic traditions.
Later on, a fleet of pepanos were waiting for us at the exit of the museum. These tricycles are the popular taxis in Rivas, with two available seats for the guests. Soon we started our caravan through the colonial streets of Rivas, with colorful “bahareque” constructions, some of them in perfect conditions; our destination was the central market, for a flavor of the local products, including tropical fruits that we had never before. This market together with the later visit to the main church offered a great opportunity to get to know the culture of the people of Rivas.
After this morning’s visit, we went to Hacienda Amayo for lunch and more activities for the guest families. This farm is owned by a family with political history and is located right on the Lake Nicaragua. This is the only lake in the world with an island of volcanoes in the middle. The view of the Maderas and Concepcion volcanoes was clear and impressive.
We had typical dishes and marimba music, and then the surprise, a baseball game with a local children team. The guest families gathered in a rival game against the locals, which finished with a farewell piñata to share among the players.
The day ended with cocktails, wonderful memories and a colorful sunset.
