GIVE Nicaragua: Cultural immersion and Surfing

My trip to Nicaragua with Give volunteers that I took in June 2026 was a wonderful and life changing experience. All four of our guides were so great and they truly cared about making a genuine connection with me and the other volunteers. We all had so much fun together because the itinerary was never bland and neither were the people I met. One minute we would be helping the local people and environment of Jiquilillo and the next we’d be surfing the waves of the pacific. I made connections with so many locals that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Everyone in this community welcomed us with open arms and endless kindness, they showed it through the food they fed us, stories they told, and the bracelets they made for us. If you are looking for a fulfilling travel experience where you’ll meet all sorts of new friends, I recommend taking the leap and join give volunteers in Nicaragua.

never knew that 2 weeks could make such an impact on my life and change my perspective of life. This trip has shown me what true love, community, family, and happiness looks like. Being in rural communities that have nothing and being immersed in their world and seeing how happy, welcoming, kind, and generous they were was truly a privilege to witness, I want to thank all the wonderful people I met during this trip who made me feel like I had a family here in Nicaragua I will forever carry you in my heart. To my students your presence, personality’s , and character have left everlasting memories and joy on me and I will never forget you or our memories together. I want to encourage everyone to take a step out of your comfort zone, no matter what it may be because it may reveal something within you heart you never knew was there before. I am extremely proud of myself for deciding to take the risk and do this trip because it enabled me to witness rich culture and the most beautiful places I have ever seen

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What made this experience so great wasn't just the cool things we got to do or see but the connections and impact we were able to make. As someone who had never been outside the United States, I had many preconceived assumptions and fears about where I was going would be like. However, as each day went by throughout the trip, I got more and more comfortable about where I was, grateful for everything I had, and above all, excited about the fact that all of my fears and worries couldn't have been farther from the truth. Every Single Person throughout the trip was kind, compassionate, helpful, and thankful for us being there, despite any language barriers there might have been. Throughout the trip, we were able to make positive changes in both ourselves and the communities we were in. From helping the community's environment, children, and families to even helping its infrastructure, we were able to make a difference for good. Additionally, getting to see life from such a drastically different perspective truly was life-changing in the best way. No matter how long your trip is, it will feel like a lifetime, it will change you and those around you for the better, and it will be worth every penny...

My overall experience was excellent! I really felt like a family in the community through our various community service activities such as painting houses, releasing baby sea turtles, teaching English to the local kids, and participating in beach clean ups. I really enjoyed feeling welcomed into the country by the locals and not simply feeling as a disconnected tourist. Nicaragua is a beautiful country and I am so glad GIVE allowed me the opportunity to experience it in the way I did and really feel connected with the locals. If I were to have traveled on my own to Nicaragua, it wouldn't have been the same. All of the transportation (aside from flights) was taken care of by the organization which made the trip stress free! We went from a small fishing town Jiquilillo, to the City of Leon to Volcan Telica, to Cerro Negro, to Laguna de Apoyo, and ended it in Managua before we went home. I recommend traveling with give at least once in your life to truly experience the culture to where you're traveling to.

This trip truly changed my life. It was my first solo international trip and I couldn't have felt more taken care of prior, during and after by the GIVE community. Despite being very nervous going in knowing no one, I made friends right off the bat and felt so welcomed by everyone. Jiquillilo also welcomed us with open arms and allowed us to learn from them about their culture, way of life and food and connect in a level I didn't know was possible. I loved my time in Nicaragua and especially loved surfing with the local guides, learning about sea turtle rescuing from Ramon and facing my fears sandboarding down the volcano. I will be going on another trip with GIVE for sure. If you are thinking about going, please do, it is such a fulfilling trip in so may ways!

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My experience with GIVE while visiting Nicaragua was absolutely incredible and deeply meaningful. The local guide, Moises, was not only knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing his country’s rich history and culture. The other guides, Megan and Tanner, brought so much warmth, energy, and support to the entire trip. As a Muslim, I had hoped to visit the only mosque in the country, and GIVE went out of their way to make that possible for me. I’m already in the process of planning my next trip with GIVE for next summer. I would absolutely recommend GIVE to anyone looking for a purposeful, culturally immersive, and life-changing experience.

It is an eye opening trip that teaches you about the importance of the impact of you everyday activities in ways you could never imagine. The great thing about this trip is that all of your money goes directly to the community through the fun activities because they all involve locals. You will meet lovely and welcoming people that are so excited to share their culture with you while you serve them.

This is totally worth the money! Every penny you pay goes towards making your trip an amazing experience, and it gives back to the local community! It may seem expensive, but it is much better than spending your money at an all-inclusive resort somewhere that doesn't pay their workers a fair wage. The people you meet are truly one of a kind, and GIVE does its best to make everyone feel included and happy. Even if you are not the most adventurous person, you'll want to be on this trip. They make you comfortable with being uncomfortable. During your time on the trip, you'll see how fun it is to try new things and help people out! It's truly an unforgettable experience that you don't want to miss out on. Money comes back, but missed opportunities don't. They literally take care of everything, even getting flights is easy through their partners. there is not any travel anxiety going into it because they plan everything out for you, and you just gotta bring your energy! Do it you won't regret it.

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Volunteering with GIVE was one of the best choices I’ve ever made. Everything about my experience in Nicaragua was amazing and truly something everyone should do. The guides welcomed us with open arms (literally) and made you feel apart of a family. I cannot recommend going on a GIVE trip more. If you are looking for a sign to take the risk, this is it. You’ll never regret it!!

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Prior to attending this GIVE trip to Nicaragua, I had never gone on a trip without my family; let alone going to a foreign country all by myself. The trip started out rocky, some weather delayed the trip 1 day for myself and 4 other travelers however once we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms by everyone. Being fully immersed in the culture and community of Jiquilillo was truly an eye opening experience. From learning how to surf and make tortillas with the locals to climbing two active volcanoes, so many memories were made on this trip and I will forever hold Jiquilillo in my heart. I am so profoundly grateful to have had this experience with this amazingly beautiful group of people. Going on this trip has truly opened my eyes as to how to be a true global citizen and how to leave long lasting handprints on my community and the world. I 100% recommend stepping outside of your comfort zone and taking the step to go on a GIVE trip. Making memories with a group of people you only just met and being able to experience the things you will experience on this trip is truly the experience of a lifetime.

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Give Volunteers is an incredible organization that focuses on empowering local communities and creating global citizens. The trips are truly life-changing and fuel a passion in the volunteers who build deep connections. My trip to Nicaragua and Costa Rica was amazing, I got to experience beautiful countries full of beautiful people who welcomed us into their community, and despite language barriers, got to experience connections that transcend the borders of countries. On my trip, we worked on English education at a school kids chose to come to after their regular school, town cleanups, farm work, supporting local businesses, workers, and organizations, and more. This trip has given me friendships that will last a lifetime and a fire to continue my journey as a global citizen and always give back! :)