Organic Coffee Farm in Nicaragua

Two years ago I took a tour of an organic coffee cooperative in highlands of Nicaragua. The Danilo Gonzalas cooperative was named for a teenager from the area who died fighting against the Contras in the 80’s. I reached the cooperative, traveling with by guide Jessica from ¡Un Buen Viaje!, by local bus from Matagalpa to San Ramon, and then 3km hike to the rural community of La Reyna. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve

During my Nicaragua trip, I visited the coastal Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve as a day trip from Leon for wildlife viewing. With my guide through Nicaragua, it was a 45 minute local bus ride from Leon to the town of Las Penitas on the coast. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Cerro Negro Volcano

The morning two years ago began long before first light when I left leaving hotel in Leon. We made our way about 6 blocks to the office of Quetzal Trekkers by 4:30. There we met up with our two Quetzal guides and two Danish tourists. The six of us discussed briefly the days plan hike the Cerro Negro volcano. Then we packed our lunches and hurried 4 blocks to the bus stop only to wait in the dark 45 minutes for the first bus to arrive. The Leon guides apologized explaining the local bus schedules were not always unpredictable. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Leon, Nicaragua

I am slowly getting around to organizing/culling photos from prior trips. Almost two years ago I visited Leon, Nicaragua, for a few days as part of a 2 week trip around the Ultramaraton Fuego y Agua event. (The next race, by the way, in February 2012 is open for registration). ...Read the rest of this post...
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Christmas Time in Granada, Nicaragua

This time last year I was experiencing Christmas time celebrations in Granada, Nicaragua during the week before the Ultramaraton Fuego y Agua. I happened to arrive during the Purísma celebrations. This is a celebration of the Virgin Mary in early December that lasts about 2 weeks. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Ultramaratón Fuego y Agua Race Report

The 2nd annual Ultramaratón Fuego y Agua (fire and water) was held on Dec 12, 2009 on the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua. The race had 25k, 50k, and 100k distance options. Ometepe Island is located in Lake Nicaragua. The island is formed by two volcanoes, Conception and Maderas, joined by an isthmus. The race courses involve climbing one or both volcanoes. Conception is an active volcano (hence the Fuego/fire) and Maderas has a lake in its crater (hence the Agua/water). ...Read the rest of this post...
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Calzado de Ometepe Kids 5k

The Calzado de Ometepe Kids 5k was a charity event held in conjunction the Ultramaraton Fuego y Agua on Isla Ometepe in Nicaragua, allowing the race a way of giving back to the people of the island. This race was for the school children of Ometepe Island to promote fitness and provide shoes for the children. It was held the day after the ultramarathon ...Read the rest of this post...
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Masaya: the City and the Volcano

After the morning bike ride to visit the farming community (described previously), the taxi that was hired for the rest of the day picked us up and drove us to the city of Masaya for a visit of the city and nearby Masaya Volcano nature park. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Visit with Empowerment International in Nicaragua

This 5th day in Nicaragua my tour guide, Jessica, had arranged a full day. It began in the city of Granada with a visit to the Empowerment International NGO, and bike tour out to the countryside to visit a farming community the NGO was working ...Read the rest of this post...
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Mombacho Volcano

My 4th day in Nicaragua began similar to my third day, escorted by my guide Jessica, catching the same local bus we took the previous day to La Granadilla, except this time we ...Read the rest of this post...
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La Granadilla

I visited the farming community of La Granadilla as a day trip from the city of Granada, Nicaragua. The morning started with an excellent breakfast prepared by the family with whom I was boarding. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Nicaragua: Managua and Coyotepe

Last December, I arrived in Managua in the early afternoon after an overnight flight from Buenos Aires via Miami after 3 weeks in South America. The Miami connection allowed me to call home on my cell phone without the international charges. The flight was less than 3 hours from Miami. ...Read the rest of this post...
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2009 Latin American Tour Index

This post serves to summarize links to posts and pictures from my 2009 trips through Patagonia and Nicaragua. I will add links as I get more posted.

These links will jump to summary pages of blog posts or the photo albums hosted on my Smugmug site.

Patagonia Trip: - All Picture Albums - All Blog Posts - Tour map: Google Maps, or Google Earth

Nicaragua Trip: - All Picture Albums - All Blog Posts - Tour map: Google Maps, or Google Earth

Alternatively, you can jump directly to the individual albums or posts below. "Photos" and "Slideshow" are just different viewing options for the same set of photographs.

Patagonia Trip Links:

Location	Photos		Blog	Trip Date
Patagonia Trip - People Pictures	Photos	Slideshow		Nov 15 - Dec 3
Buenos Aires - Highlights Album	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 12-15 & Dec 2-4
Buenos Aires - Nightime Pics	Photos	Slideshow
Buenos Aires - Daytime Pics	Photos	Slideshow
Buenos Aires - La Recoleta Cemetery	Photos	Slideshow
Buenos Aires - Hokahey 5k run	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 14
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 14
Bariloche - Highlights Album	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 16-17
Bariloche - All Pics	Photos	Slideshow
Puerto Varas area Highlights Album	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 18-19
Puerto Varas + Chiloe Island, Puerto Montt	Photos	Slideshow
Punta Arenas, Chile	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 20
Seno Oway Penguin Colony - Highlights	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post
Seno Oway Penguin Colony - All	Photos	Slideshow
Puerto Natales	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 21,26
Torres del Paine	-	-	-	Nov 22-25
Perito Moreno Glacier	-	-	-	Nov 26
El Calafate	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Nov 26,30
El Chatlan, Fitz Roy	-	-	-	Nov 27-29
Ushuaia	-	-	-	Nov 30, Dec 1

Nicaragua Trip Links:

Location	Photos		Blog	Trip Date
Ultramaraton Fuego y Agua	Photos	Slideshow	Race Report	Dec 10-13
Calzado de Ometepe Kids Race	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 13
Managua and Coyotepe	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 5-6
La Granadilla	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 7
Mombacho Volcano	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 8
Empowerment International	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 9
Masaya	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 9
Granada - Highlights Album	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 6-9, Dec 14
Granada- Full Album	Photos	Slideshow
Leon	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 14-16
Cerro Negro	Photos	Slideshow	Blog Post	Dec 15
Juan Vernando Park	-	-	-	Dec 16
Matagalpa	-	-	-	Dec 17-19

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