Selva Negra Ecolodge and Coffee Estate

Overview

Description

Selva Negra is a working coffee farm and ecolodge located north of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Protecting more than 247 acres (100 hectares) of pre-montane rain and cloud forests - part of the 1,500-acre (607-hectare) Cerro Arenal Natural Reserve - Selva Negra maintains more than 12 miles (20 km) of hiking trails through the reserve. Most of the forest lies between 4,265 and 4,920 feet (1,300 and 1,500 meters). The property is situated along the continental divide between the Pacific and Atlantic lowlands; because of this unique location, the bird community represents a mix of both Pacific and Atlantic-slope bird species, as well as mountain species whose ranges extend south from Mexico.

Selva Negra is a model in sustainability and organic living. It produces more than 80% of the foods consumed both at the farm and the ecolodge restaurant through organic and sustainable growing practices. The ecolodge and farm host conferences and classes to teach sustainable and diversified living practices. Located in Nicaragua’s Ruta de Café, you will find a coffee museum with historical artifacts of the European settlers that started exporting coffee in Nicaragua. An intensive coffee tour will teach you about the entire process from bean to cup.

Rooms

We have 50 accommodations in total.

• Our top offering features individual bungalows situated on the mountain. Guests stay in small houses with large windows and beds, a living room, bathroom, and front porch with rocking chairs.
• Our mid-range options are typical hotel rooms with 10 units in one building. Each unit features a queen-sized bed, private bathroom, and a shared front porch.
• Our budget accommodations are geared towards students and backpackers. We offer single beds in the youth hostel at a very reasonable rate, with a minimum of 4 people per room.

Visit the "Rates" section below for pricing information.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: ~30

Percentage of local employees: 99%

Selva Negra’s commitment to the environment and the local community is one of our primary missions. Here are just a few of our sustainable initiatives:

Ecolodge:

• Grow and serve organic meat, fruits, and vegetables.
• Utilize hydro power and solar energy.
• Landscape with native plants and "green" roofs.

Coffee estate and farm:

• Produce Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee.
• Raise grass-fed beef.
• Produce organic fertilizers, weed, and pest controls.
• Produce 7 million pounds of compost each year.

Forest reserve:

• Prohibit hunting, burning, and collecting firewood.
• Offer tours and nature education for our guests.

Community:

• Hire 95% of staff from the local community.
• Support workers with on-site school, library, and clinic.
• Showcase and sell local crafts and artwork.

Rates

$51 – $75

We offer three types of accommodations with a varied rate system to suit our guests' needs:

• Bungalows - US$85 per couple
• Hotel rooms - US$45 per couple
• Hostel - US$30 per couple

For more information about rates, please visit:

• selvanegra.com/en/l_pricing.html (available in English, German and Spanish).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Managua (MGA)

Travel time to nearest airport: 2 hours

Selva Negra can easily be reached with any vehicle and is accessible year-round. Public transportation may be taken to the entrance of the property and after a two-mile walk into the property, you will reach the lodge.

Additional Information

Awards or Recognitions

• Güegüense National Award for Excellence in the Sustainability category, given by the National Chamber of Tourism of Nicaragua (CANATUR), 2012.
• Semper Virens Award from the International Ecological Summit, 1995.

Additional Web sites

• www.vianica.com/hotels/54/selva-negra-resort-de-montana (available in English and Spanish). A profile of Selva Negra available on Vianica.com.

Date This Information Was Provided

December 2012.

Photos courtesy of Selva Negra Ecolodge and Coffee Estate, Nicaragua, for SustainableTrip.org.