Type of destination:
Type of accommodation:
Rates: (in US dollars)
$25 or less
See details about rates below.
Target Market:
Budget
Formed by two volcanoes rising from the middle of Lake Nicaragua, Ometepe Island is a true tropical paradise that offers visitors a unique and fantastic experience. Hotel Hacienda Mérida (formerly one of the most important farms of the Somoza family) welcomes you with spectacular sunsets, beautiful views of the Maderas and Concepcion Volcanoes, a fishing dock, high speed internet, and direct access to Lake Nicaragua. Our hotel is the perfect place for an unforgettable vacation.
Guests at Hacienda Mérida can participate in the following fun activities:
We offer 11 spacious, private rooms with views of the lake, hammocks, fans, private bathrooms and very comfortable beds. We also have quad rooms with private bathrooms, four dorms with shared bathrooms, and space for camping.
Other:
Number of employees: 26
Percentage of local employees: 100%
At Hacienda Mérida, we consider the education of Nicaragua's population of utmost importance. We have set up programs to improve education in the rural community where we are located, and as we expand, we will be able to offer the same programs to children in nearby communities, giving them the possibility of a better future.
Education is a crucial force for change. In Nicaragua, education needs to be radically revised. Only 2% of our children finish high school and 62% do not even reach fifth grade; as a result, 30% of the population is illiterate. Below is a list of initiatives we are undertaking:
A full description can be found on our Education webpage - see the "Additional Websites" section below.
$25 or less
A 15% local tax is non-negotiable. Prices are the same year-round.
For more information about rates, please visit:
Nearest international airport: Liberia (LIR)
Nearest local/national airport: Managua (MGA)
Travel time to nearest airport: 4 hours
A 4x4 vehicle is required for the last 3 miles (5 km).
On October 28, 2009, Hacienda Mérida was awarded with the Jaime Incer Barquero National Prize for Innovation and Human Development, which attracted community development leaders from across Nicaragua.
The contest, run by the Nicaraguan Science and Technology Council (Conicyt) and supported by the United Nations, rewarded the creation and implementation of sustainable social and environmental projects that have the potential to be replicated by others. Other entrants in the competition included the University of Commercial Science (UCC) and the National University from Managua and León, but these institutions left without prizes, highlighting the fact that it doesn’t take a big budget and a Ph.D to make a lasting and important difference. Read more.
July 2011.
Photos courtesy of Hacienda Mérida, Nicaragua, for SustainableTrip.org.
Álvaro Molina
Owner
Parque Nacional Volcán Maderas
Comunidad de Mérida
Altagracia, Rivas
Nicaragua
Tel: +505/2560-0496 ; +505/2560-0493 ;
+505/8868-8973 ; +505/8894-2551
www.hmerida.com
Rainforest Alliance Verified™
Date: February, 2011