La Mariposa Spanish School and Eco Hotel in Nicaragua offered SO much more than I ever could have imagined. Started as an employment project to give paying jobs to locals in the nearby towns, La Mariposa offers one-on-one classes, volunteer opportunities, nutritious meals made with homegrown ingredients and accommodations crafted from sustainable materials. Moreover, you can practice your Spanish during day trips to places like Leon, Laguna de Apoyo and Volcan Masaya.

I traveled there on my own, and can say this is a great solo female travel experience, too!

Tucked away from city chaos among flower gardens, coffee plants, and banana trees, is Nicaragua's purpose-built La Mariposa Spanish School and Eco Hotel. It's here where I spent over a week taking one-on-one classes with trained teachers from the local community. And while studying Spanish in an idyllic place is a major highlight, La Mariposa offers so much more. Like playing with and feeding the many animals they rescue. I daily spend a lot of time with those kitties. There are also opportunities to volunteer on projects like teaching English to local children, helping disabled kids, and assisting with reforestation efforts in their nature reserve. Cultural immersion is also a main component, as I met local artisans and, at times, even got to try my hand at their craft. I learned to salsa dance, hiked with local naturalist guides, and even assisted in the La Mariposa kitchen. Now, being 40 minutes from Masaya Volcano, and one hour from Granada also meant plenty of day trips. Just check out how gorgeous Laguna de Apoyo is. If you want to immerse yourself in Nicaraguan culture and beauty while making an impact and learning Spanish, well, you've come to the right place.

As a solo traveler nearing 31 years of age, I also appreciate experiences that make it easy to meet other travelers. Hostels aren't my go-to accommodations anymore, though I will sometimes book them with a private room. La Mariposa was a social, immersive Nicaragua experience for both young and older travelers. Honestly, I really didn't want to leave when it was over!

You can also learn more about my Nicaragua travels here: https://jessieonajourney.com/tag/nica...


✅ Liked this video? Don't forget to subscribe for more travel goodness!

✅ Question: What's one cultural attraction you absolutely loved on your travelers? Let me know more in the comments below!

Music by epidemicsound.com