Our Policy of Responsible Tourism

We understand responsible tourism to mean acting consistently in ways which are helpful to both the local community and the environment. We do not claim to be 100%, but we work continuously to learn more about how we may improve. We hope to act as a model for both the local community and visiting students.

For our students and guests – we offer

Excellent Spanish classes with teachers trained and monitored by us in a relaxing environment and access to our library
A community atmosphere (combined with personal space) where guests eat together and interact with staff and animals as members of the community
A choice of accommodation – all carefully checked and maintained.
We balance the need for basic cleanliness and provision of facilities with our policy of keeping our eco standards high
Freshly prepared and cooked food, sourced from our own vegetable garden,
A local purchasing policy – much of our fruit, coffee etc which we do not grow ourselves is sourced from local growers. The rest we buy in the markets in La Concha and Jinotepe.
Opportunities to learn about this community, this environment and Nicaragua in the context of global issues whether as a volunteer, in a homestay or on one of our many enjoyable and information excursions and activities
A policy of openness…you can see where the trash goes, inspect how we treat our animals, watch the accountant at work, ask the kitchen staff what they cooking……
Adequate pre arrival information on the website, via personal email and an introductory tour on arrival

Within La Mariposa – we

Maximize employment…teachers, guides, admin, kitchen, cleaning, building maintenance and construction, gardens, animal care, project staff
Do not pay high wages to a select few but pay above minimum wages to as many workers as possible, thus assisting as many families as possible
Employ all local staff except interns and Paulette (who are unpaid).
Ensure good working conditions – on the job training, individual help (such as interst free loans), asking guests to leave us a general tip which we can share amongst all staff, offer advice on healthy lifestyles
Work with a very flat hierarchy – our management team is paid a little more than the rest of the staff. The highest paitd per hour are the teachersa nd drivers and this is to compensate for the fact that their work is seasonal
Reduce, reuse, recycle – as much as possible and including rice husks, paper, plastic bags, bottles. The emphasis is on reduce……recycled plastic bags still end up polluting the soil and the oceans.
Conserve water – through collection of rainwater and grey water. We also encourage the use of latrines and alert both staff and guests to the importance of saving water
Provide solar power and solar heated water
Reduce power consumption through minimum use of machines (no A/C, hand wash & line dry clothes, no freezer)
Produce our own veggies, fruit, herbs, medicinal plants, free range eggs, coffee. We are as organic as possible.
Offer freshly prepared and cooked meals, mostly vegetarian, using a no waste buffet style
Encourage consumption of locally produced, low litter snacks & drinks rather than mass produced ones.
Ensure that furniture & furnishings are locally and ethically made
Provide organic, locally made shampoo & soap in hotel bathrooms
Use our land and space respectfully, maximizing uses of rooms (eg library doubling as a classroom)
Expand our eco building -using rice straw, adobe, thatch, recycled tyres, volcanic rock
Encourage walking & use of local transport
Reforest our land as much as possible concentrating on native trees which are rare and also help wildlife
Avoid using damaging pesticides & fertilizers. Produce our own with kitchen waste, horse manure, human urine and our worm project
Encourage wildlife by providing feeding stations and improving habitats for insects, bees, birds, bats, reptiles, mammals
Rescue animals in need of care as much as possible whilst returning wild animals to the wild whenever possible
Ensure high levels of care of rescued animals
Help to preserve rare chicken breeds through a heritage chicken project
Celebrate Nicaraguan culture, not as something “exotic”, but as part of a way of life. This includes food, music, dance, local festivals. Where the concept of ‘culture’ supports oppression of women/children or cruelty to animals e.g. cock fighting, not supported by us
Ensure written information available on our policies and offer led discussions, films, workshops to staff, guests and members of the local community on all aspects of community and environmental responsibility
Incorporate issues into Spanish classes where appropriate

In the local community and environment – we aim to

Direct income into the local economy through (1) job creation and using local service providers such as electricians & mechanics (2) paying local families to offer homestays to guests (3) purchasing from local producers and stores (4) financially and practically helping families in distress especially those with differently abled children
Avoid large chain supermarkets (many are now owned by Walmart), using local family owned businesses
Strengthen local communities through supporting local, already existing projects which help the most marginalized within the communities – differently abled children and young people (education and play), women (employment and family support), adolescents (education, especially in English and sports) and the poorest families (eco-cookers, building latrines, laying water pipes, community gardens)
Examples of projects are – children’s reading corners, renovating the building of a health post, building a bakery for a women’s cooperative, assisting a disabled children’s center including physical, occupational and horse riding therapy
Develop further projects with the community as and when resources allow
Pay the local volunteer project workers a reasonable wage and place Mariposa students as extra volunteer assistance (volunteers are NEVER used to repace workers)
Support the poorest and most isolated communities with jobs (both within La Mariposa and as tourist guides) and income through our rural tourism initiative eg in Palo Solo
Help mitigate the effects of climate change through reforestation & donating tree seedlings from our tree nursery
Promote our eco cooker project, donating cookers designed to use 50% less firewood to families in the poorest communities
Assist families who wish to have their dogs and cats neutered and spayed by offering a free service

In Nicaragua

Contribute to national debates and developments on sustainable tourism and related issues through social media, blogs etc.
Research places that share similar values and avoid exploitative tourism, raise awareness generally, off the beaten track
Support the importance of languages other than English and Nicaraguan culture
Offer personal advice to guests travelling further afield on transport, national reserves, ecologically sound hotels etc

Globally speaking……

Demonstrate concern and act to counter the depletion of the oceans, destruction of soils, air and water pollution, loss of forests, wildlife and biodiversity – including cultural diversity
Understand more about Nicaraguan history from pre Columbian and current situation (poverty) and how it relates to global history and geopolitics
Contribute to debates through social media, interviews, articles
Offer opportunities for learning especially with high school and university students in the group study centre and the local community
Demonstrate the richness and satisfaction of working in a genuinely nonprofit way.

Responsible Tourism