We are unbeatable value for money. We offer a range of unique experiences to our students as well as excellent, professional one on one Spanish classes. We are genuinely NOT FOR PROFIT and all of the dollars we earn go to maintain the highest possible level of employment for local people – including homestays and our community and environmental projects. We also have local purchasing policies (for more detail see Responsible Tourism)
A plea. Please be generous with us. We have survived (more or less) since the collapse of international tourism in early 2018, a situation compounded by covid. It has not been easy – for example, most of the workers have been on 75% wages since then. So tips and donations have been, literally, lifesavers. Plus Nicaragua is not as inexpensive as you might think!
Our package deals include:
Accomodation in basic but comfortable hotel rooms with ensuite bathroom, a rustic eco bamboo built room or a homestay with a local family
3 freshly cooked vegetarian meals a day, with free juice or coffee
One on one Spanish lessons for 4 hours per day Mon to Fri
ALL activities or organized volunteer opportunities!
Please read carefully this info and note:
- Prices are in US Dollars
- One week is 7 nights and one month is 4 weeks.
- Methods of Payment – Due to the difficult current economic situation in Nicaragua, the banks here no longer accept U.S. Checks. Therefore, the best form of payment for us is US dollars in cash. There are local ATMs easily available, though often there is a daily limit of $300 to $500 that can be drawn out.
- Discounts – 25% discount for children under 12 years of age EXCEPT in homestay. Please note the bamboo eco rooms are NOT suitable for children.
- Value – While it may first appear that our prices are more expensive than other Spanish schools in Nicaragua, our activity program is SECOND TO NONE in its variety and interest, and we include WEEKENDS TOO! You pay your entrance fees, the amount depends on the activity destination. You pay for anything consumed outside the Mariposa,
- Xmas holidays and mid June to mid August we are popular with families with children.
PACKAGE PRICES
What you can expect from us for your money –
- 20 hours of immersion structured Spanish classes Mon to Fri (weekend classes are extra), both grammar and conversation. The classes are one-on-one so you can decide what you would like to focus on. Many students use their conversation to explore the local community or walk around our gardens or nature reserve with their teacher. We cater for all levels, including children. Please note some of the teachers do not speak English.
- Your accommodation – depending on which price option you choose, see below.
- 3 freshly cooked vegetarian meals per day, using our own organic vegetables and eggs when possible – homestays have breakfast, dinner and weekend meals with the family. A juice or coffee/tea with each meal.
- Use of the gardens, terraces and nature reserve of La Mariposa.
- A varied afternoon and weekend activities program – including full day Saturday trips to Granada, the Pacific beaches –
- OR organized volunteer work in the organic garden, the tree nursery, on the organic compost project, with our rescued animals, on our project for differently abled children or an out of school project. Volunteers are welcome to join in weekend activities free of charge but will be asked to pay extra for weekday activities.
- Personal attention from our staff – whether you have a stomach bug or a problem with the ATM, someone from La Mariposa will help you! We go the extra mile. Hotel rooms are cleaned 6 days a week.
- Free drinking water and Wi Fi.
All prices are per person per week (7 nights). All subject to $15 govt tax.
There is a 25% discount for children 12 years old or under in hotel rooms accomodation ONLY.
PRICES
- A) $380 – hotel room with own bathroom Hotel Rooms | La Mariposa (mariposaspanishschool.com), activities and Spanish classes.
- (B) $350 – As above but shared room.
- (C)$290 – Hotel room, volunteer work and Spanish classes
- (D) $270 – homestay with a local family, activities and Spanish classes Home-stays | La Mariposa (mariposaspanishschool.com)
- (E)$250 – bamboo eco room, activities and Spanish classes Bamboo Eco-Rooms | La Mariposa (mariposaspanishschool.com)
- (F) $240 – homestay, volunteer work and Spanish classes
- (G) $220 – bamboo eco room, volunteer work, Spanish classes
Airport transportation 1 person is $60 USD; 2 people is $80 USD; over 3 $90 USD (1 way)
Costa Rica Border Pickup $140 USD
Other Transportation
All prices are one way
– To Masaya = $30 for one person
– To Granada = $40
– To San Jorge (for Ometepe) = $90
– To San Juan del Sur = $120
There is a 15% IVA tax (value added tax) on the hotel portion of your bill (which usually adds up to about $15/week USD)
Please note: you need to pay an extra of $10 dollars for enter and exit from the Airport .
Please explore the following links for more details on each of the types of elements listed in the packages above:
Skype lessons
$12 per hour for package of 1 – 19 lessons Buy 20 + lessons and receive two lessons free! |
Skype lessons can be purchased through the link at the bottom of the Skype classes page.
Extras
We can provide you with a local guide anytime to explore on foot, on horseback, by bus or just to chat in Spanish free of charge. Extra classes 20 hours per week of classes are included in all packages – additional classes on weekdays = $10 USD per hour – additional classes on weekends/holidays = $15 USD per hour – The weekly rate for additional classes is $80 – $140 USD for 2 – 4 hours extra per day (6-8 hours of Spanish classes per day total, 30/40 hours per week total) Massages $30 USD per hour Extra excursions: Prices start at $20 USD per person for half a day and $25 USD for a full day (minimum 3 per trip) depending on the destination. (Round trip) Guests pay for their own entrance fees to museums, national parks, lakeside resorts etc. and any food/drink consumed outside the Mariposa. Extra drinks/snacks are NOT included. Please keep track of your snacks/beer/wine on the tally board in the kitchen and remember to pay for them at the end of your stay. TIPPING – tipping at the Mariposa is entirely voluntary and much appreciated! You are welcome to tip individual workers but please remember that many workers work behind the scenes and are less visible to guests. They often don’t receive any tips at all. Bearing that in mind it is preferable to give an overall tip which can be shared out (once enough money has accumulated) between all the workers. DONATIONS – to our projects are also welcome and have kept us afloat over the lean times. Cash donations are obviously welcome, but you can also donate through www.masmariposas.org (a US based 501c3 non-profit.) INSURANCE – Guests, students and volunteers are responsible for their own insurance; we do all we can to ensure your health and safety but cannot take responsibility for loss, illness, accident. We reserve the right to cancel reservations and ask students to leave. |