Nate "Nato" Yue and volunteer Lexi with the after school Kids Club Program.

The idea for Rancho Esperanza was born when Nathan Yue came to Jiquilillo as a volunteer in 2001. He lived and worked here for a year as a health promoter with a project funded by a small NGO. He worked alongside the local health worker Doña Francisca and the community members of Jiquilillo to build wells, latrines, coordinate beach clean ups and provide basic health and hygiene education.

Problems with funding meant the NGO pulled out of the community. But Nate, having already fallen in love with the area and its community members resolved to find a way to continue helping the village.

In October 2004 construction began and in 2005 Rancho Esperanza opened its doors to the public. By combining community development and tourism, Nate has been able to show travelers, guests, and volunteers the real Nicaragua he is so passionate about, while continuously benefiting the community.

Rancho Esperanza is Nate’s dream, but its realization has been achieved through the work of many talented, inspirational and just plain hardworking people. It’s the characters you meet here that make the experience. Without the ideas, input, and inspiration of community members, guests, and volunteers, Rancho Esperanza would not exist.


To create a positive sustainable living environment for travelers while integrating the community through the creation and support of education and eco and cultural tourism.

Stephany teaches the kids how to play homemade Twister, which we call "disaster" in the Community Center.

The work we do with the community is funded from hostel earnings. So even if you don’t volunteer yourself, just by staying at the Rancho for a few days you are still supporting your host community. However, if you’re more actively interested in what we are doing and would like to volunteer with us, that’s possible too.

Our most successful project is our Kids Club, which we have been nurturing for over 5 years. In the initial 3 years we ran the after school program out of the hostel’s main rancho, but through hostel earnings and donations from past guests we were able to build a dedicated Community Center to house Kids Club. Our on going venture is to provide a fun, safe setting for kids to be kids through games, children’s library in Spanish, arts and crafts all of which are lacking in the community of Jiquilillo. The Kids Club has grown to include a once monthly fun family film where popcorn is provided for all community members and their children.

Maria José with her newborn son Junior, who was born 15 minutes upon arrival to the San Luis Medical Clinic.

Our involvement in youth education extends outside of the Community Center. We work alongside Assist Jiquilillo Inc. providing updated textbooks, maps,
and other classroom supplies for Jiquilillo’s primary school. These donations are based on the needs of community leaders and teachers.

Our community involvement also provides free hospital transport to all community members of Jiquilillo and the surrounding areas. Jiquilillo has limited public transportation, with the last bus leaving at 3:30 in the afternoon. If there is any medical emergency after this time, we provide free transport to the nearest medical facility located 45 minutes from Jiquilillo. We average four to five emergency trips to the clinic per month; our services have assisted in bringing four new lives into the community and other medical emergencies.

We are a small scale, hands on project relying on the contribution of resources and time from volunteers to carry out not only the community work but also our ongoing growth in accordance with environmentally sound principles.

Kids Club
We are always looking for volunteers to be positive role models for the children during Kids Club. If you would like to get involved we ask that you commit to a stay of at least two weeks to create a consistent environment for the children. References and details of experience with children may be requested.

English Classes
As of February 2010, Marissa Ambrosi, Rancho manager and community volunteer, started English classes for both adult and children. Classes take place in the community center Tuesday and Thursday of each week. Marissa will be continuing classes until November upon which a replacement teacher will be needed. We ask that you have teaching experience and can commit to at least one month.

Isaac, Margaret and Michela’s mural on the side of the main dormitory.

Creative arts The Rancho and the wider property is a true multi-purpose space serving children, travelers and of course the volunteer family. Creating an inspiring environment that fits with the natural beauty of Jiquilillo is important to us. No one said the simple life was ugly or plain! If you’re a carpenter who can incorporate natural materials like drift wood with functional design, or an artist who can paint a mural, create mosaics or sculpt, let our home be your workshop.

Organic Vegetable Garden
We have the compost, we have the space, we even have willing hands... but some more green fingers would be great. If you’re an expert on what grows well where, and have some good container ideas to get us above the wet season puddles you could really make a valuable contribution here. To make sure there is time to do the job well, we’d ideally like someone to come for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Future projects
We have the following projects in mind, however we need helping hands. If you think you have the skills, language, experience or expertise to help with any of these projects please get in touch:

• Cultural Tours – Motivated Spanish speaker needed to expand our cultural excursions lead by members of the community.
• Women’s Cooperative – Providing alternative sustainable income for the women of the community.
• Community Library - Where community members, young and old, have access to reading materials.
• Surf Instructor - Experienced surfer needed to teach surf and swimming lessons to local kids.
• Local Home Stays - Enthusiastic Spanish speaker needed to assist local families set up a home stay program.
  
  If you have an idea that isn’t listed but that you think would benefit Jiquilillo or Rancho life, and that you are equipped to make happen, do
  e-mail us with your ideas.