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Volunteer Guide - Travel Details

Air travel to Nicaragua is the responsibility of each volunteer. Several major airlines fly into Managua from the U.S. and Canada, usually with convenient schedules and competitive prices.
 

We fly in and out of the Managua Airport on the arriving and departing Saturdays of your trip.  We ask that you arrive on a flight scheduled to arrive Saturday between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.  We ask that you depart on a flight scheduled to depart Saturday between 12:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.  Because of potential bad weather and the associated difficulties in driving at night through the mountains, traveling  between Managua and Jinotega in the daylight hours will be a safer and more comfortable experience for you than traveling at night. If you need to arrive or depart outside those hours, we will provide you with a hotel room in a comfortable and clean hotel in Managua with airport shuttle service. 

Program Start and End Dates

Outreach360 programs run Saturday to Saturday for our Nicaragua program. We strongly request that you arrive and depart on the Saturdays of your trip:

Arrivals:
We ask that you arrive on a flight scheduled to arrive on Saturday between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. 
As of October 2011, flights arriving to Managua between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. include:

Copa # 4496:  8:27 A.M. 
TACA #396 9:36 A.M.
United Airlines #7425: 9:36 A.M.
American Airlines #969: 11:16 A.M.
Delta Airlines #369: 11:52 A.M.
Copa: 12:11 P.M.
Aeromexico #7933 12:11 P.M.
TACA #717: 3:36 P.M.

If your flight arrives after 4:00 p.m., we will provide you with a hotel room at a comfortable and clean hotel in Managua with airport shuttle service.  You may be asked to share the room with other Outreach360 volunteers.

A hotel that we often use is: Best Western Mercedes, directly across the street from the Managua airport:

You'll appreciate getting a good rest that night, versus driving the 2-3 hours that night to Jinotega.  We'll pick you up at the hotel the following morning, and will coordinate with you one week prior to your trip to let you  know an exact pick-up time. 

If you are arriving after 4:00 p.m. to Managua, we encourage you to arrive on Friday night instead of Saturday night if possible.  We will pick you up on Saturday for the trip to Jinotega.   But if a Saturday night arrival is the only option, we will pick you up at the hotel on Sunday morning. Your ground transportation is included in your program donation for either a Saturday or Sunday morning.

Departures:
We ask that you depart Managua on a flight scheduled to depart on Saturday between 12:00 noon and 10:00 P.M.  As of October 2011, flights departing Managua between 12:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. include:

American Airlines #970: 12:40 P.M.
TACA #716: 12:50 P.M.
Delta Airlines #370: 1:22 P.M.
Copa Airlines #105: 2:53 P.M.
TACA Airlines #717: 4:35 P.M.
TACA Airlines #397: 5:40 P.M.
Copa Airlines #711: 8:00 P.M.
Continental Airlines #7059:  8:00 P.M.

If your flight departs before 12:00 P.M., we will provide you with a hotel room at a comfortable and clean hotel in Managua with airport shuttle service.  You may be asked to share the room with other Outreach360 volunteers

A hotel that we often use is: Best Western Mercedes, directly across the street from the Managua airport:

The hotel is very clean and comfortable.  You'll appreciate getting a good rest that night, versus driving the 2-3 hours that night from Jinotega.  Your ground transportation is included in your program donation.  

If you are departing before 12:00 P.M. noon from Managua, we encourage you to depart on Sunday morning instead of Saturday morning if possible.   But if a Saturday morning departure is the only option, we will drop you off at the hotel on Friday night, and that ground transportation is also included in your program donation. 

Arriving and Departing on Days other than Saturday:
We request that you arrive and depart the Saturdays of your trip.  This schedule allows us to provide you the best possible volunteer experience, and also minimize housing and transportation costs.   If you arrive Friday night, or depart Sunday morning, you will follow our process described above.  However, if you need to arrive earlier than Friday night, or depart later than Sunday morning, please be aware of these additional costs: 

Arriving a day or more early (Friday afternoon or earlier)
The minimum program donation will be increased by $50/person/day, up to three additional days. For more than 3 additional days, the program donation for an additional week applies.   There will be added ground transportation costs (see below).  This additional cost is applied even if the total stay is the normal 7 nights.  Please contact us if you have a unique situation.  

Departing a day or more late (Sunday afternoon or later)
The minimum program donation will be increased by $50/person/day, up to three additional days. For more than 3 additional days, the program donation for an additional week applies.   There will be added ground transportation costs (see below). This additional cost is applied even if the total stay is the normal 7 nights.  Please contact us if you have a unique situation.  

Transportation Fees
Ground transportation is included in the program donation for those volunteers arriving to Managua on flights scheduled to arrive on Saturday between 8:00 A.M and 4:00 P.M., and departing Managua on flights scheduled to depart between 12:00 noon and 10:00 P.M.  For those who need transportation during daylight hours on a day other than Saturday, we will still arrange reliable transportation for you, but there will be additional transportation fees. A taxi will be $150 (one way); and for teams, a bus that holds 38 volunteers will be $300/bus (one way).

Teams and Team Leaders (receivers of the group scholarship)

Ground Transportation is provided for your team when it arrives and departs on the same flight, in and out of Managua, arriving on Saturday between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., and departing on Saturday between 12:00 noon and 10:00 P.M.  Please review the instructions above for flights arriving after 4:00 P.M., or departing before 12:00 noon.  If any members of your team choose not to arrive or depart with the group, they will be responsible for their own ground transportation costs. 

Note that we do not provide a continuous shuttle on Saturdays.  We work to minimize the number of trips between Managua and Jinotega.  You may be asked to spend additional time at the airport to help us consolidate trips.  

Arranging Flights/Sending Outreach360 Your Flight Information

All ticketing arrangements and funding are made directly between you and the airlines. Funds can not come to Outreach360, and then be sent back to you for ticket purchases.

You will need to submit your flight information to Outreach360 30 days prior to the trip  to ensure a timely pick-up and drop off at the Managua airport.

Your airline ticket is tax deductible (for U.S. tax payers) if the primary purpose of your trip is charitable work. Your ticket is your receipt; you will not receive a tax receipt from Outreach360 for your ticket.

Please do not purchase your ticket until you are confident you will have the minimum program donation in our office on the funds due date.

Passports/Visas

You will need a valid passport to enter Nicaragua. An additional visa is not required for volunteers holding a Canadian or American passport. We suggest making two copies of your passport; put one copy in your suitcase separate from your original, and leave one copy at home with a friend or family member. If somehow you were to lose your identification in-country., having access to a copy would help the process greatly. If you are under 18 and not traveling with your parents, please complete the Temporary Guardianship Form and give it to the temporary legal guardian traveling with you. Your temporary legal guardian needs to be at least 21 years old. 

Please wear your Outreach360 tee-shirt to the airport. It will help you identify other volunteers, and help them to identify you. Most of you will be traveling with other volunteers. If not, just follow the directions below. You won't have any problems.

Arriving at the Airport

When you land in Managua,  exit the plane. Follow the crowd to the immigration desk. You’ll need to purchase a tourist card for $10 in U.S. funds. 

You will then pick up your luggage, go through customs (they might inspect your luggage), and then go outside. Do not wait for a big group to congregate before going through customs; just grab your luggage and head out. We will be waiting outside with transportation ready to go to the orphanage. Note: Please bring only suitcases, not boxes. Customs will often let you through without inspecting your suitcases, boxes are always inspected. If your luggage does not arrive, please make sure to report it to the airlines inside the terminal, and get a claim slip from them. 

When you exit the airport terminal, we'll be waiting for you with Outreach360 tee-shirts on. Baggage handlers will be asking to help you with your luggage. They can be quite assertive. I suggest, unless you really need help, to refuse their assistance unless you are willing to pay a tip of $1-2 per bag. We'll collect in a group until all the volunteers are there. Please bring a water bottle with you, both for the trip and for your use throughout your trip. Also, bring enough snacks to sustain you during your airline trip and bus trip to Jinotega. Please tell your family not to expect a call home until 24 hours after your arrival. You will be able to exchange money after you arrive to your volunteer site. 

Missed Flights

If you miss a flight and are not on the flight you are supposed to be on in getting to Managua, please communicate by calling our number in Arizona: (602) 375-2900. Please leave a message, let us know your status, and when you will be arriving into Managua (date/airport/flight #/arrival time). We will plan to provide transportation at the airport when you arrive. Remember, please call our number in Arizona and leave a message if your travel does not happen as planned.

Lost Luggage

If the airline loses your luggage, you will need to report it by the luggage area. The airline attendants will speak English. The address in Jinotega is:

Outreach360
Del Hotel Primavera
1 Cuadra Norte
20 Varras al Oeste
A La Mano Derecha - un Porton Negro con Mandarina

Tel 011-505-8770-5772

Air Travel Arrangements

Outreach360 has worked with a travel agency called Target Travel who has proved to find good deals on flights for our teams. They have been in business since 1978, and offer personalized service to groups and individuals. Volunteers from Outreach360 will be able to speak seasoned travel professionals during their business hours of 9:00am - 5:30pm EST (M-F).  Email communications will be replied to promptly. Volunteer will also have free access to their 24hr after-hours emergency only phone service as well.  They can also provide quotes and book trip cancellation insurance through Access America.
 
Please feel free to contact Danny Mercer using the details below to make your trip even more turn-key:
  
Daniel W. Mercer
General Manager - Target Travel Group
46 Birmingham Pkwy
Boston, MA 02135
888-284-8280  x311
617-562-1300  x311
617-254-7277-fax




Nicaragua Volunteer Information Guide