Bosawas.com is an initiative of Vapues Tours (Nicaraguan Inbound Touroperator & DMC). Green footprints are being left while promoting sustainable development through tourism. Joint action with respectable and enthusiastic counterparts leads to a growing determination in meeting our objectives.
April 2010 – Initiation of the collaboration between Vapues Tours and COSERTUCHACO (cooperative de servicios turísticos del Refugio de Vida Silvestre Río Escalante – Chacocente), supporting the rural community tourism in Chacocente, the biggest tropical dry forest in whole Central America. The beaches of this place count to the few breeding areas left of the impressive Paslama turtle, which makes it very special and worth of protection. We want to preserve this unique spot and its endangered species, you can be part of it: http://vapues.com/daytoursmanagua.php
January 2010 – Again this year, Dutch foundation "Do You Care" and Vapues Tours collaborate in order to give 14 young Dutch students the opportunity of getting to know Nicaraguan culture and supporting the local community with their volunteer work at institutions such as Asociación Las Tias (street kids shelter), Los Pipitos (disabled children shelter), Orphanage/ Home of the Elderly San Vicente de Paúl and Hospitals AMOCSA and HEODRA. Vapues organizes Spanish classes and works closely together with cooperative "León sin fronteras", allowing the students to stay with local families, encouraging a vivid exchange of culture and ideas. http://stichtingdoyoucare.nl
November 2009 – Participation in the campaign " United to preserve the Environment", an initiative for responsible management of natural resources in the San Juan del Sur area. About 600 people from different communities, including school children, effectively campaigned to recollect litter in their respective communities. The recollected garbage was consequently selected for recycling. At the end of an exciting day, a cultural performance was organized. READ MORE
July 2009 - Opening of [ Ramsar Lodge], a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between COSETUR (cooperative of 12 local families, owners of Ramsar Lodge) and Vapues Tours. Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) and NGO Fundacion Lider provided technical assistance. The investment of the PPP was matched by DED. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) provided technical training through "Program Bosque Seco". This Community Based Tourism (CBT) Initiative serves to generate additional income to traditional commercial activities in the primary sector, and is part of a strategy for responsible management of natural resources in the Cosiguina area.
March 2009 - For the second time, the Dutch foundation "Do you Care" sends seven students to León, Nicaragua, in order to do their internships and learn about local culture. Organizing host families and Spanish classes, Vapues Tours served as local counterpart, supporting the students in their work with street kids, disabled children and orphans.. http://stichtingdoyoucare.nl, .
January 2009 - promotion and marketing of BOSAWAS project "Ruins of El Realejo", a tour that has been designed in cooperation with Museum Chorotega Nicarao. Together with one of Nicaragua s foremost archeologists participants rediscover the ruins of the first maritime port on the Pacific Ocean, visiting the Convent of San Francisco and other ruins nowadays buried under the house of a local farmer. The tour concludes with a visit to Museum Chorotega Nicarao, where many objects from pre-Columbian Nicaragua are on permanent exhibition.
December 2008 - promotion and marketing of BOSAWAS project "The Art of Handcraft", a community based tour has been designed in cooperation with NGO MASINFA. Participants visit a broad variety of "patio style" workshops in Monimbo, experiencing the daily life of these small producers and seeing how traditional handicraft is being made.
November 2008 - promotion and marketing of BOSAWAS project "Twilight Hike Cerro Negro", a fixed departure daily tour taking participants to Cerro Negro, to be part of the mysterious transition from day to night. Joining this tour participants support (and visit) the reforestation project of Vapues Tours and Cooperativa de turismo Rural Comunitario Pilas El Hoyo.
October 2008 - promotion and marketing of BOSAWAS project "Finca Visit", a community based tour has been designed by Vapues Tours in cooperation with NGO UCA Tierra y Agua, allowing participants to visit a traditional finca and interact with its friendly people. Includes: hands-on activities, nature hiking and campesino meals.
October 2008 - Release of the fourth issue of Bosawas Maps. Four editions are released and distributed: Granada Map (14.000 copies), León Map (10.000 copies), Masaya Map (10.000 copies) and Chinandega Map (10.000 copies).
September 2008 - Reforestation of selected area near Cerro Negro Volcano. In cooperation with Cooperativa de turismo Rural Comunitario Pilas El Hoyo 1500 trees are planted (Cedro Real, Guanacaste, Genisaro, Laurel , Malinche y Cortez). Clients of Vapues Tours taking a tour to Cerro Negro visit the reforestation area and are invited to "adopt a tree", which is included in the touring fees.
August 2008 - A Memorandum of Understanding is signed between Cooperativa de turismo Rural Comunitario Pilas El Hojo and Vapues Tours. The objective of the agreement is to promote environmentally and socially responsible tourism practices, integrating local communities in initiatives to protect the environment and development and promotion of sustainable tourism practices around Cerro Negro.
June 2008 - Release of the third issue of Bosawas Maps. Three editions are released and distributed: Granada Map (12.500 copies), León Map (12.500 copies) and Chinandega Map (7000 copies).
March 2008 - Dutch foundation Do You Care sends fourteen students to León to do their internships. Local counterpart Vapues Tours organizes Spanish classes, host family stays and work placements at local organizations in need of assistance. Some of the institutions involved are : Hospital Escuela Oscar Danilo Rosales Arguello (HEODORA), Asociación Las Tias (street kids shelter), Los Pepitos (deaf, mute and mentally disabled children shelter), Sociedad San Vicente de Paúl (Home of the Elderly) and Hogar San Vicente de Paúl (Orphanage). http://stichtingdoyoucare.nl
February 2008 - Release of the second issue of Bosawas Maps. Two editions are released and distributed: Granada Map (12.500 copies) and León Map (12.500 copies).
January 2008 - A letter of intent is signed between Nicaraguan NGO Fundación Luchadores Integrados al Desarrollo de la Región (LIDER) and Vapues Tours, contributing to local development and empowerment of families and local people in the conservation and management of biodiversity and natural resources through the promotion of local sustainable development, fundraising and the provision of technical assistance to local comunities.
October 2007 - Release of the first issue of Bosawas Maps. Two editions are released and distributed: Granada Map (12.500 copies) and León Map (12.500 copies).
September 2007 - Rainforest Alliance and Vapues Tours organize a two-day workshop for the suppliers of the hotel sector.Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) and technical cooperation in implementation of Sustainable Tourism in Nicaragua are some of the main themes addressed.
July 2007 - A seminar is organized by Rainforest Alliance and Vapues Tours. Fourty selected suppliers of Vapues Tours are invited to develop and implement Best Management Practices (a ‘BMO Plan’). Suppliers of Vapues Tours, like hotels, drivers, guides and community leaders of existing Community based tourism (CBT) projects participated at the seminar.
June 2007 - A Memorandum of Understanding is signed between Rainforest Alliance and Vapues Tours. The goal of the agreement is to promote environmentally and socially responsable tourism practices.
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism/tourism_connections/september_07.html
December 2006 - Recognition of the Nicaraguan Minister of Tourism, María Nelly Rivas Blanco, for winning the award for Best Active Tourism Product at the Spanish International Tourism Fair FITUR.
November 2006 - An agreement is signed between Fundacion Cocibolca and Vapues Tours. The purpose of the agreement is to promote tourism to the Natural Reserves that Fundacion Cocibólca manages: Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho (RNVM) and Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor (RVSLF).
May 2006 - Green Travel Market accredits Vapues Tours (Incoming Tour operator Nicaragua - id 19278). Green Travel Market offers comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date information on sustainable tourism products that are currently available on the global marketplace. To ensure quality and sustainability, all of the products in the marketplace have been screened based on quality and sustainability criteria.
January 2006 - Vapues Tours wins award. The product ‘Oasis Verdes de Matagalpa’ is selected as best Active Tourism Product (Category International) at the International Tourism Fair of Spain: FITUR. http://www-ni.laprensa.com.ni/cgi-bin/print.pl?id=economia-20060204-04.
September 2004 - Dutch NGO Agriterra and Outbound Touroperator Agroreizen jointly promote an Agricultural Tour through Nicaragua in cooperation with Inbound Touroperator Vapues Tours. A key focus of Agriterra is the cooperation from farmer to farmer. Agriterra mobilises the knowledge that Dutch agricultural organisations have, for the benefit of organisations in developing countries, acting as a mediator. http://www.agriterra.org/en
June 2004 - Representatives of Agriterra, Agroreizen and Vapues Tours visit key actors of local comunities in Rivas, Leon and Matagalpa that seek to develop agricultural tourism. With the assistance of local offices of La Union Nacional de Agricultores y Ganaderos (UNAG) participants of the grassroots farmer to farmer program are involved in the proces of designing a agricultural tour through Nicaragua for the Dutch travel trade.