• Free Internet
  
• Free coffee and filtered water
  
• Free guided walks around Mariposa land and organic farm & our social projects.
  
• Free guided horse riding and hikes.

La Mariposa is a small, friendly non-profit Spanish school and eco-hotel, just outside the pueblo of La Concepcion, Nicaragua. We are an hour from Nicaragua's major attractions – including the beautiful colonial city of Granada, wonderful expanses of still unspoilt beaches on the Pacific Coast, the warm swimming water in the crater lake Laguna de Apoyo, the Masaya volcano, a live volcano - but just 45 minutes from Managua airport.

La Mariposa is surrounded by organic coffee, banana trees and flower gardens. Our climate is cool, green but sunny - we are 500 meters above sea level, which makes a real difference to the temperature. It is the ideal place for studying Spanish, learning about Nicaragua, exploring our local community, discussing environmental and development issues, doing volunteer work and going out and about on our activity schedule! You can be as busy as you like or just chill in a hammock and play with the dogs!

We offer intensive Spanish classes in purpose built classrooms or in outdoor thatched ranchos in our delightful grounds, full of tropical plants and rescued animals. The beauty of the surroundings enhances the quality of our Spanish instruction. All our teachers are local Nicaraguan people, highly experienced in teaching and well-equipped to introduce you to both the local community and wider Nicaraguan culture, politics, history. Classes are mostly one on one (max 2 or 3 in a class) and we cater for all levels from absolute beginner to advanced, including specially designed classes for children. We have an extensive library of Spanish study materials and a selection of books in English on Nicaraguan history, development issues, novels etc (we have over 1000 books available for you to borrow!).

We organise a full week (that includes weekends) of activities, including cooking and salsa classes, classes on the history of Nicaragua and a weekly update of what is happening in the Nicaraguan news. These are delivered in Spanish to help with progress in Spanish and with English translation if necessary. On 3 afternoons and Saturdays we offer trips out to local places of interest as well as the Masaya volcano by night, the Masaya markets and artesanias, Granada, Leon, the Laguna de Apoyo, the Pacific beach, Managua, Catarina, the Pueblos Blancos and more! The trips are rotated on a monthly schedule, except for horse riding which is every Sunday. Or you can opt to do a guided hike along a ridge with stunning views of lakes and volcanoes.

Students can stay in the eco-hotel or our cabin. We use solar power - for heated water in your shower as well as electricity, conserve rainwater, have a number of recycling schemes and have started our own successful organic farm which provides some of the eggs, veggies, coffee and fruit consumed at the Mariposa. Our conservation and tree planting efforts have resulted in many more birds and butterflies and the frog pond is a great success.

Another option is to volunteer at one of our community or environmental projects, living in a homestay with a local family. Amongst other projects, we are currently offering volunteer placements on our small organic farm, on a community garden scheme, on reading projects in local schools, or with a day care project. You are also welcome to help out the Mariposa workers on our grounds - whether feeding our rescued animals or cooking up our healthy meals. All of which is a great way to practise that Spanish!

Not only do you receive excellent value for money but you can also be assured that not one dollar you pay us leaves Nicaragua. On the contrary, it is all spent here in the local economy, mostly to maximise the employment of local people - currently employing 45 teachers, maintenance and kitchen staff. And to undertake a number of different projects in the local community. There is a detailed breakdown of how your money is spent on the Prices page.

We welcome people who can feel marginalised in more mainstream hotels - including families, older people, disabled people, black people and people of colour, gay and lesbian people, and we do not charge a single person supplement.

Whilst we welcome children at the Mariposa and do our best to create a safe, educative and fun environment, we must make it clear that children remain the responsibility of their parents at all times. Please read more here