Retreats with Amigos
Spiritual Transformation
The Amigos family wants to see you come alive in new ways. Our beautiful home in Nicaragua is perfect for a spiritual getaway that puts love into action. Working alongside Nicaraguan families during your retreat will spark transformational growth for them and for you.
Whether an extended weekend or a full week, your retreat can be tailored to your group’s exact needs. Bring a spiritual leader to guide you through spiritual reflections or have our Amigos Team walk you through reflections each day as you serve.
A Typical Mission Trip Week
Day 1: Saturday
Arrive in Managua, Nicaragua, and travel to Chinandega (2-3) hours.
Day 2: Sunday
Opportunity to attend local church service, and visit a local community or climb Cerro Negro volcano.
Day 3: Monday
Community work
Day 4: Tuesday
Community work
Day 5: Wednesday
Community work and special activity
Day 6: Thursday
Community work
Day 7: Friday
Community work and special activity
Day 8: Saturday
Travel from Chinandega to the airport in Managua and depart Nicaragua.
Plan Your Trip
When you are ready to sign up for a trip, please fill out this form or contact Tessa in the Buford office at Tessa@amigosforchrist.org.
Where You Will Stay
Our Home, the Amigos Complex
We want your stay in Chinandega to be as comfortable as possible while allowing you to experience what life in Nicaragua is like.
At the Amigos Complex, morning and evening meals are prepared by Patricia and her team and enjoyed together in the comedor. We come together in the Rancho for evening devotionals, and early risers can soak in breathtaking sunrises over the volcanoes on the veranda.
At the Amigos Complex you will find:
2 Dormitories
Our two dorm-style rooms can host up to 100 missionaries.
Private Rooms
There are 15 private rooms and bathrooms for families with small children.
Comfort
We have plenty of showers where you can refresh after a long day at work and fans to keep you cool at night.
Clean Water
You can drink from any spigot on the property thanks to our water purification system.
If you have any specific questions or you’re ready to sign up for a trip, please fill out this form or contact Tessa in the Buford office at Tessa@amigosforchrist.org.
FAQs
Most frequent questions and answers
Amigos for Christ
Your Mission Trip Costs
Amigos charges $350 to cover ground transportation, accommodations in Nicaragua, insurance, food, and purified water. Airfare can range from $600 to $1,200 depending on your departure city and dates of travel. You will also need about $50 cash for local expenses and souvenirs if you want.
Add that all up and you get anywhere from $1,000– $1,600.
Staying in Nicaragua
7 days. Our trips run Saturday to Saturday.
We also offer extended stay opportunities. For more information, click here.
Yes. Your safety is our number one priority while you’re here. You’ll fly into Managua, Nicaragua’s capital, and be taken directly to Chinandega by buses provided by Amigos for Christ. Once you’ve arrived, we stay together at our Amigos Complex and are transported to our work sites together every day by our very own Amigos buses.
Currently, the State Department has listed Nicaragua as a Level 3 Advisory (Reconsider Travel). We recommend that you visit the State Department’s website as you make your decision to join us for a mission trip. You may also consider purchasing travel insurance in the case that you need to reschedule your mission trip.
For breakfast, the staff at the Amigos Complex provides a buffet that includes some variety of fruit, bread, cereal, and juice. Sometimes we get pancakes! Dinner is usually rice and beans with a meat and salad. We won’t steer you wrong. We know everyone needs a nice hearty meal after a long workday. FYI, lunch is our favorite… PB&J sandwiches!
Once you have submitted your information to Amigos, our nurse will address food allergies with you specifically, but don’t let a food allergy keep you from reaching out and considering a trip with us. If you have a gluten allergy, you can bring your own gluten free bread or crackers for your PB&Js or if you are allergic to peanuts, maybe a different nut-butter or tuna packets will do the trick. Either way, we will work with each one individually to see what options there are to make sure that your food allergies are not a deterrent for you serving with us in Nicaragua.
If you have a severe food allergy, please call our office before purchasing airline tickets so that we can put you in contact with our nurse and discuss your needs.
Think big rooms with lots of bunk beds and lots of fans. We have separate dorms for guys and gals.
You can check with your local carrier for international rates.
Being able to disconnect while you’re away from home on a Mission Trip can be a gift, but we recognize that you might need to connect with the States for work or family reasons. Wi-Fi is available at the Amigos Complex, however sometimes the electricity or the internet will take a “mini vacation.” Knowing this, please plan accordingly.
Amigos offers you the opportunity during your week to disconnect from your busy schedule and connect with God and with others. We hope that you use the internet sparingly and enjoy your time serving here.
Your Mission Trip Activities
Great question! Now we’re getting down to business.
During your trip, you might find yourself digging a water line, practicing English with the students at the Amigos Academy, or planting dragon fruit on a 1 Manzana farm! Whatever we are doing that week, at the core we strive to serve so that Christ is made more visible.
We completely immerse mission trip participants, like you, into the local communities where we work. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with someone is the best way to build relationships and experience life change. Get ready to grab a shovel and practice your Spanish!
We’ll be honest – it is quite hot in Nicaragua! The labor we usually perform can be strenuous in the heat. We encourage frequent breaks and require everyone to stay hydrated throughout the day. Without a doubt, you WILL consume more water than you could begin to imagine. We won’t pull you out of the shade and put a shovel back in your hand, but you may be stretched to work and do more than you may have thought possible.
At the end of the day, we prioritize people over progress. The relationships that you build during your week here will always be the most important thing.
We work in various rural communities in the Chinandega area of northwest Nicaragua. The work sites are all over the place but range from a one- to two-hour trip from the Amigos Complex each way.
Signing up
You will either come with a group or join an existing group for your first trip. A certain amount of orientation is required in making the trip, adapting to the surroundings, performing the work, and getting to know everyone on your trip. Once you complete a mission trip, there may be opportunities to travel to Nicaragua alone to join our mission.
Your completed online registration and the mission trip contribution are due 2 months prior to departure.
Specialized Trips
What types of medical skills do you need on the trips? Check our mission trip schedule and contact our home office about jumping on one of several surgical trips we have each year. If you want to learn more, visit our Surgical Missions Trip page.
Medical teams work alongside Nicaraguan surgeons, doctors, and nurses in local hospitals in Chinandega to perform life–changing surgeries and procedures. Our approach is to work alongside people and learn from each other while building relationships.
Mission Trip Requirements
Once you sign up for a mission trip, we will provide you with a detailed packing list. We encourage you to pack clothing that is comfortable and that you aren’t afraid to get dirty. Many volunteers leave things they don’t need behind as donations.
YES. And make sure it doesn’t expire for 6 months after your scheduled trip (their rules, not ours). You do not need a visa if you are an American citizen. People of other nationalities should check with their consulate regarding visa requirements. If you don’t have a passport, you can apply for one at a passport center, which are often located in your local post office. When you book your trip, make sure you put your exact full name on your airline reservation. Someone in an office somewhere likes that stuff to match up perfectly.
We recommend that all participants follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, and additional testing may be required to enter Nicaragua and also to return home. Please check with Amigos for Christ and the State Department for travel guidelines.
Other shots are optional, but we highly recommend Hep A and Hep B. You should also be current on your Tetanus shot. Consult your family doctor, county health center, or the CDC for more information.
Since Nicaragua has an extreme climate and is a developing country, sometimes there are people with certain medical conditions who struggle here. If you have the following medical conditions or any questions, please contact the Amigos office before you register for a trip or buy your plane tickets: peanut allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, hemophilia, serious mental illness, past history of heat strokes, if you have been hospitalized within the past year, or any other conditions about which you are concerned.
Sharing this information does not automatically mean you will be disqualified from coming on a trip, it just allows us to make the best possible decision about how to keep you safe and healthy should you join us in Nicaragua.
If you have any questions, please contact our nurses at nurses@amigosforchrist.org.
Medical information is only shared with our nursing staff in Nicaragua.
You will need a person who is at least 18 years old to act as your guardian on the trip. This can be a youth minister, teacher, adult friend, or family member. Your parents should write a note stating that this person has their permission to travel with you to Nicaragua. Please contact the office if you have any questions or concerns. In addition, everyone attending the trip will need a witnessed Release and Waiver of Liability form. Everyone must agree to the Amigos for Christ Code of Conduct in order to make the trip. Your completed online registration and the mission trip contribution are due 2 months prior to departure.
No. We will teach you some easy phrases to get the conversation going. Don’t let this stop you. We have testimonies from hundreds of folks who will tell you that working through some Spanglish and forcing yourself to communicate with what you know is a wonderful thing.
Yes. In fact, families who join us for mission trips thrive! We recommend that children be at least 5 years old and have all recommended immunizations before they come to Nicaragua.
Learn more about family trips here.
We recommend that you take a look through our Code of Conduct and Waiver of Liability before registering for a trip or purchasing your plane ticket.
Other Questions
Your completed online registration and the mission trip contribution are due 2 months prior to departure. The mission trip contribution is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, your donation will be applied to our projects. If you have any questions, please call the Amigos Office at 770-614-9250.
No proof of vaccination from COVID nor a negative PCR taken are required by Nicaragua as of July 22, 2023. The United States is no longer requiring a test for U.S. residents in order to return to the United States. If you have more specific questions or concerns, please contact Tessa at tessa@amigosforchrist.org.
Request Information
If you are interested in signing up for a mission trip, please fill out this form. We will let you know within 2-3 business days if space is available on the trip(s) you are interested in.
Mission Trip Cost: Most trips cost $350 (to Amigos for Christ) plus your plane ticket to Managua, Nicaragua. Please do not purchase your airfare until you have been approved for the dates you are requesting.