VRBO Listing #487345Off the Grid Rain Forest Get-Away
Location
Without leaving the property, and often from the porch, you can see many endangered species: howler, white faced, and spider monkeys, crocodiles, toucans, parrots, and a rainbow of orchids and butterflies. The rainforests of the region feature over 600 species of birds, along with more than 300 species of reptiles and 200 species of mammals. Environmental organizations in the area and local residents have donated endangered animals to Makengue for release, safe from hunters.
The region is spectacular. The San Juan River connects Lake Nicaragua, the only place in the world with fresh-water sharks, with the Caribbean Sea. During the Gold Rush, the San Juan River and the lake were used as a route from New York to San Francisco, coveted by powerful countries, attacked by pirates, and defended by heroes. San Carlos, located on the shore of the lake at the birthplace of the river, is the largest town in the region with 8,000 inhabitants. 55 km / 34 miles east on the San Juan River is a region with 5,000 residents in 27 villages surrounding two small towns. The largest town, Boca de Sabalos is the regional hub. El Castillo is a picturesque town, that is only accessible by water with its old colonial fortress built in 1675. Makengue is located between these two towns. The average temperature is about 25°C / 75°F.
Six miles east of El Castillo, along the San Juan River is the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, bordering the San Juan River. Considered the lungs of Central America, Indio-Maíz Biological Reserve (3,180 km²), is the biggest expanse of lowland rainforest north of the Amazon basin. Indio-Maíz has been described by UCLA biologists as “the gem of Central American nature reserves.”
25 minutes by boat in either direction you can get to two towns that have restaurants and fresh produce, pharmacies, medical clinics. There are also tourist attractions including ruins of a fortress, a museum, a cafe with good coffee and churches.
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2006
About the owner: We are Rito Vargas and Becki Cohn-Vargas, owners of this private reserve since 2006. Rito is Nicaraguan and worked as a videographer for the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education in the 80’s. He recently retired after being Chief Camera for Univision in San Francisco for 25 years. Becki is from the U.S. and met Rito, when they worked together producing Educational Television Programs in Nicaragua. They have 3 grown children. With a doctorate in Education, Becki was a teacher, principal, and superintendent in California public schools for the last 25 years. Currently, she leads a bullying and intolerance prevention program at Not In Our Town, a non-profit.
Why the Owner Chose Frankfurt am Main:
Becki says “We bought this beautiful property because we love Nicaragua and are strongly committed to preserving its wild places. For us, Makengue represents an opportunity to contribute to rainforest and environmental preservation and sustainability. We also want to share this beauty with others as part of the growing eco-tourism movement. We are starting to bring small groups of college students from the US to do research and community service with locals. That would not happen while you are there, of course.”
The Unique Benefits at this Farmhouse:
We fell in love with Makengue's wildlife. Right from the porch you can monkeys, crocodiles, toucans, parrots, and a host of birds, little frogs, and turtles. At night the stars are unbelievably bright and the sounds of the jungle are indescribable.
Environmental organizations in the area and local residents have donated endangered animals to Makengue for release, safe from hunters. We have had and released an ocelot, two pregnant iguanas, a paca, and a black bellied whistling duck. Currently, we have a fawn and are about to release it.
Although it is remote and quiet, you can easily reach a cute town of El Castillo by boat. There you can see a ruined stone fortress of El Castillo with an amazing view of the river. There are also restaurants and a cafe with good coffee.
Nicaragua and all of Central America are considered a ”biodiversity hotspot,” a biogeographic region that is both a significant reservoir of biodiversity and is threatened with destruction. The term biodiversity hotspot specifically refers to 25 biologically rich areas around the world that have lost at least 70 percent of their original habitat. The remaining natural habitat in these areas amounts to just 1.4% of the land surface of the planet, yet supports nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species. Makengue has an important role to play in preserving the rainforest and now, so can you!
Contact us
Links to more information:
Photos
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The Makengue House
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Dining room
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Spacious living room
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San Juan River at sunset
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The mouth of the Pocosolito River
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Our misty river in the morning
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A silky anteater
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Kingfisher by the Pocosolito River
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A ginger plant in the garden
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The fortress of El Castillo on the hill overlooking the San Juan River.
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University group in front of one of the huge trees in Makengue's forest.
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View from the porch
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Delicious meals
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The cabins by the river
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The San Juan River
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Looking out to the San Juan River from Pocosolito
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When we see these trees, we are now on our property
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Wild orchids
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A poison dart frog
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A howler monkey.
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Swimming in Rio Pocosolito in front of the house.
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Hiking on the Makengue property
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A young spider monkey we rescued and will release.
VRBO #487345
This listing was first published here in 2013.
Date last modified - Friday, September 16, 2016
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