By: Lisa Gomes, Founder of Lesbifriends Travel
There are trips I plan because I want to introduce people to a destination. Others come together because I find a property, an experience, or an opportunity that feels like a good fit for the Lesbifriends community.
And sometimes, I plan a trip because I want to experience something myself.
Nicaragua was a little bit of all three.
In March 2025, I traveled to Nicaragua with a small group of Lesbifriends for six days of sunshine, exploration, relaxation, and community. We made our home in San Juan del Sur, a coastal town on Nicaragua's Pacific side, and spent our days exploring the country, enjoying our accommodations, and getting to know one another.
I've been organizing Lesbifriends trips since 2011, and one thing I've learned is that no two groups are ever the same. You can plan the exact same itinerary for two different groups of people and have two completely different experiences.
That's part of what makes group travel interesting to me.
You never quite know how everyone is going to connect, what moments will become everyone's favorites, or what unexpected things will happen along the way.
And Nicaragua gave us a little bit of everything.
First things first: getting to Nicaragua
International travel days can be exhausting, and getting to Nicaragua was no exception.
There was the airport, customs, luggage, the heat, and then the drive to San Juan del Sur.
But I always find something exciting about those first few hours in a new country. You're looking out the window, taking in the scenery, watching people go about their daily lives, and beginning to get a feel for somewhere you've never been.
For me, that is when the trip starts to feel real.
As an organizer, I'm also paying attention to a dozen other things. Did everyone arrive? Is our transportation where it's supposed to be? Is everyone comfortable? Have we forgotten anything?
It's not always easy to turn that part of my brain off.
But once we arrived at Apogeo, I was ready to settle in and enjoy what we'd come for.
Apogeo: our little home in the hills
Sometimes the accommodations are just somewhere to sleep. Other times, they're part of the reason you book the trip.
Apogeo was definitely the latter.
Located in the hills above San Juan del Sur, this queer-owned retreat property offered beautiful views, comfortable accommodations, shared gathering spaces, and the kind of atmosphere that made you want to stay awhile.
One of the things I appreciated most was that we didn't have to leave the property to have a good day.
We could enjoy the pool, take in the scenery, spend time together, or simply do absolutely nothing.
And yes, doing nothing is a perfectly acceptable vacation activity.
I think sometimes people feel pressure to fill every moment of a trip with excursions, especially when they've traveled internationally. But I've become much more intentional about allowing people time to enjoy where they're staying.
Not everyone wants to wake up at seven every morning and spend twelve hours sightseeing. I certainly don't. And Apogeo gave us room to slow down.
Then there was the food.
Our meals became something to look forward to each day. Freshly prepared food, time around the table, and conversations that often continued long after everyone had finished eating.
I love that about smaller group trips. When you're traveling with a handful of people rather than a large crowd, you actually have opportunities to get to know everyone.
You learn about their lives, what brought them on the trip, their travel experiences, and all sorts of things that have absolutely nothing to do with the destination.
Sometimes those conversations end up being more memorable than the activities.
Starting with intention: our cacao ceremony
We began our time together with a cacao ceremony.
I'll admit that when I'm planning a trip, I try to strike a balance between introducing people to new experiences and making sure nothing feels forced.
Not everyone is interested in wellness activities, ceremonies, or workshops, and that's perfectly fine.
But I do enjoy giving travelers opportunities to experience something they might not otherwise seek out on their own.
The cacao ceremony was a chance to gather, settle into our surroundings, and begin the trip with a little intention.
For me, it was a welcome change from the usual first day of travel, which often consists of unpacking, finding food, and figuring out what time everyone needs to be ready the following morning.
Instead, we had an opportunity to spend time together without rushing into the next thing.
Apoyo Lagoon: a day I could have easily made longer
If you've never visited a volcanic crater lake, Apoyo Lagoon is a pretty beautiful place to start.
Surrounded by lush greenery, the lagoon offered warm water, kayaking, swimming, and plenty of opportunities to relax.
This was one of those outings where I was especially happy that we weren't rushing through a packed schedule.
Some people wanted to get into the water. Others were interested in kayaking or simply taking in the surroundings.
And that's something I've learned to appreciate about traveling with groups: we don't all have to enjoy a destination in exactly the same way.
One person's perfect afternoon might involve an activity. Someone else's might involve sitting somewhere beautiful with a drink and a good conversation. Both count.
I enjoyed the combination of natural beauty and the freedom to experience it at our own pace.
And if I'm being completely fair, I could have spent even more time there.
Granada: history, color, and a little shopping
Another highlight was our visit to Granada.
I love exploring cities with distinctive architecture, local shops, and streets that invite you to wander. Granada offered all of that.
We spent time exploring the city, taking in the colorful buildings, learning about the area, and visiting local businesses.
And naturally, there was some shopping.
I don't think I've ever taken a Lesbifriends trip where at least a few people weren't interested in finding something to bring home. Whether it's clothing, jewelry, artwork, or a small souvenir, somebody is going to find something.
And I fully support that.
We also took a boat ride through the Isletas of Granada, a collection of small islands on Lake Nicaragua. It was a beautiful change of scenery and another opportunity to experience the country from the water.
One of the things I appreciated about Nicaragua was how much variety we could experience within one trip.
We had the coast, a volcanic lagoon, a historic city, beautiful countryside, and opportunities to learn about local traditions.
For a six-day trip, we covered quite a bit of ground without making every day feel like a marathon.
The catamaran: because sometimes you just need a boat day
I love being on the water.
And apparently, I love putting other people on boats too, because somehow boat excursions find their way into quite a few Lesbifriends itineraries.
Our catamaran outing in Nicaragua was one of my favorite experiences of the trip.
We had music, sunshine, swimming, dancing, and time to simply enjoy being out on the Pacific Ocean.
Some people were more interested in relaxing, while others were ready to enjoy themselves a little more actively.
That's the beauty of a boat day. There's room for both.
And then there was the sunset.
There's something about watching the sun go down over the ocean that never really gets old to me. I've seen plenty of beautiful sunsets while traveling, and I still find myself stopping to appreciate them.
Being able to share that moment with our group made it even better.
No elaborate activity required. Just good company, beautiful scenery, and a few hours away from everything else.
Sometimes that's more than enough.
Making room for something different
In addition to sightseeing and excursions, we included experiences that encouraged a little more personal reflection.
Our breathwork session and Morning Pages workshop were two examples.
I don't believe every trip needs to have a deeper meaning or produce some major personal breakthrough. Sometimes people just want to go somewhere beautiful, have fun, eat good food, and come home with great memories.
And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But I also think it's nice to offer experiences that encourage people to slow down and check in with themselves.
Breathwork gave us an opportunity to focus on our breathing and be present.
Morning Pages introduced a writing practice that allowed us to put our thoughts on paper without worrying about structure, perfection, or what anyone else might think.
These were quieter moments in a trip that also included plenty of activity. I appreciated having that balance.
And I liked that people could take whatever they wanted from those experiences without feeling pressured to share something personal with the group.
Birthdays, celebrations, and the people who made the trip
We also had birthdays to celebrate during our time together.
Kia and Taya both had birthdays around the time of our Nicaragua adventure, which gave us even more reason to make the trip feel special.
I always enjoy when someone's birthday falls during a Lesbifriends experience. There's something fun about celebrating another year of life somewhere new, surrounded by people you may not have known before signing up.
Our group included Kia, Tennie, April, Kimberley, Taya, Sol, Fela, Kat, and me.
Different personalities, different backgrounds, and different reasons for traveling. Some came looking forward to connecting with others. Some had something to celebrate. Others simply wanted to experience Nicaragua.
And I think that variety is one of the things that makes these trips interesting.
As the organizer, I can bring everyone to the same destination and create opportunities for us to spend time together. But I can't manufacture chemistry. I can't decide who will become friends, who will discover a shared interest, or which conversations will lead to lasting connections.
Those things happen naturally.
Watching people find their people is one of my favorite parts of doing this work.
The parts of Nicaragua that weren't perfect
I don't believe in pretending every moment of international travel is flawless.
We experienced some water interruptions, adjustments to plans, and moments when things moved a little differently than we might have expected.
That's part of traveling.
Different destinations have different infrastructure, customs, and ways of operating. And while some inconveniences are unavoidable, I also believe it's important to approach travel with realistic expectations and a little flexibility.
As the person responsible for organizing the trip, those moments can be particularly challenging. When something goes wrong, I don't get to simply shrug and say, "Well, that's unfortunate." I'm usually the person trying to figure out what comes next.
But I also try not to let a minor inconvenience overshadow an otherwise wonderful experience. Not everything has to go exactly according to plan for a trip to be worthwhile.
And sometimes the unexpected moments become part of the memories.
What I remember most
When I think back on Nicaragua, I remember the beautiful property, the meals, the catamaran, the lagoon, and exploring Granada.
But I also remember the ordinary moments.
- People spending time together around the pool.
- Conversations over meals.
- The laughter that comes from sharing experiences with people who were strangers just days earlier.
- The freedom to participate in an activity or simply enjoy a little time alone.
Those are things that don't always make it into a trip description on a website, but they matter.
I've always believed that community is built through showing up, spending time together, and creating opportunities for people to connect.
Sometimes that happens at a local Lesbifriends event in Washington, DC. Sometimes it happens halfway around the world. And sometimes it happens while sitting around a pool in Nicaragua, talking about absolutely nothing important.
That's community too.
Would I go back to Nicaragua?
Absolutely.
I enjoyed the country's natural beauty, the variety of experiences we were able to fit into six days, and the slower pace that Apogeo encouraged.
I also appreciated having a small enough group that we could spend meaningful time together without every activity feeling like a production.
As someone who has organized trips for many years, I know how much work goes into making these experiences happen. There are the logistics, the planning, the unexpected changes, and the responsibility that comes with bringing people together in another country.
But there are also moments when I get to stop being the organizer for a little while and simply enjoy being a traveler.
Nicaragua gave me some of those moments. And I'm grateful for them.
We came to Nicaragua with different expectations and reasons for being there. We shared meals, explored a beautiful country, tried new experiences, celebrated birthdays, and spent six days in one another's company.
That's what I hoped to create when I started planning the trip. And looking back, I'm glad we did it.
Until next time, Nicaragua.
~ Lisa
