The concept of Agrotourism is a direct expansion of Ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural life at first hand. Agrotourism is gathering strong support from small communities as rural people realize the benefits of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of nature travel. Visitors have the opportunity to discover the farming activites that provide the hotel with its basic food products,incluiding traditional fishing that supplies the restaurant with seafood.

Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge is exploring this new trend in travel and has taken it to the next level. The product: a unique agrotourism project in Central America that combines tree farming and reforestation as well as organic and traditional agriculture. Nicaragua’s rich volcanic soil and tropical climate set the perfect stage for this special project.

Morgan’s Rock will take you back to the roots of our daily bread, reminding you that food doesn’t grow in supermarkets, but is instead created by Mother Earth’s magic and the dedication of people working the land. Savor nature’s flavors and enjoy eating our locally grown foods, of which about 60 percent is grown on the property. And don't forget that freshly caught fish comes from our captain-fisherman's work!

What is the difference between Reforestation and Tree Farming?

Reforestation menas planting trees that will never be cut, thus ensuring the restoration of prior, invaluable local tree species, while tree farming is strictly defined as the planting of trees for later commercial usage. Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge practices both.

Reforestation

Morgan’s Rock currently has a reforestation program where almost 100,000 native hardwood trees have been planted on the property. Out of these 100,000,  we will cut down zero. They are purely to enrich the local flora and serve as hosts for fauna. With these trees and our constant efforts to keep poachers off the property, we have seen a significant increase in wildlife all over the Hacienda. We invite you to go on one of our nature tours and experience this resurgence of wildlife.

Tree Farming

Morgan’s Rock has planted over 1.5 million precious since 1998 and since 2005, SmartWood (SW-FM/COC-001214) has certified them. These trees will be harvested in the next 10 to 20 years and in their place, new ones will be planted. This is just like growing rice, corn or wheat, except that it takes a bit longer to harvest. How is tree farming actually beneficial to the ecosystem? High demand and rising prices for tropical hardwoods around the world have caused illegal logging, an erroneous response to the excessive market demand. Many countries, including Nicaragua, continue cutting into valuable ecosystems and forests. However, planting and harvesting trees for commercial use will gradually stop further destruction of invaluable tropical forests, allowing for the survival of the flora and fauna that inhabit them.

Tree farming not only helps the last standing tropical forests to continue living, but also helps clean the air. While growing, the trees produce oxygen, filtering toxic carbon dioxide gases produced mostly by industrialized countries. Planting trees to be later harvested is a sound environmental practice that will hopefully be replicated in many countries around the world. What’s more, Morgan’s Rock offers a tour where you become an expert in tree farming and reforestation, giving you the chance to plant your own tree and leave a legacy behind. Not a bad way to help our forests stay alive.