The Real Deal: Eight nights' accommodations, all meals, sightseeing excursions, the services of a translator, and local transportation by bus, from $850 per person.

When: Dec. 14-23, 2007.

(Cynthia Orozco, 2006 Fair Harvest Exchange participant) [enlarge photo]

The Fine Print: The group is limited to about 15 or 20 participants. Transportation is by private (not necessarily air-conditioned) bus. Note that there is a translator for the group, but that basic knowledge of Spanish is a trip requirement. Airfare and tips are not included. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By: Book at least 45 days before departure; based on availability.

Contact: Global Exchange, 800/497-1994 ext. 221, globalexchange.org.

Why It's a Deal: First, consider the fact that Global Exchange is coordinating an experience that would be very difficult, if not impossible, to arrange on your own. Second, do the math: the trip breaks down to about $106 per person per night, and includes eight nights' accommodations, transportation by private bus, all meals, excursions, and the services of a translator and group leader.

Trip Details: Let's start by admitting that while we do feature volunteer experiences every so often (this Costa Rica trip is a recent example), the Nicaragua Fair Harvest Exchange program is not your typical Real Deal. The fact that Global Exchange refers to its trips as delegations should tip you off to its socially conscious, politically aware approach.

This Nicaragua delegation calls for healthy participants with a pitch-in attitude, a readiness to rough it, and an interest in learning about the lives of coffee farmers and the fair trade movement. Groups tend to average 15 to 20 people, who run the gamut from youths to college or grad students to retirees. A translator accompanies the group, but you're expected to have a basic knowledge of Spanish because of the homestay.

Even if the Nicaragua trip isn't your idea of a vacation, you might still want to browse the list of Reality Tours, as they cover a range of issues, destinations, and travel styles.

If you are curious enough about the lives of Nicaraguan coffee farmers and issues surrounding the Fair Trade movement to join the delegation, you'll begin by arriving in the capital city of Managua, where you'll be met by a Global Exchange leader. The coffee farm is located about two hours away in Matagalpa, which will be your base for the trip.

For most of the eight nights, you'll be staying with one or two other participants at the house of a local family. The homes are very modest; don't expect a bedroom all to yourself.

You can find a sample trip itinerary here. Expect that most days will be divided between working on the coffee farm--with a very early start--and going on excursions in the afternoon, such as a visit to the Yasica waterfall and a hike along the Poza Bruja trail.

You're free to extend the trip by arriving early or departing late, though you'll have to make those plans independently.

Getting There: Trip leaders pick up and drop off participants at the airport in Managua. A recent search on Kayak yielded these lowest round-trip fares for mid-December travel: $218 from Miami (American), $348 from New York City (multiple carriers), $464 for Chicago (multiple carriers), $487 from D.C. (multiple carriers), $547 from Houston (multiple carriers), and $650 from San Francisco (multiple carriers).

You can learn about the director of Reality Tours, Malia Everette, and one of her favorite places, Ecuador's Sarayaku Nation, by reading our story, 25 Best Places You've Never Heard Of.

More on Central America:

• Costa Rica Eco-Trip

• Beach Bum Central: Ambergris Cay

• Best Places You've Never Heard Of: Central America