FAQ
What is Apogeo Collective?
Apogeo Collective is group that offers boutique hospitality experiences around the globe that center QTPOC travelers, with our current main project and home base being Apogeo Guest House in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. Our goal is to provide guests with rustic luxury, encourage exploration, and provide safe and open spaces where guests feel like they can lean into their most authentic & powerful selves to leave feeling inspired, energized, and rejuvenated.
Apogeo Guest House is a full-service, LGBTQ-friendly bed & breakfast safe haven in San Juan del Sur for travelers in our community. Apogeo Guest House is open year-round with two offerings: Open Season and Active Season. We are always crowdfunding for the continued evolution of this project (see here to donate and learn more!).
Apogeo Collective has hosted other pop-up experiences in Upstate, New York as well as in an alternate location in Nicaragua, and eventually, we plan to expand our offerings by popping up with additional travel opportunities at some of the most beautiful destinations around the world.
who is apogeo for?
Apogeo is for artists, seekers, visual storytellers, creatives, foodies, and aesthetes who identify with being part of at least one of the following communities:
People of color
People who identify on the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum
Gender non-conforming people
An active ally to communities of color and LGBTQIA+ communities. Please see below for more information about allyship and also please note that rates for white, cis, and straight allies to attend are higher to subsidize the rates for BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ attendees.
why is apogeo only for certain communities?
“Pleasure activism asserts that we all need and deserve pleasure and that our social structures must reflect this. In this moment, we must prioritize the pleasure of those most impacted by oppression.” (To learn more about this, read Pleasure Activism, The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown.)
HOW to DETERMINE IF you are AN ALLY
Though we don’t restrict white, cis, and straight allies in joining us at Apogeo, we do base accepting those requests on your proximity to our community and your track record of investing in our communities.
We urge all white, cis, and straight allies to consider the following points made in this Black-created “Guide to Allyship” by Amélie Lamont, namely to consider how you will take up space as a white, straight person in a space geared towards queer BIPOC healing and community-building.
Also, if you’re a white, cis, and straight ally and you’re still considering taking part in this experience, we urge you to think deeply about the fact that you have to make less considerations when traveling due to your white, cis, and straight privilege, and that your impact might be greater served by actually supporting a BIPOC or queer person to come. Contact us to find out how.
Please note that rates for white, cis, and straight allies to attend are higher to subsidize the rates for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ attendees. And as always, if you’d like to make an additional donation for your stay to support the work we are doing, please reach out to us on our Contact Page and support our crowdfunding campaign here.
Where does the name come from?
The name “Apogeo” is the title of a renowned collection of poems by Gioconda Belli, a Nicaraguan feminist poet & activist- and literally refers to the climax, peak, or highest point in the development of something (whether it be work, personal experiences, understanding of self, etc.).
Apogeo Collective serves as both an homage to her art as well as the culmination of our planning and work together. With this collective and the experiences that we host, our aim is to create open space for our guests to tap into apotheoses within themselves.
*It’s also interesting to think about Apogeo as a movable concept- that our “peak” can actually always be growing, expanding, and shifting higher.*
When is the next experience? Where will it be held?
Apogeo Collective hosts experiences year round: follow our Instagram for announcements.
Our main project, Apogeo Guest House, is open year-round and can be accessed in Active Season or Open Season. The next Active Season will be held from March 8th - April 20th, 2024 in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. The Active Season experiences are held as an offering for our communities each year and the rest of the time, you can book a stay during our Open Season offering.
WHY should I DONATE TO your crowdfunding campaign? where is the money going? is it helping to purchase a vacation home for personal use?
This project is self-funded and we are continuing to fundraise for the costs that go into running the space (that we purchased/took back from a straight, white, cis man). To learn more about how your donated funds will be used, please visit the crowdfunding page here. Donated funds will also be used to eventually turn the project into a cooperatively owned, Nicaraguan staff-led project.
We have never and don’t ever plan on living in the space, so you also are not donating to us having a personal home.
We hope that you will donate to be part of helping us create a space that feels safe for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC travelers to rest and play without having to make huge considerations for their travels, and also to help foster community-building amongst LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC travelers.
Also in talking to Nicaraguan-born activists, we learned that many queer Nicaraguans fled the country prior to the uprisings in 2018 and haven’t been able to return. We’re hoping that our space can continue to serve as a refuge (a place to stay, work, visit) and safe space for all LGBTQIA2S+ communities, not just those traveling from outside of the country.
Why would You choose to have the experience and buy property in nicaragua, a place that You’re not from? are you contributing to gentrification?
We chose Nicaragua because after traveling there five times (prior to purchasing the space) over the course of the past decade and camping/living directly on the land for a month, we feel a deep connection to this place. We originally considered buying property there for our personal use, but then had the idea of making this space one instead that could serve as a safe space to other members of our community (who we assume have had to face similar discrimination and homophobia when traveling before). We decided that we’re more interested in putting in the work to establish a framework for queer + BIPOC people to be able to travel safely and have more spaces like this all over the world in the future while also (for this specific avenue of the project) partnering with people from Nicaragua, employing people from Nicaragua, and giving ownership to people from Nicaragua of the project itself.
Nicaragua is a multi-ethnic place, with indigenous native tribes (mostly native to the Mosquito Coast), Africans, Europeans, Asians, and people with Middle Eastern origins. This place is a home for many. And no, this is not our direct home (if your definition of “home” means having been born in the place you are claiming). But we do feel, as Black and Indigenous Americans that are exploited worldwide and constantly displaced and forced to migrate, that our sense of “home” is a lot more complicated.
We also feel that all tourism is technically gentrification, so it’s about being intentional with how we take up space and the ways we integrate ourselves into a place that we’re not from that makes what we’re doing different (versus just saying that we won’t travel or own property so that we don’t contribute to tourism).
are people from nicaragua going to be involved? Or is this simply a plan for americans to have more ownership in nicaragua?
Yes, we partner with Nicaraguans to help manage the space and also contract Nicaraguan and LGBTQ-led organizations to establish a deeper presence of the project for local Nicaraguan people.
And our eventual goal, once profitable, is to have Apogeo Guest House run and owned cooperatively by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ people, and Nicaraguans. We have been taking workshops on cooperative ownership and right now, we are working to establish the framework for creating this ownership model so that all people working with Apogeo will have ownership in the house, land, and project.
why are you fundraising during a pandemic?
We know times are hard for many folks, but we also have faith that our collective networks can support this much needed project. If each person in our network chips in just $10, we will more than surpass our crowdfunding goal.
We are also struggling (financially, with physical and mental health related issues, etc.) but we also know many people that are not. This is not a call to folks to spend their last dollars on our project but rather a call for folks, that are able, to support our vision.
Also, white allies should be stepping up and supporting spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people now more than ever. We saw a huge upswing of support during the uprisings and we are hoping to encourage that momentum in Black + queer-led projects.
what covid protection protocol do you have in place?
We are still engaging with the following health protocols to ensure that guests can have a safe and enjoyable time at Apogeo, as well as encouraging guests (as visiting tourists to Nicaragua) to be responsible and aware of the space that we take up as visitors to a space that is not our home:
- To minimize risk for all guests, we're requiring a COVID-negative rapid test for arriving guests from no more than 24-hours prior to check in. Please make sure you also check with your specific airline for any additional requirements that they might have.
- Guests + staff are subject to having their temperature checked and hand sanitizing upon arrival to Apogeo
- Continuation of paperless check-in and check-out procedures
- Multiple times per day disinfecting of public surfaces around the common areas
- Placing hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol content) for guest use throughout the space
- Encouraging 6 feet of social distance between guests + staff when inside the common area
- Encouraging staff and guests to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Continuation of opening of all windows and doors in the common space so that there is high air circulation when guests are in the common space
- A 3-hour minimum air ventilation time of rooms between guests
- Encouraging the use of personal masks worn both on and off the property
When are you taking reservations at Apogeo Guest House? How do I make a reservation?
We are accepting reservations now for our upcoming Active Season (and always for Open Season). There is a 3-night minimum for all reservations.
To request a reservation, you can either submit a Contact Form on our site or by emailing Hello@ApogeoCollective.com with your desired dates and we will respond with the room availability and pricing for the dates you request.
what is included in my reservation?
With the nightly lodging rate, you would also have access to the following amenities*:
Welcome arrival beverage
Complimentary AM coffee & tea
The option to add-on daily breakfast
Access to the outdoor pool and communal outdoor areas
In-room and poolside snack & beverage options for purchase
Assistance with travel information + town transportation + private airport shuttles (though guests are responsible for covering their own transportation costs)
Sprawling balcony with ocean view (from The Ocean View Suite)
Picture windows with mountain views (from The Mountain View Suite)
Eco-cleaning services
Olaplex hair care amenities
Organic bathroom amenities
Laundry service available for purchase
Complimentary rental of beach paddle tennis, volleyball and various games to use throughout your stay
Complimentary fresh room linens, pool linens, and beach blanket for your stay
Bathrobes to use during your stay
Full body massage treatments available for booking
Access to yoga mats for your movement practice
Onsite assistance for help with activities and reservations for exploration of the surrounding area
A small gift shop with local goods for purchase (seasonal availability)
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Complimentary parking upon request
Onsite ATV rental (as available)
Regular programming offerings such as communal dinners, yoga, and fitness classes (as available)
There are plenty of options for shuttles, taxis, and ATV rentals in town (less than a 10 minute drive away) for best navigating to/from the property.
There are also several beaches within a 20 minute drive from the property. You can find more information about the space here.
*Please note that during Open Season, some of the listed amenities might not be available
What would I do at Apogeo Guest House?
Guests are free to use their time at Apogeo however they choose. A typical day at Apogeo Guest House might look like:
- Wake up to the sounds of birds and have tea by the pool
- Enjoy a continental breakfast spread
- Talk with onsite staff about dinner options in town to make a plan for later
- Sunbathe in the hammock or enjoy a complimentary morning movement class, if one is being offered that day
- Drive to Playa Hermosa, enjoy the beach, and order a whole fried fish for lunch. Spend your day exploring the aquatic life in the beach boulder structures.
- Or spend the day doing a booked activity, such as an ATV tour, a volcanic hike, or taking a surfing class.
- On your way back to Apogeo, stop in town to watch the sunset over the town beach while enjoying your dinner
- Drive back to Apogeo and enjoy an evening swim in the warm pool
- Order a light snack or beverage from Apogeo’s evening snack menu and get some rest
For travelers interested in unplugging and re-charging, the opportunity to “simply be” is there for you at Apogeo Guest House. Or build your schedule out with a variety of recommended activities and excursions. With the beautiful setting, our delicious food, and our offered programming— our goal is to create the space that travelers in our communities need to relax, regroup, and leave Apogeo Guest House with rejuvenated energy to bring back to their day-to-day experiences.
Do you offer add-on services such as flowers, TURN DOWN SERVICE, or liquor?
Yes, and there will be an option to add on these services when solidifying your booking reservation with us. If you have an additional special request, just share it with us! We’re happy to do whatever we can to make your stay with us more enjoyable.
What’s the difference between staying at Apogeo guest house versus at a hotel?
When staying with us at Apogeo Guest House, you are staying in someone’s home. We are only offering the experience to our friends, family, and referrals to ensure the energy of the space remains pure and positive. We love this quote from another bed & breakfast hotel that we went to and find that it’s very applicable to our time at Apogeo:
"You should treat the house with respect just as you would if staying with good friends. There are policies to follow that have been set up for a reason. Would you take a white towel from your friend’s house and use it to wipe off your make up? Certainly not! Bed and breakfasts don’t have the budget or staff of a chain hotel and a stained towel takes time to clean and sometimes the towel will not be savable. This is an expense for a bed and breakfast that will cost them time or money cleaning or replacing the towel. Common courtesy. Your innkeepers do want you to have a good time though so don’t hesitate to ask if there is something you need. Again, you are staying in someone’s house. Would you tell your friends that you’ll be arriving at their home between 4-5pm and then show up at 10pm without calling or texting? Certainly not! Innkeepers wear many hats and don’t have time to sit behind a front desk. They are the cook, housekeeper, concierge, marketer, accountant, maintenance person, gardener and much more.”
Are animals allowed on the property?
No guest’s animals or pets are allowed on the property (but of course service animals are welcome). There is a neighborhood dog that lives onsite and other neighborhood dogs occasionally come around the property. They’re very sweet, but please do not give them food.
Do I have access to the Kitchen while I’m staying at Apogeo guest house?
No, only Apogeo staff have access to the kitchen. There are plenty of onsite food & beverage options for ordering, as well as a cabinet that you can use to store any room temperature items, and an en-suite private fridge in each room that you can use to store personal items.
Can you accommodate early or late check-in’s or check out’s at Apogeo Guest House?
Check in is at 3PM and check out is at 11AM. We can sometimes accommodate late arrivals/check in’s until 11PM if prearranged and approved. There is a late check-in fee of $50 for any check-in’s after 8PM.
Please note: We no longer accept check-in’s after 12AM, except under extenuating circumstances that must be approved and scheduled at least a week in advance. If we are able to accommodate, there is an extra late check-in fee of $150.
We can usually accommodate early arrivals/check in’s if there is not a guest checking out of your room that same day. You are also always welcome to check-in with us, leave your luggage with us, and then return to the property after the standard check-in time. Please contact us to make arrangements regardless.
Since check out is at 11AM, we ask that guests leave their room by this time so that we can get the room ready for incoming guests, but feel free to stay on the property and in the communal areas. If you would like to guarantee the room is available to you for a longer time, then we recommend that you add on an additional night to your reservation.
What’s the best way to get to apogeo guest house?
We suggest flying into either Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) or Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR). Please note that if your flight is cancelled and unable to be rescheduled, unfortunately there is nothing we can do and we cannot offer a refund or transfer of your stay outside of the timeframe of the current Active Season.
Apogeo is ~2 hour drive from either airport and we can arrange for airport transfer. A car from MGA (that holds up to 4 people) is $95 each way. A car from LIR (that holds up to 4 people) is $150 each way. Please note that if you fly into LIR, you will have to cross the border ( we provide detailed instructions on this process). We can also provide van transfer for groups of up to 10 guests. Please note that any transfer request cancellations will incur a $15 charge.
Or you can easily rent a car from MGA airport and drive to Apogeo Guest House using Google Maps. Unfortunately, you cannot rent a car from LIR because you cannot drive across the border (but you can still rent a car in town once you arrive to Apogeo if you’d like a rental car for your trip).
We offer complimentary parking for your vehicle onsite but a spot will have to be reserved with us in advance of your arrival.
What type of payment do you accept?
A 50% deposit is due via PayPal to solidify your reservation. The full balance is then due via PayPal 1 month prior to your arrival. We will send you a PayPal link so that you can easily pay for your reservation with us.
What is your refund & cancellation policy?
Once your reservation is confirmed via email, you have up to 5 days to cancel your reservation for a full refund. After that, your reservation will only be partially refunded if you choose to cancel based on the following schedule:
If you choose to cancel your reservation at least 31 days prior to your requested dates, you will receive a 50% refund of your total stay price
If you choose to cancel your reservation less than 30 days prior to your requested dates, you won’t receive any refund. Unfortunately we cannot make any exceptions regardless of circumstance.
At any time, your stay is fully transferable to another guest party. Just email us at Hello@ApogeoCollective.com with your confirmation and the information for the new guest and we will transfer the reservation to them.
Are there opportunities for sliding scale or further reduced rates?
Since this offering is only for friends, family, and community— it’s our goal to have the Apogeo experience be accessible and affordable for our friends, family, and community. Because of that, Apogeo’s room rates start at $85 per person per night. Please see above for more information on what’s included in your reservation.
If you’d like to provide an offering to our community in exchange for a further reduced rate, please consider exploring our Work Fellowship opportunities.