Paso Del Istmo
Located along the isthmus between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean, the “Passage of the Isthmus” is literally a narrow passageway that for millennia has served as a land bridge for wildlife migrating between North and South America. Paso Pacífico is working with its partners to return this passage to its former glory.
Map of Paso del Istmo corridor design and 2006 project sites
The Paso del Istmo boasts some of the highest densities of biodiversity in the country; in just 12 miles, the isthmus extends from the wetlands along Lake Nicaragua across the humid forests of the coastal mountain range and down to the coastal dry forest bordering the Pacific Ocean. The Paso del Istmo corridor is strategically located to restore wildlife populations that are locally extinct in most of western Nicaragua. Relatively healthy wildlife populations in neighboring Costa Rica can readily repopulate the isthmus once protective measures are in place and natural areas are restored. Through the Paso del Istmo, Paso Pacífico is laying the groundwork for future restoration and conservation along Nicaragua’s pacific slope.
Views from the coast range in the Paso del Istmo
The Paso del Istmo is currently undergoing rapid social and economic change. Foreign investors and tourists are purchasing and developing land. This represents both a threat and opportunity for conservation. Paso Pacífico intends to make the best of these changes. For example, by strengthening campesino communities they may lead in eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture. And by working with well-intended investors and developers, Paso Pacífico can help shape the development of the isthmus and ensure its sustainability.
San Juan del Sur, a popular tourist destination in the Paso del Istmo
