Solar-powered Women-owned Eco-hotel
Corporate Group Makes a Difference
Hotel Casita San Payo Restaurante & Cafetería in San Rafael del Norte, Nicaragua is a women-owned local icon that has been hosting groups of locals and international travelers for more than 20 years. Founded in 2004, Casita San Payo is run by Naraya Zelaya. The hotel’s vision is to contribute to the local development of San Rafael del Norte by generating employment, supporting sustainable tourism, and offering a welcoming space that highlights the town’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and historical legacy. The hotel not only provides lodging and food services, but also embodies local identity and hospitality rooted in warmth, respect, and community values.
Casita San Payo uses an average of 1,215 kWh per month in electricity to operate the business. International travelers from IGS Energy traveled to Nicaragua in September 2026 to install a 5.7kW grid-tied zero-injection solar electric system (photovoltaic) on the roof of the hotel to power its operations during the day to reduce the electric bill and power the hotel with clean energy. Cost savings from the solar system will be used to improve the hotel's infrastructure and services.
Culture, Food, Music, People, Nature
The team of 9 travelers from across the US learned about Nicaraguan culture, people, food, music and beautiful landscapes during their 8-day journey around the country, which included a hands-on solar installation. Not only did the team support a local women-owned business, the experience created a unique space for team building amongst coworkers who learned about the importance of access to reliable clean energy first hand.
The corporate team worked with a Nicaraguan (women-led) solar crew who guided the team on their week-long journey. Volunteers had the opportunity to carry equipment and supplies for the project, get on the roof and install the racking system and the solar modules, work on the AC system in the building, line up conduit, pull wires, learn about basic solar installation tools and participate in the project from start to finish. See more photos of the project here. Thanks to IGS Energy for supporting this work.
