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Island in Lake Nicaragua
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Isla de Ometepe's name is derived from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain), meaning two mountains. An island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua, Ometepe is one of the country's must-see places. This island composed of twin volcanoes provides a remote escape in the middle of Lago de Nicaragua - a tourist slogan often found on T-shirts for the island is "oasis of peace". There are two towns (Moyogalpa and Altagracia) along with a few smaller settlements on the island, along with a number of small coffee plantations.
Accommodation, bar and restaurant serving great food that gives a nice break from the typical rice and beans. Daily menu includes bacon and eggs, pancakes, cake, and sandwiches, and then nightly dinner specials including lasagna, curry, pasta and stir-fry. Food ranges from US$2-6.
Hostal Santa Cruz has an extensive menu of both Western and local food. A busier (but still quiet) hostel, there's always other folks to meet, and occasionally a game on TV. Vegetarian options available, and lots of alcohol - but know that the 1L beers here are nearly double the price than at the bar along the beach.
Pescaditos is a small, family run affair serving local food. They serve breakfast, have an extensive lunch/dinner menu, with numerous vegetarian options (including soy meat when available!). Usually very empty, but the food is excellent. A great alternative to the limited options at Hacienda Merida. The sign at the restaurant also mention bicycle rental and hospedaje (accommodation)
The only place around with a pool table and cable TV. Beautiful surroundings with fun atmosphere at night. Beer, wine and spirits available from US$2-3.
A small bar with a similarly small drink list, Margarita's does have a TV and pool table, and fills the rum-vacuum that Hacienda Merida's restaurant fails to fill.
Finca El Zopilote is a farm/hostel run by an Italian family from Tuscany from 2002 located in Isla de Ometepe in Nicaragua. Finca el zopilote offers to the visitors different types of accommodation such as camping, hammocks, dormitory and private cabins, spread over a large garden. Located on a hillside, the site requires a fairly strenuous 200- to 300-m walk up a rocky path to access. (If you have come by car, it can be parked for a nominal fee at a roadside business). A flashlight (available for purchase at the reception) is helpful to navigate the property after dark.
Similar to other hostels in the arera, there is no kitchen access for the visitors, but a restaurant is available on site; it is also possible to buy freshly baked bread (C$50, i.e. around US$2) at the reception. Three nights a week pizza is cooked in a traditional wood oven. There are compost toilets, and greywater from the showers and the kitchen is cleaned through an onsite processing system. The land is completely planted with trees and plants of every kind, there is a nursery and a vegetable garden and are present many works to limit erosion and water harvesting earth work. Have been used and ferro-cement techniques for the construction of water tanks.There are working possibilities for people interested in permaculture and helping in running the farm/hostel. Is possible to visit the farm including the little leather /handicraft shop and observe the view from a look out tower.
The hostel is a convenient starting point for a Volcan Maderas ascent (US$8 per person guided hike).
As of 2016, the owners of El Zopilote are also running an adjacent property, La Brisa, on similar terms as the main El Zopilote site; accessing La Brisa requires an additional uphill walk from El Zopilote.
cheap
Created by a rich Nicaraguan family from the Esteli, on the grounds of a former coffee plantation owned by the Somoza family, Hacienda Merida provides some social programs for the local area, but definitely has a feel of keeping tourists away from the real Merida. Nicely landscaped grounds, a travel library, good (even if somewhat pricey) restaurant, kayak rental, and an interesting conversation with the opinionated owner. (He earned a national prize in 2009 for a public environmental education campaign; posters created by him can be seen all over the island, and Hacienda Merida, is, naturally, an epicenter of their concentration; he continues to carry out a number of environmental and educational programs, such as using plastic garbage as a construction material, and running the Ometepe Bilingual School on site)..
A tiny "monkey island" off Point Congo (some 500 m away; Monkey Island) can be visited by kayak. According the hacienda's owners, the monkeys had been taken from people elsewhere in Nicaragua who had been keeping them as "pets" (chained), and placed to the island by the hacienda's staff. As posters warn, the creatures can be vicious, and should not be approached.
A number of smaller, locally owned hotels are located in the vicinity; they are typically cheaper than Hacienda Merida, but lack its publicity and somewhat unique atmosphere.
Next door to Hacienda Merida; cheaper, but lacks the atmosphere. Sometimes it's almost empty while Hacienda Merida is crowded
An ecological farm offering 3 private cabins, with private bath for rent. Very private, overlooking Volcano Concepcion and Lake Nicaragua. The Cabins are fully screened, with mosquito netting, purified water, TV and DVD - over 100 movies in English, Spanish and Italian to choose from. We are 100% solar powered and have a composting toilet system. Located a 10 min walk from the trailhead to Volcano Madaras and a few minutes from the best beach on the island, we are a great choice for the adventurer wishing for a little more comfort. On the farm we raise tropical sheep, grow rice, fruits and veggies.Mid price range - We have a maximum occupancy of 10 guests, so reservations are highly recommended. Visit our website for more info
Beautiful accommodation, bar and restaurant. Owned by Morgan (the fun Irish guy) and run by a lovely Australian couple. All types of accommodation catered for with hammocks, dorms and private casitas. It is set amongst tropical trees feeling like a real paradise, and is on the lake, so is perfect for a swim and then relax by the bar or in a hammock. The bar has a pool table and is the most happening place at night. The dorms are far enough away though that you can sleep if you need to. Great food and great people. They offer everything from horseback riding to remedial massage. A wonderful pace to stay, see www.littlemorgans.com for pictures and more information.
The nice hostal called Hospedaje San Fernando is found at the beach called Santo Domingo. Only 800 m from the hotel Villa Paraiso. The place is very central to the most common activities (inside 4 km) in Ometepe: swimming at 'Ojo de Agua', the beach with the white sand called Santo Domingo, the good old Finca Magdalena, the 'Humedal de Istian' and the forest 'Nebliselva' of the volcano Maderas which to walk on is the major activity for visitors. The privileged position near the road between the two volcanoes allows you to get around by feed or by public transport. Rooms in several nice small private houses. Price range: US$4-12. Breakfast included. Internet included. Very fast for the island (~800 MBit). Access to the beach, Rancho, Hammocks.
By boat
You can get to the islands main port (Moyogalpa; Moyogalpa dock), or a smaller new port at San Jose del Sur (San Jose del Sur dock) by boat or ferry from San Jorge near Rivas for about US$2-3.
By plane
A small airport (Moyogalpa Airport) has been opened in 2014 just outside of Moyogalpa, with flights to/from Managua, San Juan del Norte and San Carlos twice a week.
By bus
Very slow local buses run to most villages on the island. Service is relatively frequent between Moyogalpa and Altagracia (roughly every hour), less so to Balgue and Merida (three or four per day).
By taxi
Taxis meet all the ferries (in fact, the drivers want you to use their services almost immediately once you step off the boat) but apart from that, it is hard to find one.
By motorcycle
For travelers with a more liberal budget, renting a motorcycle can be a fun and liberating way to explore the island on your own.
By bicycle
There are plenty of bicycle rental shops on the island that rent by the hour (C$20), day (US$5-7, as of 2016) or week.
On foot
While it may seem like a great idea when looking at a map and the towns on the island are definitely walkable, outside of the towns almost everything is too far to walk for all but the most dedicated.
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