Isla de Ometepe to San Carlos on Rio San Juan

There is a night ferry from Altagracia on Ometepe to San Carlos on Mondays and Thursdays. But it depends on when you are going as the ferry has not been running for more than a month now (water level too low for the ferry to be able to moor in San Carlos). Other ways : fly from Ometepe to San Carlos but I believe the flights are only on Thursdays and Sundays. Or go to Managua and take a bus to San Carlos (6-7 hours).

Once there check out Los Guatuzos, Rio Papaturro (4 hour boat ride but not daily) where you can see lots of wildlife (mostly by boat and kayak, some hiking). At least 3 days. There is El Castillo and biological reserve Indio Maiz. Two days. And you can go all the way to San Juan de Nicaragua but I have never done that so I can't help with that. Not sure if the current low water level is a problem for traveling down the Rio San Juan.

ferries still having problems

Boats fro San Carlos to down river take 1.5 the normal time because of river water…low.

The water level is a seasonal phenomenon, right? Do you think the lake and the Rio San Juan will be too low by March?

Think it's more el nino. Best way to do river is with no schedule & no time restraints as it appears you're doing. Wherever you're dropped off you can get back on the next day.

The bus to and from San Carlos used to be a real adventure. Once it tried to make it up a muddy rutted hill and each attempt fell short. Finally the bus driver went back about 2 kilometers and got the old Blue Bird going for all it was worth....a shaking and rattling top speed and it chugged over the crest. Everybody on the bus cheered. The road has been improved and even the buses have been upgraded. Get back to the mainland and catch a bus to Managua and than head to San Carlos. I have liked to stop in Juigalpa, a town I like. It would be shorter to swing back down through Costa Rica and cross back to San Carlos on the new bridge but it would take a little research into the buses La Cruz to Upala and Upala to Los Chiles.

Read the FAQ about Rio San Juan. I posted a complete blog on how to do it a few years ago. The road from Managua, now , is first class for Nicaragua. No big hills, no holes. I went all the way on it last year. Forget going from Managua via Costa Rica, just catch a bus in Managua for San Carlos. I went down the river in a kayak, twice. Once in February, once in December. Go February, maybe March. December is too early, not nearly as many critters and birds. Don't miss the Solentiname Islands 20 miles from San Carlos

Try this website for almost all of the bus schedules.

http://www.thebusschedule.com/ni/index.php

Do the trip slowly, don't do the 3 or 4 day trip, it's too fast. Go at your own pace, not the pace of the guide. Make sure that you are in front on the river, not behind the guide. That way, you will see all of the critters.

So, the advice of some people here is to go from Isla de Ometepe back to Managua, and get a bus to San Carlos? I'd prefer to do this 'Forward Ever, Backward Never' if possible...

If you are on Ometepe and the night ferry is running take the ferry. It was a great experience. But if it is not running and you don't fly to San Carlos you have to go back to Managua and take the bus. It is a smooth ride now.

So, if the ferry isn't running, whatcha gonna do, swim? Read the FAQ