Nicaragua with kids

Pochomil/Montelimar..lots of nicaraguan families go there as well.........local feeling...not really a backpackersvibe....

Thanks Everyone again! We finally have the dates and locations sorted out! We are staying in Poneloya for one week, then going to Ometepe for 5 days (we found great rental houses in both places)! We still have to figure out the transportation bit (main concern with public transportation is our 1 year old). Lastly, my husband, daughter and I will be staying in Granada the last night of our trip (December 31). We are looking at hotels/guesthouses there. Any recommendations?
Thanks again! So excited!!!

Thanks Everyone again! We finally have the dates and locations sorted out! We are staying in Poneloya for one week, then going to Ometepe for 5 days (we found great rental houses in both places)! We still have to figure out the transportation bit (main concern with public transportation is our 1 year old). Lastly, my husband, daughter and I will be staying in Granada the last night of our trip (December 31). We are looking at hotels/guesthouses there. Any recommendations?
Thanks again! So excited!!!

If you do use public transport it is about 30 minutes by bus from Poneloya to Leon. In Leon you would have to take a taxi to the other bus terminal. Or take a taxi there straight from Poneloya. A minibus to Managua (UCA bus station) takes 2 hours. Then you would have to take a taxi to mercado Roberto Huembes in Managua for the 2.5 hours bus ride to Rivas. Taxi to San Jorge and ferry to Ometepe. It is a long day. You could stop in Masaya for a night as you are already going to Granada at the end of your trip. Masaya has a pleasant central park and an artisan market. The Masaya volcano is close by and they drive you right up to the steaming crater. Nicaraguans love kids so everyone will be very helpful.

As for Granada, what is your budget for that last night ?

Thanks Sonia! It would be great to keep it around $50. But we could go up a little since it's only one night.

La Casa del Agua maybe ?

If you start a new thread, you might get more suggestions!

Hi All! Our trip is getting close! I am so excited! We are looking into things to do in Poneloya/Penitas/Leon area. Suggestions are welcome. Looks like there is tons to do in Ometepe! Some of us will have a rental car, and some of us will not. I understand taxis and buses are the way to go without a car. What about Ometepe? It seems a bit tricky to get around there. Does anyone know about renting motor bikes or scooters? Also, for the beach are near Las Penitas, are there bicycle rental and/or Motor bike rentals?

Laura, you should start a new thread, this ones a bit old. You'll get more ideas that way.
Yes, you can get scooters in Moyogalpa on Ometepe.

Leon: museums (Museo de la Revolucion, the art museum Ortiz Gurdian, the museum of legends and traditions...), murals, churches, the cathedral (and the roof for the view), the market... Christmas festivities. Volcano Cerro Negro. Volcano Telica (overnight camping trip). El Hoyo (volcanic sinkhole) trek...
Las Penitas: the beach of course and playing in the waves, surfing, the Juan Venado nature reserve (kayaking and maybe still sea turtle tours... end of season).

Ometepe: two volcanoes (tough climbs but the Maderas viewpoint is not that hard). Charco Verde nature reserve with nice beach, nature trail, I hear now also butterflies. Right next to Charco Verde there is ziplining with great views (Chico Largo Adventure). Ojo de Agua natural spring pool. El Ceibo museum. San Ramon waterfall hike. Kayaking... Horseback riding:

http://www.harishorses.com/

Rural communities. For example:

http://www.losramos.org/

On Ometepe there are buses, just not that many depending on where you want to go (and hardly any on Sundays). You can rent a scooter. There are taxis. We have also hitchhiked.

http://www.ometepenicaragua.com/ometepebus.php

If you've got kids the spot on the beach in front of Hotel Playa Roca is where most the locals go....it's relatively safe with no rip currents