We just visited Ometepe island and wanted to review some great places but this site has absolutely no information - what a sad web site for a travel book & site!
So here is a list of great places on Ometepe Island =
Volcano Maderas - amazing hike through petroglyphs, homesteads, farm fields, to the lookout and thru the cloud forest lushness to the crater lake near the top. Your hike can be as long or as short as you and your guide agree to - a guide is required by law for hiking on either volcanoes! Long pants, good hiking shoes, backpack with food and water necessary and lots of stamina and good physical condition - it can be chilly in the cloud forest so a long sleeve shirt, hat and possibly a rain poncho for the rainy season. It is steep and rocky even muddy but so worth the effort!
Volcano Concepcion is active and being monitored but has sulfur vents and very steep inclines of the volcanic shale which can be slippery.
Mineral Springs - Ojo de Agua near Santo Domingo's long stretch of sandy beach to Santa Cruz.
Entrance fee to mineral springs is $3 - smaller round stone lined pool, and longer swimming pool with small strong water fall areas, shady and sunny spots swimming and relaxing areas, hammocks, restaurants, changing rooms,
cool lookout, lush gardens, local jewelry sold here. On the bus route but from your hotels you can rent bikes, motos, or horses or even hitch a ride to the cool shady mango tree entrance road.
Beaches - great sandy stretch of beach from Santo Domingo where there are a lot of hotel & restaurant options to Santa Cruz which also has quite a few options with Hotel Istiam on the beach, Linda Guest House with a couple house rentals on the beach, a small foundation hotel just off the beach, Hostel Santa Cruz/ Rancho Santa Cruz - nice hotel/hostel options with great food curries, veggie options also Los Cocos Comedor on the beach with good food, brownies, coconut bread and pizzas. Also in Santa Cruz is the cool Por Venir Ecolodge with great gardens, typical food, a working farm and petroglyphs and the hikes to the lookout and crater lake start near here,
Also Maria Comedor which has local fare and now offers a large bunk bed room. Beyond Santa Cruz there are quite a few foreign owned B&Bs with a couple local options in Balgue.
The paved road splits at the top of the hill in Santa Cruz - left to Balgue on the paved road and right to Merida/San Ramon on a very rough rocky unpaved road.
Tony our guide also has a newly constructed cabin on the lake in the small town of Balgue - it feels like you are in a nature park with amazing lake views, and large trees surrounding the cabin.
Balgue has the river, natural islands & pools organic coffee cooperative at Finca Magdalena, quite a few restaurants, Internet cafe and shops and is on paved roads with bus and taxi service
Towards Merida there is a turn off to the Kayak tours at El Peru - also where you can buy organic honey.
Edgar is a Nica who speaks English and offers the kayak, wind surf and fishing tours - he has a nice motorboat and various tour options - they can offer locally prepared meals and has some simple room rentals.
In Merida & San Ramon there are some local and foreign options but there is limited bus transportation and taxis can be high priced since the road is very bad. There is a small bilingual school started by Hacienda Merida and offer volunteer teaching opportunities there. San Ramon waterfall and a tilapia fish farm. You can also hike to the lagoon from this side too - arrange your guide with your hotel as people have been lost and died on both volcanoes.
Altagracia has a unique park to explore and buy some local cacao drink from a small stand - visit the old adobe church with ancient religious relics and saints, take a brief tour and see the orginal zoomorphic statues, iguanas live in and around the old church. There is a small museum of precolumbian artifacts which is worth seeing if you don't have time or transport to the superb private collection at La Ceiba which is closer to Moyogalpa
Charco Verde is a green lagoon with an easy walking trail, restaurant and hotel and small beach area - it can be a hike in since the driveway is long - also nearby owned by the same family is Playa Venicia & Chico Largo - there is a newer canopy tour nearby which is building its fame since it is the longest one offered in Nicaragua.
Near Moyogalpa there is a long sandy strip of land jutting out at Point Jesus Maria - there are local comedors nearby. Moyogalpa has banks, lots of shops & restaurant, bar and hotels options and the internet is the now the same speed throughout the island.
There are 3 ports on the island - Moyogalpa is the main port with various ferries/boats from San Jorge near Rivas.
San Jose del Sur is a newer port and has the largest ferry Rey de Cocibolca.
Also near Altagracia is the the Puerta Gracia where boats traveling from Granada to San Carlos for the River San Juan.
Generally there are taxi vans waiting at all the ports and in Moyogalpa there are many buses daily to Altagracia, and to Volcano Maderas = Santo Domingo, Santa Cruz, Balgue and one to Merida daily but fewer buses on Sundays.
Taxis vans are not that expensive and can be shared with other people to reduce per person costs.
Ometepe Island is very laid back and people are friendly - take precautions with your valuables on the beach or in your hotels - ask your hotels if it is safe to walk at night and probably best to have a flashlight since it can be very dark.
Don't bring any ripped/taped or dollar bills with writing on them since locals won't take them because the banks won''t take them.
There is a cash machine in Altagracia and a larger store which does cash card advances - don't know the % they take but it is a business. Quite a few shops in Altagracia and every town has lots of small shops too.
Bike and motorcycle rentals are common also horses and fishing boats too.
Be careful cuz there are alot of farm animals and people on the roads since there are no sidewalks.
We had lots of help prior to traveling here to orientate us which made it easier - we speak Spanish and brought a rental car over from the mainland but there is alot of local transport since it is one looping road around both volcanoes. There are a few car rentals with drivers - check with Hotel Ometepl in Moyogalpa.
Also have your hotel make your ferry reservations.
A new airport near Moyogalpa is built and ready for operation - connections from Managua, Costa Rica and possibly other CA countries.
Stay at least 3 nights since your travel time to get there will reduce your time exploring and enjoying - but really worth the visit - it is magical!
Edited by: Cosima1
