SUGGESTIONS FOR OMETEPE

I liked Charco Verde or Hotel Playa Venecia next door to it. There are some walking trails at CV where you can see howler monkeys.

I climbed Concepcion and it was not bad IMO after all I'd heard, but I am an avid hiker. I was with some guys who were a bit out of shape and they stopped 3/4 way. I probably wouldn't recommend the guide I had but if you do a search on here I recall there are some names mentioned.

Went up Maderas. Fairly strenuous going up but found it harder coming down because of the mud. Room cleaning ladies in the hotels make a few extra $ cleaning shoes. A guide is supposed to be a requirement but don't know who enforces it. A couple of hikers were killed a few years ago trying to come down in the dark.(you'll know where when you come to it). Not much for the guide if you have a small group from your hotel and it spreads some $ among the locals. Enjoyed our stay at Hotel Omaja and you can do the hike right from the hotel. Saw lots of monkeys and birds on Ometepe. More than in the parks of Costa Rica.

i like charco verde too.
i went half way up concepcion. it wasn't too hard but we decided to turn back because the wind was so strong myself and another in the party started getting nervous. the actual climb was steep but not too bad.

I prefered Playa Santa Domingo, and the Villas Parriaso, a nice lodge with AC Cabinas, a great chef/cafe and easy access to all activity, and they can arrange everything, but almost all the lodges can offer these services.

Here is a nw ecolodge that just opened. It looks fantastic. Totoco Ecolodge
http://www.totoco.com.ni/

I haven't been there yet, but I've corresponded with the owners. They give quick replies.

We stayed at the Monkey Island Hostel in December. It is just past Merida, but before San Ramon. It is nothing fancy (concrete floors, mosquito nets) but cheap and the family that runs it is really nice. We walked to a place called cabellitos y mar and rented kayaks one day. It was amazing to see Conception and Maderas from the kayak!!! Afterwards we hung out at the kayak place and had some beers and snacks and chatted with the guy that ran the place. There was a little beach there where the local kids were playing and it was just a surreal experience to be there...authentic is an understatement. The next day we hiked part way up Maderas to the waterfall. I was really hung over and had to stop to rest a lot and it took about 2 1/2 hrs to get to the falls. It was so worth it...The first half of the walk is steep and boring but the second half (once you pass the little hydroelectric plant) is more fun. We were only on Ometepe for 2 days but it was a great experience. If you are looking for fancy, don't stay at Monkey Island Hostel...but if you want friendly service and a good price, it is a great little place. Oh yeah, the pigs, cows, horses, dogs, and roosters all roam free everywhere on the island...its cool!

Robert