Best Bungalow in Little Corn Island - and other questions

Thanks to allll the positive things I read on this forum, we decided on NICARAGUA !!!

We booked our tickets and now the planning begins!

We'll be going in April, for two weeks around Easter. We'll split the time between the pacific coast for surfing (where do you recommend exactly?) and Little Corn Island for diving. We'll check out Granada and Masaya on the way... and probably some other spots as well!

We'll mostly go with the flow, but since it will be at Easter, we'd like to book a hotel on Little Corn Island. I would appreciate recommendations on which guesthouse to pick there... we'd like basic huts on the beach... preferably with hammocks, and as close to the beach as possible... plus the cheaper the better. I've heard of huts at $10/night... this would be great!

To book the flight to Corn Island, do you have to call the Costena airline or can you do it online?

Little Corn doesn't have ATMs or banks correct? This is alright, except for the diving part. Does the dive shop accept credit cards?

What about Internet on Little Corn? Do they have an internet cafe??

Any other tips?

Thanks !!

For surfing at the Pacific, go to San Juan del Sur, but don't stay there! Take a taxi or shuttle service to Playa Marsella (for surfing) and Bahía Majagual (for the best sunsets!). There are several nice hostels where you could stay and places where you can rent surf boards.

At Little Corn I would stay at the eastern side of the island. When arriving by boat from Big Corn, walk to the other side of the island (10min.) as there is a nicer beach, nicer accomodation, better view, more shade etc. I stayed at Casa Iguana, which was nice, though a bit over-priced to my opinion. We stayed in a economy cabin for $35,- that only had two beds and a small safe. Cabins with private bathrooms are even more expensive. www.casaiguana.net

Another point is that Casa Iguana's cabins are not directly at the beach, unlike other accommodations on that side of the island, such as Elsa's and Sunrise Paradise. Casa Iguana is owned and managed by Americans, while the others are all local properties. For a local Corn Island experience, choose one of those and even pay less! The advantage of Casa Iguana is that it can be booked in advance, the others (I believe) cannot. Keep in mind that during Easter rates will probably be higher.

There is no ATM machine on Little Corn, so bring enough cash from the main land or try the ATM at Big Corn. Take in consideration that power cuts happen very frequently so you might have to wait a while... Credit Cards are accepted at some places, but I would contact the diving school you plan to use whether they do as well.

There is one internet café on Little Corn (at least, when I was there last year), just above the Los Delfines hotel on the Western side of the island. Staff is not very friendly and the use of internet is very much over-priced compared to the main land. (And they tend to charge you even when a power cut makes you wait behind the computer!) But if you really need i-net this is where you could go.

Thanks so much for all the info!! :)

thanks!

Of the three sets of cabanas on the beach, Carlito's is the nicest followed by Elsies and then Gracie's. Go to the Corn Island website for a phone # for reservations.

You can e-mail or call La Costena but you cannot reserve online.

Thanks! got my tickets today actually.
I also tried to call Elsies... but couldn't get through. Does someone have an email address or a number that works?
thanks!!

(+505) 997-4317 Is this the number you tried for Elsa's?

yes... I'll try again. Thanks :)

I just returned from Little Corn yesterday! The best time I had so far in Nicaragua and I would recommend it to everyone who asks!!! We stayed at Grace¨s the middle one of the three budget choices right on the beach. Elsa´s just had a few problems with bed bugs and there have been two raids where people got into the bungalows in the middle of the night through open windows. But you should not feel to unsafe just watch your stuff and you´ll be fine!

Thank you for the info! we are really looking forward to this trip. I have heard so many goods things!

I have tried several times to call Elsa's, but the number is not in service or out of area according to the message... so maybe we'll try Grace's! I figure we should book in advance since we'll be there during Easter... do you agree?

Yes! It was even full when we got there. But that was one day after the ferry got in so make sure you do not get there on a Wednesday or Thursday. Oh, and remember that the prices got up and are not the same as stated in Lonely Planet. They are 15$ for a cabin (not per person) and not 5$. You might find the homepage www.bigcornisland.com helpful, it is about both islands and has price infos and pictures.

Thanks for the info. I have tried to call Elsa's several times and there is a message in spanish saying this number is currently not available or out of area... and i've tried Grace's and it is just a voicemail... Carlito's is the only one that has answered, so i'll make reservations there. Thanks again !!

if you plan on staying on the islands during easter week, aka semana santa, you will find that prices will go up through the roof. thats for anywhere really on the water....lake, ocean, river, it will be a mad house and be busy! be ready to pay up to double or triple the rates!