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1018 results for Ometepe
dana.port.a
dana.port.a
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaThree weeks on Pacific Coast - ideas/thoughts?#1

Hi all,
My husband and I are going to rent a car from Managua and travel 3-4 weeks through Nicaragua - likely staying on the Pacific Coast. We prefer renting houses outside of town or with some space and enjoy local watering holes but are not late night partiers. Looking for good surf, peaceful vibes, and places easy to travel without a 4x4 (or should we just rent one of those instead of the little car? This doubles the cost to trying to stick to easily drivable places). We traveled the same way in Costa Rica for a month and did okay with the rental, although would have preferred the larger vehicle.

Also traveling with the dog, so are looking at Air BnB's and finding quite a bit. Worth reserving ahead of time during the December-January season I'm assuming?

Thought on places to explore, whether we should go to Ometepe or stick to Pacific Coast (from SJDS to Leon, we're thinking)? A friend lives in Corn Islands but an extra flight with the car rental and dog kennel wasn't high on our priority list this trip.

While in CR we purchased a board, then gave it away to a family we stayed with the second week we were there. Any input on purchasing a board in Nica? Where is best?

Thanks everyone! We adore exploring and it's refreshing to see so many folks doing the same.

Cheers,
-Dana

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Feanor02
Feanor02
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaNicaragua Shuttle Bus services#6

Is it possible to book a ferry/shuttle service from ometepe to San Jorge to SJDS whilst on Ometepe?

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susie_cate
susie_cate
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaSecond visit to Nicaragua - feedback on c. 3 week nerary June #1

I'd love some feedback on my thoughts for my second trip to Nicaragua this June. I got some great advice here for my trip last year, which I combined with Costa Rica, and was my first visit to Central America.

Already booked, I am going to a week long yoga retreat near Maderas Beach on the South Pacific coast. I am basing the trip around this (some flex but c. 3 weeks total) and this time I am planning to stay within Nicaragua for the whole trip. My current plan goes someone like:

Fly from U.K. to MGA - same day travel onwards by air to Corn Islands
C. 4 nights in Little Corn
Fly back (overnight in Big Corn if needed) to MGA and pick up lift to the yoga retreat
6 nights Maderas (this is the only set part of my plans at the moment)
Leon c 3 nights
Granada 1 night
Return flight from MGA to U.K.

Now for some of my questions :-)

I am keen to get to CI as I have not travelled in the Caribbean and it sounds like it would be quite different to other beach time in NIca on West coast. I'm currently looking at Little Corn Beach & Bungalow so feedback on that would be good. Logistically I may need to spend at least 1 night on Big Corn, but I wondered if anyone would recommend giving it a proper look as more than just a layover?

I had to miss out on Leon last trip due to time so I know I want to include this time and think it will be a nice change after all the beach time and yoga! I am not sure how best to travel here from Maderas. I have return travel to MGA included in the yoga trip, so I can set off from there. I could also happily have a night in Granada before Leon as opposed to after.

Any recommendations on good place to stay in Leon? Budget is somewhat flexible but I'd rather have somewhere with some style (e.g. Boutique hotel) or some character (e.g. Sociable hostel) than anything too middle of the road / chain hotel.

Whilst here I intend to book the volcano boarding and just wander round the city soaking it in, possibly a museum or two. I'll have spent a good amount of time on a beach by now so not planning to head to San Penitas, Jiquillio etc but let me know if you think that's a mistake!

I stayed in Granada / Laguna Apoya / Ometepe last time, hence why they are not featuring in this agenda. I would be happy to squeeze a night in Granada and a day trip to L.Apoya this time round to fit with travel as I loved both.

Thanks if you've read all of this -

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daddytraveller
daddytraveller
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaThanks to everyone who helped us before the trip.#1

My family (My wife and I and our two kids ages 6 and 8) just returned from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We definitely used all the advice that the people on these forums gave us. If anyone has a question about traveling with kids in tow, let me know. We had a great time and we used only public transportation during our 7 weeks in Central America. We traveled to Granada, Ometepe, Leon, Matagalpa, and Jiquilillo in Nicaragua and we hit Manuel Antonio, Samara, Brasalito, Arenal, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Tortuguero, San Jose, and Cahuita in Costa Rica. Just so you know, Ometepe and Matagalpa were our favorite places in Nicaragua and Cahuita was our favorite in Costa Rica.

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joseeannesc
joseeannesc
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaNicaragua - El Transito #7
In response to #1

Léon, Las Penitas, San Juan, Popoyo, Managua, Ometepe, Granada... :) Though it was intended to the Lonely Planet team (I didnt use the right forum, sorry!)
:)

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soniaberode
soniaberode
Country forumsCentral AmericaVolcanoes in Costa Rica and onward to Panama Canal#5

I hope you have 3 weeks... That is not a lot of time. Any other interests than volcanoes? If you can fly into Managua and out of Panama City you could start with Leon (which is also a great colonial city, by the way). I recommend the overnight volcano Telica camping trip (very impressive crater). Cerro Negro is a half day trip (short hike up, active crater and you can board or run down). Then go to volcano Masaya, near Masaya and not too far from Granada (they drive you right up to the crater, very active right now, evening tours possible, only short visits allowed, you see a lake of lava). Then Ometepe Island. Two volcanoes: Concepcion is active and Maderas has cloud forest. Tough climbs but even if you don't hike them they are a sight to behold. Then cross the border at Penas Blancas, go to Liberia and Rincon de la Vieja (the Las Pailas trail has fumaroles and boiling mud pots and you can also hike to waterfalls). Then Arenal and hopefully you will get to see the volcano. Not active and you can't hike up but a beautiful volcano. Then Poas or if Poas is not open Irazu. Then take Tica Bus from San Jose to Panama City.

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trapeezie
trapeezie
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaragua10 days in Nica with young kids#5

Y'all are great- thank you! We'll definitely head to Ometepe for NYE then. It looks beautiful and totally our speed. Now to decide whether to head to Leon for the last few days or the coast...

A few of you mentioned Las Penitas as a good beach town for kids. Are there any beaches or towns closer to Rivas that are calm and good for kids too?

All this info has been very helpful, esp the little details about Ometepe trails and swim spots. Thanks!

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atz111
atz111
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaItinerary feedback- 19 days nature, coast, volcanoes#6

I agree with #4....if you noodle the boat rides/time can skip Solentiname and spend an extra no rush day in Gautuzos.

As was noted..but important in planning...the San Carlos to Ometepe plane fly not every day..so will have to buodl your schedule planing around that.

SJDS is not the bad place some make it out to be. The beach is not great but plenty of world class beaches within easy trip north or south for the day...the beach up north as suggested just do not measure up in beach or other stuff....eats, etc.

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atz111
atz111
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaIs August a good time to visit?#2

That time is actually a very good time to visit. Not the hottest months. Generally September is a "slow" tourist month so nicer without crowds where they usually congregate. It is towards the end of the rainy season but those are not usually heavy rain months...and the rains are heavy but generally quick so don't ruin a day. Rates at hotels are often discounted as it is the slow season. Turtle nesting time at the beach which is a wonder to watch.

Best places to visit will vary to some degree based on how much time..two weeks and here is what I woud do:

  1. Granada/Mombacho...Granada is a lovely colonial town and the isletas are a great tour. But you really can do that all in a day. Momnbacho which is 20 minutes away has cloud forest, zip lines, horse trekking in the forest, a coffee finca with processing plant (not as boring as it may sound). Plenty to do and with kids and no need for the somewhat racous nitetimes in Granada you can stay right on the mountain.

  2. Masaya and the white villages....easy to get to from Granada/Mombacho.....nice day trip.

  3. The beach....world class beaches all along the coast...look at Popoyo area and Magnific Rock. (hotel)...less than 2 hours from Granada/Mombacho.

so this is 5-6 days

Then you decide...Ometepe...find a place in the forest the beach is not great and since you will have been to a world class one you don't need it....needs 3 days as getting there and back takes time.

and

Leon...another city but with a much diffeerent flavor than Granada..some nearby volcanos ...sand boarding on one and a trek on the other to a great live crater.

be about all you can do..

If you skip Ometpe (which is what i would drop) you could go to Matagalpa from Leon...very different part of the country in feel/looks....kind of more like the old Nicaragua...

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hermosajoe
hermosajoe
Country forumsCentral AmericaNicaraguaJan 2017 questions and suggestions - MGA to Granada, extra week suggestions, internet#3

What is late???????? What time do you arrive??????? There is a good motel, easy walking distance across the street, about $100us.

I would stay the night/nights in Granada or Apoyo, depending on what your into.
The Corns would require all your time.

Maybe do 3 days on Ometepe and 3 in Leon, 1 day for travel. I would think you can get WiFi in either. Can't help with the on-line stuff.

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