ometepe, NI
The coolest place you have never heard of. — A very special, and frankly one-of-a-kind island, in the middle of a freshwater lake. The island is made up of two active volcanoes on either side, connected by a thinner strip of land. It’s a really special place. Filled to the brim with hippies, but the longer you stay, the more you won’t want to leave. The locals are the kindest I encountered in Nica., and it’s so beautiful you’ll be shocked at every turn. Ometepe is probably the most unique place in Nicaragua. For that matter it is probably the most unique place in all of Central America. — Maybe Mexico combined. It's a magical little place. Ometepe is an island inside of a fresh water volcanic lake in the center of the country of Nicaragua. Before coming to Ometepe, I don't know if I had ever been to a fresh water lake nor did I really know they were a thing. But Ometepe is that largest freshwater lake in the entire world. In a country where the locals aren't necessarily overly thrilled to interact with you as a foreigner, I found the locals on Ometepe to be the warmest and most welcoming that I interacted with in the country. There is a small community of people here, and you really have an island feel to the place. You are on an island after all, but the fact that it's in a lake I guess still trips me up. The island is like a jungle. With small jungle roads carving their way through it. It's very common for people to rent motorcycles here to get themselves around the relatively large island and see all the beautiful things to see here. With that being said, almost everyone who does that ends up with an Ometepe tattoo. Or a nice set of scrapes on their body from a fall on the slick and windy roads. It's an amazing place to explore in general. The sunsets are some of the best you'll ever see. There is delicious and fresh food all over the place, and if you are into spirituality and being a hippy then this place is filled to the brim with them. There's people living off-grid and away from the world everywhere here. It's a spiritual and magical place. — A feeling you won't fully understand until you go. In my opinion, no trip to Nicaragua is complete without a few days in Ometepe. It's not an overly easy place to get to though. It will require at least a bus, and a ferry.
Ometepe isn't an easy place to get to. It's not very crowded with people outside of backpackers, and people who are willing to go through pretty shit travel days for this reason. I guess I just realized why places like this in Nicaragua exist the way they do. Ometepe, the Corn Islands. Fancy people who would ruin them, find it too hard to get to because they are inconvenienced with having to actually interact with the local people from the country to get there, so they don't go. Well, I hope it stays that way.
Ometepe is located on Lake Nicaragua. The massive lake in the middle of the country. The same lake shores in which Granada sits. As a result, the majority of people will be coming to Ometepe from there. I will only be talking about getting to Ometepe from there, but no matter where you are coming from, the first step is going to be getting to Puerto San Jorge.
There is no way to fly into Ometepe that I know of. There is an airstrip or an airport here. I never saw a plane come in, and I don't believe there are any airlines that fly there. I am sure you could privately hire a plane, but that isn't anything that I know anything about.
- GETTING TO PUERTO SAN JOSE - Puerto San Jose is the small town where all the ferries to Ometepe leave from. There's a number of different ferry companies, and they run relatively frequently.
- To get to Puerto San Jorge you can take a shuttle where you book here, for $25, which takes an hour. Kind of a steep price I know for only an hour trip.
- The other option is public buses. You will have to make a transfer, but it will save you at least $10. You will first need to get to Rivas. You can take a public bus that leaves from here 7 times a day. The bus takes an hour, and costs $2. The bus station is located here near the central park.
- Once in Rivas you will have to find the other bus to take you to Puerto San Jorge. The bus will cost $1, and take about 10 minutes. Don't worry about going anywhere, the bus from Granada will drop you off from where you need to pick up the next one. Look for a little shuttle bus that says 'Puerto San Jorge', and they go on demand — so as they fill up. Very common in Latin America.
- GETTING TO OMETEPE - Upon arriving in Puerto San Jose, you will have almost no option but to be shown how to book the ferry. You'll be swarmed with guys trying to sell you tickets. Doesn't really matter who you go through, they will sort everything out and get you on the next ferry. Just sit down, have a snack, and wait for them to come back with your tickets. They leave pretty much every hour, and it will take an hour to get there. The ferry costs about $2. This is where the ferry leaves from.
- GET TO THE RIGHT PART OF OMETEPE - The ferry will drop you off in a place called Moyogalpa. This is not where you want to stay in Ometepe. You instead should stay over in Balgue. Buses Públicos Nicaragua operates a bus from Moyogalpa to Balgue three times a day, and the trip takes 1 hour and 38 minutes, with tickets costing $2. A lot of people will rent scooters here though to have their whole trip. You can rent a scooter anywhere on the main street when you get off the ferry. Here is a link to one. If you are tired of travel and don't want a scooter, you can also take a taxi, but it will cost you.
- UPON ARRIVAL IN BALGUE - When you show up to Balgue, you are here. It's not just time to walk to your hostel. A long trip, so you might as well spend a few days.
- TRAVELING WITH YOUR OWN CAR? - Easy, you just need to get to Puerto San Jorge from wherever you are. Then once there someone will come up to you and help you buy a ticket to get on the next car ferry. It's only a few extra $'s for the car, and it's the same process. Most of the ferries are car transport ferries as well. Once on Ometepe, it's great to have a car, — you can get anywhere on the island with a car.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
— An important note. Don't stay where the ferry drops you off. You want to be on a different part of the island in a place called Balgue. — Where everything is on this map.
You have lots of options to stay in Ometepe. They range from the extremely hippy — essentially sleeping outside and witnessing a people on acid every day spinning fire, to spa experiences right on the lake in luxury above water bungalows.
Whatever you are looking for, whatever kind of community you want to find here, you're probably going to be able to find it. It's a place that contains multitudes. You also have the places that are right in the middle of the two I mentioned above, as well as normal hostels and basic local accommodation. Whatever you want here on Ometepe, you can find.
There are also so many more options than what I am mentioning. There's buses you can rent, lovely little Airbnbs. If you want to get adventurous, stay in a few different places.
This is probably the most hippy hostel that I have ever stayed at. It's pretty overwhelmingly so. The accommodation is very very basic, and the entire place is a permaculture farm, so everything that you consume there will be made with products produced on the land. The workers and volunteers will be gypsy-like traveling people, and it's a pretty special place and experience in general. If being dirty and around dirty people who are probably on some sort of psychedelic isn't your vibe, then skip Zopilote. It's also about a 10-minute walk up a small little trail to get there, so it's not easy to get in and out of.
At $7 a night, it's the cheapest place you will find to stay in Ometepe. They have an excellent pizza night once a week, if you just want to go there and check out the vibe and people around there.
A really fancy place, but it is absolutely lovely and magical. It's right on the lakeside and the nicest place to stay in Ometepe. They have free yoga every morning, and they also offer cacao ceremonies that are great. Pital is a chocolate and cacao farm and they have tons of home-made goods showcasing their products. It's one of the most relaxing places I have ever stayed. If you are on a little travel romance or traveling with a partner, I highly recommend this place. They have cheap dorms as well, but it won't be the most social place on planet earth.
The best cozy place on the island I think to stay. It's a really small little place. Probably room enough for like 20 people, but it's got a super-cozy little vibe, and I loved it. If this is the kind of thing you are looking for, then go stay here. Really good location walking distance from a lot of the best restaurants. They only have privates but they are only $25, so if you are traveling with someone it's a perfect spot.
I never stayed here but I hear it's a really good option from a basic hostel perspective. El Pital is kind of fancy, Zopilote is kind of a shit-hole, and this place is a good in the middle ground hostel. $11 dorm for the night. Good location on the water.
EATS
The food in Ometepe is absolutely outstanding. Really. It's extremely fresh, and there's a lot of places that just sell the food that they are themselves growing. There's loads of artisan types of food everywhere, and for being an island inside of a lake I was shocked at just how good everything was.
Additionally to how good it all was, I was really surprised about the variety of stuff that you have here in Ometepe. You can get pizza, Nicaraguan food, Israeli food from a bus, then go and get a cacao smoothie.
Restaurants
In my opinion the best food on the island. Everything they have is delicious. Their dinner, their breakfast, and their lunch. Just go here a few times. It's amazing.
Israeli food and pitas served out of an old converted school bus. The setting is outstanding, and the food is great and easy to grab a quick bite.
An awesome pizza place that's open every night. It's usually pretty bustling, and the food will take a while, but it's delicious.
This is the hostel, but they also have pizza night every Tuesday. It also turns into kind of a social event, so it's certainly worth going. Pizza is really good as well.
My favorite spot for a local Nicaraguan plate of food right in town.
This is a cacao farm, so they have lots of little options that have to do with cacao. I found their food to not be that good though, and overpriced.
Small little cafe in the town of Moyogalpa, where the ferry picks up and drops off. This is a good spot to grab a bite right after, or while waiting for the ferry.
Another excellent spot for a cheap traditional Nicaraguan plate of food.
Really cool little restaurant that has a lovely viewpoint of both the volcanoes. Not really near anything else, but a nice place to stop for a snack or a beer.
NIGHTLIFE
In general there is no nightlife in Ometepe. It's a very relaxed place, and the hippys that line the shores of Ometepe are more into psychedelics than drinking late into the night. However, every once in a while there will be big DJ parties in the jungle. But you have to get lucky to be there at the right time. Tuesdays at Zopilote can be pretty social for pizza night as well.
SIGHTS
There is so much to see and do in Ometepe. You could spend a really long time just riding your scooter, or driving your car around the large island finding something else interesting to look at.
There are some established things to do here though that are pretty amazing. Additionally, one of the best things to do in this relaxing place is to just chill. It's super-peaceful here, so just soak that up.
Like I said the place is stunning. There are an endless amount of things to do from a nature perspective. Hikes, kayaking, swimming, — you name it. The hostels and tour operators will be able to give you a rundown of what to do.
To really open up the island, do what a lot of people do and just rent a scooter. Most people get the scooters where the ferry drops you off in Moyogalpa.
Beautiful spring water fed pool that has been turned into a tourist park. Great for an afternoon activity.
Only possible in the dry season. A breathtaking sandbar that stretches out into the lake in front of one of the volcanoes. You can walk out and enjoy the view.
You’ll be staying in or around Santa Cruz, or Balgue likely. But explore the island — there are a bunch of other amazing towns all around. They are all around the island and really nice. A scooter will let you do this. Merida is a great example of one to explore.
CACAO CEREMONY
There are cacao ceremonies all over the place and they really are amazing. If you have never tried, I recommend you do so here.
The two volcanoes on the island are huge, and prime for hiking. The hikes are full-day experiences, and pretty grueling from what I have heard. I elected not to do it. But if you love hiking, take the time to go up these things.
YOGA
There is yoga everywhere, and the place is absolutely perfect for doing yoga. Even if you haven't done much yoga (like me), I recommend doing some here.
Beautiful spot on the west coast of the island. There's stunning sunrises and they have a little bar. You can buy beers, and seats to watch the sun go down. You can also rent kayaks and go explore the lake here.
SURFING
An island in a lake.
You can rent kayaks and go through a pretty amazing river in the middle of the island. It's very unique, and one of the cooler things to do on Ometepe.
