Moyogalpa
ConvenienceThe ferry town, with shops and ATMs.
Island guide
Things to do in Ometepe Island
Two volcanoes rising out of Lake Nicaragua, joined by a narrow strip of land: tough volcano hikes, waterfalls, spring-fed swimming at Ojo de Agua, kayaking, farms and petroglyphs, and a pace that makes people stay longer than planned.
41
Hostels in the city
8.5
Average, from 6,638 reviews
2
Volcanoes
3–4
Days
An island of two volcanoes
Ometepe is an island in Lake Nicaragua, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Americas. It is formed by two volcanoes: Concepción, an active, near-perfect cone of about 1,600 metres, and Maderas, a quieter, jungle-covered volcano of about 1,400 metres with a crater lagoon on top. A low isthmus with beaches joins them.
The island is rural, with small villages, farms, monkeys in the trees and ancient petroglyphs carved by its first inhabitants. Most people rent a scooter or bike to get around, hike one of the volcanoes, swim at Ojo de Agua and watch the sunset over the lake.
The island is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Give it three or four days, or more.
Where to base yourself
Moyogalpa by the ferry for convenience; Santo Domingo for the beach and Ojo de Agua; Balgüe and Mérida on the Maderas side for farms and quiet.
Santo Domingo
BeachOn the isthmus, near Ojo de Agua.
Balgüe
Farms, quietOn the Maderas side, near the trails.
Mérida
Quiet, kayakingSouth-west Maderas, near San Ramón.
Altagracia
LocalThe other town, near the petroglyphs.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do on Ometepe
Climb Concepción with a guide, a hard full-day hike over loose rock with huge views. Maderas is a muddy jungle climb to a crater lagoon. Guides are required on both.
Hike to the San Ramón waterfall on the Maderas side, swim in the spring-fed pools of Ojo de Agua, and kayak to Charco Verde lagoon or the Río Istián wetlands to see birds and caimans.
Rent a scooter to circle the island, stopping at the petroglyphs around Altagracia and Balgüe and the sandbar at Punta Jesús María for sunset.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beaches at Santo Domingo and the sandbar at Punta Jesús María are free, and so are the sunsets over the lake.
Cycling the island's roads and visiting some petroglyph sites cost nothing.
Volcano guides, Ojo de Agua, San Ramón and Charco Verde charge entry.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Comedores serve gallo pinto, fish from the lake, plantain and rice for €2 to €5. Farm stays on the Maderas side grow their own fruit, coffee and chocolate.
Try guapote, fried lake fish.
Hostels and eco-lodges often serve family-style dinners. A 10 per cent service charge is often added to restaurant bills; if it is not, 10 per cent is a fair tip.
Nightlife
Going out
Ometepe is quiet at night. Evenings are for hostel bars, sunsets and stars.
A few hostels have social nights.
A beer costs €1 to €2.
Getting around
Getting around
Ferries and boats cross from San Jorge, near Rivas, to Moyogalpa in about an hour, several times a day; the crossing can be rough in the windy season. Shuttles connect San Jorge with Granada and San Juan del Sur.
On the island, rent a scooter, motorbike or bike, or use the slow local buses and taxis. Roads are paved around Concepción but rough on parts of the Maderas side.
There is a small airstrip with occasional flights.
Costs
What Ometepe costs
Hostel beds start at around €7 to €12 a night. Comedor meals cost €2 to €5.
A guided volcano hike costs about €25 to €50, scooter rental about €15 to €25 a day, and Ojo de Agua a few euros.
ATMs are few and can run out, mainly in Moyogalpa and Altagracia, so bring cash in córdobas and dollars.
Safety
Safety and scams
Ometepe is calm. The main risks are the volcano hikes, which need a guide, good shoes and plenty of water, and scooter accidents on rough roads.
Concepción is active and the summit closes at times. Foreigners are banned from any political activity in Nicaragua, including joining protests, so avoid demonstrations and do not post about politics while you are there. Drones are banned.
Drink bottled or filtered water; most hostels have refill stations. In an emergency, call 911, or 118 for the police.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Fiestas and holidays.
December to April
Dry season
Ometepe
Best for hiking.
March or April
Holy Week
Ometepe
Busy with Nicaraguan visitors.
7 December
La Purísima
Nationwide
The Gritería.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Ometepe Island, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Hostel Life is Good
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
La Urraca Loca
Dorms from €7 a night
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Hostel Lazy Crab
Dorms from €6 a night
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Hospedaje Soma
Dorms from €9 a night
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Cabañas Dilany
Dorms from €9 a night
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Hospedaje Los Chocoyos
Dorms from €7 a night
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Hostel Coco's
Dorms from €5 a night
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Raindance Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
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El Zopilote
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
El Pital Chocolate Paradise
Dorms from €6 a night
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Tiki Hostel Ometepe
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Green Hostal
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
When to go
December to April is dry and best for hiking, though it is windy on the lake from December to February. May to November brings rain, mud on the trails and greener landscapes.
Jan
Dry, windy
Feb
Dry, windy
Mar
Hot
Apr
Easter
May
Rain starts
Jun
Rain
Jul
Short dry spell
Aug
Rain
Sep
Wettest
Oct
Wet
Nov
Drying
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Ometepe Island prices.
Treat these as a guide. Hikes and rentals cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Ometepe Island questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to Ometepe?
By ferry from San Jorge, near Rivas, about an hour.
Do I need a guide for the volcanoes?
Yes, guides are required.
Which volcano should I climb?
Concepción for the views; Maderas for jungle and a crater lagoon.
Are there ATMs?
A few in Moyogalpa and Altagracia; bring cash.
How do I get around?
Rent a scooter or bike.
How many days do I need?
Three to four.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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