El Zopilote

Nestled on the lush slopes of Volcano Maderas in a tropical setting, El Zopilote is both a backpackers’ hostel and a working permaculture farm. Over more than 20 years, we have transformed a once degraded landscape into a thriving food forest, integrating tourism with the rhythms of farm life.
Dedicated to preserving all forms of life—plant and animal—we use no pesticides or chemical products. As a result, guests may encounter wildlife, including insects, around the property and occasionally inside rooms.

In addition to our permaculture work, we cultivate mushrooms and offer a variety of accommodations: private huts, rooms, dorms, camping spots, and hammocks. Amenities include free yoga sessions, permaculture and mushroom courses, cacao ceremonies, volcano hikes, massages, and workshops. Our farm-to-table vegetarian and vegan restaurant also serves limited meat dishes daily. Tuesdays and Saturdays feature our popular Pizza Night with wood-fired pizza, fire shows, dancing, and natural cocktails. On Thursdays, Italian Night offers lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and dessert.

Located on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua, in the Santa Cruz/Madronal area—just 1 km before Balgue—the hostel is close to Volcano Maderas, Volcano Concepcion, and Playa Santa Cruz. The farm lies about 300 meters up the slopes from the main road. A road/path allows access for roughly 200 meters to a parking area for motorcycles and scooters only. For cars or for less experienced drivers, we recommend leaving vehicles at the secure parking offered by a local family near the entrance (around $1 per night for scooters or motorcycles). For safety, we advise leaving all vehicles there overnight.

Accommodation is designed to blend with nature and promote environmental awareness. Most rooms have shared compost toilets and showers, while the Mariposa Bungalow offers more comfort with a private bathroom (compost toilet). Some rooms and dorms are near reception; others are more secluded and priced lower accordingly. The hillside location provides a refreshing breeze, eliminating the need for fans or air conditioning.

The property runs entirely on solar energy, uses compost toilets, and recycles all waste.

Our reception is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Our staff members all speak some English, but we kindly ask for your understanding as their native language is Spanish, and occasional language barriers may arise.

The restaurant, open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., serves meals starting at $2.
On Pizza Nights (Tuesdays and Saturdays), festivities run from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with music ending promptly at 11:00. Guests seeking a quieter atmosphere on these nights can request rooms farther from the pizzeria area.

Paths are minimally lit at night to preserve the natural environment, so we recommend bringing a flashlight.

Practical Information:
* Check-in: from 12:00
* Check-out: before 11:00
* Reception: 6:00–22:00
* No curfew
* Payment: cash, credit/debit cards, PayPal, or Wise (property may pre-authorize cards)
* Breakfast: not included; available for about $4 per person per day