Where to Stay on Ometepe
We live here, so we get asked this every day. The honest answer: it depends on your budget and the level of comfort you are after. Here are the places we genuinely recommend, some right by the school and some around the Maderas side of the island (the place to be!) Either way, we highly recommend renting a scooter or a quad, as the island is hard to get around without one.
Close to the school
Right in front of the beach, nice and clean, with dorms and private rooms with or without bathroom at reasonable prices. It's a quite and relaxed place and the closest of the beachfront options to the school. You cannot book online, but message us and we will send you their WhatsApp.
Basic and friendly, right across the street from the beach and the second closest place to the school. Perfect if you want to roll out of bed and onto the water. On Saturday's the local market selling food options and artisanal creations takes place right on the hotel's footsteps.
Clean private rooms (some with air conditioning), a shared kitchen if you like to cook, and stunning volcano Conception views from the terrace. A little further up from the beach but still an easy walk.
The upscale option near the school, right on the beach. Lovely rooms and cabins, a spacious garden full of hammocks, and a nice restaurant for breakfast and beyond. Quiet and peaceful, perfect to unwind after a day on the water. Two minutes by scooter from the school.
Around the island - budget friendly options
Awesome little cabins and a brand new dorm right on the water with beautiful sunsets and a view of Concepción volcano. Very nice rooms at good prices (showers and toilets outside), right next to Playa Mangos with its restaurant and bar. On the other side of the island but only about 15 minutes by scooter. Highly recommend.
Originally a bar with a freshwater pool, Raindance now also offers reasonably priced dorms and private rooms. If you want a lively atmosphere, this is the place; their weekly Wet Wednesdays parties are pretty epic. A younger crowd, but most travellers on the island stop by at least once for the amazing burgers, a swim, or an evening cocktail.
A lively hostel and permaculture farm with a big territory on the Maderas side. Pizza nights and fire shows a couple of times a week, proper backpacker vibes. Expect a bit of an uphill walk when you get dropped off.
A small, quiet hostel on the slopes of Maderas volcano in Balgüe (popular area for restaurants) run by lovely owners who keep it spotless. Not a party place; this is where you go to relax, meet fellow travellers and eat one of the best breakfasts on the island. One of the best budget friendly options on the island.
A colourful, laid-back, locally owned hostel in Balgüe, a few minutes from the water. Dorms and private rooms on the basic side but clean, with a pool table, a bar, a great breakfast and scooter rental on site. Easy-going island vibes at backpacker prices.
Around the island - upscale "eco-luxury"
Dorms, glamping and luxury private rooms with unbeatable lake views. On the pricier side but worth it if you want something more upscale. Their restaurant and cacao bar are a treat: smoothies, brownies and everything else made from their locally grown cacao. They also have a weekly events schedule with yoga, dancing, breathwork, cacao tours and ceremonies.
Barefoot luxury in the jungle on the slopes of Maderas: treehouses and beautiful guesthouses hidden in the greenery, complete with a delicious breakfast and restaurant for dinner, and some of the best cocktails on Ometepe. One of the most special places to stay on the island if you want to treat yourself.
A small boutique guesthouse located higher up the Maderas volcano, with just a handful of beautifully finished rooms and apartments. Peaceful, sustainable and comfortable, ideal if you want an off-grid feeling without giving up the comforts. From their terrace, you have stunning sunset views of the volcano and Lake Nicaragua, perfect for relaxing after a da of kitesurfing. Book ahead, rooms are limited and it fills up fast.
A traditional, homestay-style spot in Mérida, a short walk from the lake shore with lovely sunset views. Garden, BBQ area and a genuinely local feel. A good pick if you want peace and authenticity on the quieter side of the island. The local owner is lovely and she makes amazing dinners upon request.