N Ometepe - Nicaragua
Vicki Skinner (aka "THE Sarong Goddess'") PHOTO and INFORMATION SITE on ISLA OMETEPE island, Nicaragua
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Ometepe/General
GETTING THERE:
Since it’s an island - of course you’ll be taking a boat!!! The most secure way to get there is on one of the 3 BIG Vehicle Ferry's (ESPECIALLY in the high winds season which can be as early as December till as late as March when you ESPECIALLY might not want to be going on the small boats as it can be VERY SCARY!!!! http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/ferryboat.php
Isla Ometepe is one of my FAVORITE PLACE to go on my 90 day Visa Run renewal from Costa Rica!! I've never lived so far from water than where I do in Costa Rica (Escazu/the Central Valley) so I've found if I'm doing a quickie 1-2 nighter, I'll take a much earlier bus to get me there early enough to take a boat over to Isla Ometepe, stay the night and catch an early boat back, run over to Rivas to the MEGA MEGA MEGA CHEAP pharmacy if needed and catch an early bus back to Costa Rica).
Isla de Ometepe is the largest island in Lago de Nicaragua • Lake Nicaragua (aka Lake Cocibolca), and at 276 square kilometers is the 20th largest lake in the world (I've seen it promoted as the 10th largest but that seems to be more from people promoting something there). The island was formed from 2 volcanoes joined together by a narrow strip of land. I feel Isla Ometepe is good for people like me that just want a place to chill for a bit near water but don’t want to be where it’s as hot as the beaches along the Pacific – OR – for the active person that’s into HIKING, KAYAKING+. Volcan Concepcion on the north side is the larger volcano at 1610m and is still “active” (with that said you do NOT see lava). The southern volcano - Volcan Maderas - is smaller, at 1394m and is dormant with a lake in the crater. Both the volcanoes can be climbed although you should go with a guide as paths are not clear. The island has a population of around 47,000, mostly making their living from fishing and agriculture, particularly plantains and now tobacco, rice and beans, sesame seeds (the only organic things grown are some coffee and cacoa) - and now expanded with Tourism. The island is a beautiful and peaceful place, particularly around the south side of Maderas where the roads are too bad for buses to run and there is nothing but tiny farms and villages set amongst the trees. There are plenty of activities available on the island as well as climbing the volcanoes. Bikes and horses can be rented to explore the island at your own pace and canopy tours are available near the Playa Santo Domingo. You can also visit the many prehistoric petroglyphs scattered around the island, particularly around the north side of Maderas. There are 2 main towns on the island, Moyogalpa on the west side of Volcano Concepcion (the main port where the ferries come from) and Altagracia on the east side. Ferries run from Moyogalpa every day to San Jorge, and from Altagracaia twice a week to Granada and San Carlos. Departure times vary so check at the dock. (Source: http://Travelstick-americas.com/central_america/nicaragua/ometepe_island/home.html) I’m Vicki Skinner and I live in Costa Rica. I’m an Information Junkie and love gathering and sharing information with people so I have created MANY Information Sites! WHERE IS ISLA OMETEPE? Ometepe is an island in the middle of Lake Cocibalca (aka Lake Nicaragua). It's the largest island in the world within a FRESH WATER lake.
WEBSITES ON ISLA OMETEPE:
• http://ViaNica.com/visit/ometepe
• http://VisitaOmetepe.com/welcome.html
• http://TourOmetepe.com
• http://OmetepeNicaragua.com http://ViaNica.com/visit/ometepe
http://www.facebook.com/VillaParaisoOmetepe/videos/1036523270180371
FACEBOOK PAGES:
• http://Facebook.com/pages/Isla-de-Ometepe/157213467624689 (has some GREAT pictures!!)
HOTELS:
• http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/hotels/index.php
VIDEOS: LIST OF VIDEOS:
• http://youtube.com/results?search_query=ometepeandoq=ometepeandgs_l=youtube-reduced.3...7467.7467.0.7793.1.1.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1ac
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=fKEwKGKO8Uo
GETTING TO/FROM ISLA OMETEPE:
First you get to get to Nicaragua (HOW TO CROSS THE BORDER BETWEEN COSTA RICA and NICARAGUA:
• http://CRNIBorderCrossing.info - much of these details is at - http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com but will be moving soon).
The main area/port to get the ferry’s to Isla Ometepe is SAN JORGE – just East of Rivas. To get to San Jorge you’d get off the bus, turn East (towards the lake/volcano’s) from RIVAS (the first “city” from the border of Costa Rica). At the port in San Jorge you catch the majority of the boats to Isla Ometepe. SAN JORGE The main port to depart from (with the most boats) is San Jorge – just East of Rivas. FYI – Are you in San Jorge and missed the last boat to Isla Ometepe (5:45pm) or need to catch an EARLY one? (or like me often – doing just an overnight Visa Run and need your water fix on a ferry to/from Isla Ometepe and back early enough to catch a morning bus back to Costa Rica!!) and need a place to stay in SAN JORGE?
Check out MY FAV place to stay there:
HOTEL HAMACAS and tell Caralia that Vicki Connected you!! Rooms with fan start at $27/1, $32/2. Air-conditioning - $37/1, $42/2. More info on Hamacas at - http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/Nicaragua-Misc
BEST BOAT SCHEDULE I’VE FOUND:
• http://OmetepeSecretAdventures.nicaturismo.com/Ometepe%20Boat%20and%20Ferry%20Schedules.html
• http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/ferryboat.php
There are a few boats that bring you to Ometepe from San Jorge. Each has a different price and owned by a different company.
Launches are the cheapest – BUT – not real good on a windy/rainy day as they also are the smallest. They definitely are the most adventurous ones!!
TRIP DURATION – 1 hour:
SAN JORGE – MOYOGALPA
• 7am Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-cordobas (around $2.50) (a medium ferry)
• 7:45am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
• 10:30am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
• 11am Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry)
• 12/noon - ? 12:30pm Santa Martha Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger)
• 1:30pm Karen Maria Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger)
• 2:30pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
• 3:30pm Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry)
• 4pm Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry)
• 4:30pm Launch -Santa Martha - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger)
• 5:45pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
MOYOGALPA - SAN JORGE (NOTE: Che Ferries depart from Left dock. “Launches” from Middle dock. Ferry Ometepe•Arcia Ferries – Right dock)
• 5:30am Karen Maria Launch – 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 6am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 6:30am Santa Martha Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 7am Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry) - Middle Dock
• 9am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 11am Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-cordobas (around $2.50) (a medium ferry) - Left Dock
• 11:30am Karen Maria Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 12:30pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 1pm Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry) - Middle Dock
• 3pm Santa Martha Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 4pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 5:30pm (Saturday and Sunday 5pm) - Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-cordobas (around $2.50) (a medium ferry) – Left Dock
CAR FERRY BOAT TO ISLA OMETEPE BRINGING A CAR: “Ferry Ometepe” vis Empresa Turistica (“Milton Arcia?”) does the Car Ferry bringing vehicles onto Isla Ometepe. Advanced Reservations are REQUIRED and can be full days in advance – even in low season and ESPECIALLY in Peak Season – Christmas-Easter/Samana Sante and June-Aug. and Nicaraguan Holidays – especially Mothers Day).
PRICE: Vehicle Price is around 620-cordobas/$31 plus you pay for each person as well (60-c/$3ish).
RESERVATIONS: San Jorge - 8-691-3669 • 8-926-2196 • 2-552-8745 • 2-569-4284. Managua - 2-277-5354 • 2-278-8180 Managua
DEPARTS SAN JORGE for Ometepe/Moyogalpa:
• 7:45am
• 10:30am
• 2:30pm
• 5:45pm.
RETURNS FROM OMETEPE/Moyogalpa for San Jorge:
• 6am
• 9am
• 12:30pm
• 4pm
SAN JORGE TO SAN JOSE DEL SUR (this port is best if you are staying OUTSIDE of Moyogalpa) San Jorge to San Jose del Sur Rey del Cocbolca
• 9:30am Launch
• 10:30am Rey del Cocbolca –
• 5pm Launch
• 5:30pm
San Jose to San Jorge Launch:
• 5:30am Rey del Cocbolca
• 7:30am Launch
• 1:30pm Rey del Cocibolca
• 3:20pm
GRANADA to/from ALTAGRACIA-Isla Ometepe http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/ferryboat.php#altagracia (making stopovers in Morrito and San Miguelito on the northern short of Lake Nicaragua) This boat leaves only 2 times a week and is not as reliable as the boats from San Jorge and their port is on the north side of the island in Altagracia (not easy to get to/from there and an expensive taxi ride). They come from/continue on to San Carlos in Costa Rica.
RESERVATIONS: National Port Company (EPN) – 2-552-2966 • 2-552-6618 • PuertoLaCustre@epn.com.ni Granada – Altagracia – San Carlos, Costa Rica - Monday and Thursday - 2pm (arriving at 6pm) San Carlos, Costa Rica - Altagracia - Granada - Wed. and Sat. 12:30am (YES – a.m.!)
COST: Upper Deck - 50-c/$2.80ish, Lower Deck - 25-c $1.40ish (I’ve also seen 90-c (around $4.50ish).
DURATION: 4 hours. SAN CARLOS, Costa Rica San Carlos to Altagracia - Tuesday and Friday - 2pm (I've also seen 3pm?) (arriving at MIDNIGHT) Altagracia - San Carlos - Mon. and Thurs. 7:30pm (I've seen something about a ferry at midnight??)
DURATION: 9 hours. COST: Upper/1st Class Deck - 190-c, Lower/2nd Deck - 80-c (there are sleeping areas on the boat)
Buy your ticket BEFORE going on the boat. A 1st class ticket costs around $9 (double than a 2nd class ticket) and allows you to stay in the freezing A/C cabin and watch TV, or to hang your hammock (if you have one) in the 1st class deck. For the midnight ferry from Altagracia to Granada shared taxis pick up passengers at hotels in Altagracia at around 10:30pm. Coming from San Carlos you arrive at midnight (or often later) at the port of Altagracia where shared taxis wait for the passengers to bring them to hotels in Altagracia.
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GETTING AROUND:
From one end to the other (Moyogalpa to Altagracia) is 24km - only about 30-40 minutes driving, BUT ____ hours by walking/hiking. There are a few ways to get around Ometepe:
• BUS - (of course takes longer but they’re cheap with LIMITED SERVICE on Sunday. Not overly frequent).
Buses leave every hour from the docks or Moyogalpa to Balgüe Altagracia, Merida, Santo Domingo, Charco Verde, Timber+.
ALL buses go to AltaGracia FIRST – then branch off from there.
• Moyagalpa to AltaGracia (to Charco Verde [10c], - One bus every hour on the ½ hour – 5:30am to 6:30pm and 7pm. 16-c to 25-c.
• AltaGracia to Balgue - 5:30am, 11am, 4pm. Return – 6am, 1pm and 5:30pm = 10-25-c
• AltaGracia to Merida – 8am 2 go to Santa Cruz
• Moyagalpa to el Quino (to Oja de Agua) - and then take any bus that passes by to Merida or Balgue and walk 2km in.
• Moyagalpa to Santo Domingo and San Ramon - 5:30am goes to La Palma. 8:30am Moyagalpa to Santo Domingo and Balgue - 5:30am 10:30am and 4pm Moyagalpa to Santo Domingo and Merida (what you take for the Kayak tour) - 8am and 3pm. Returns at 3pm Merida to AltaGracia - 7am. Merida to Moyagalpa – 3pm. Moyagalpa to la Sabana to Alta Grecia - for Concepcion (about 2-1/2 km before AltaGracia) Moyagalpa to La Concha - 8am (the free/better entrance to Concepcion)
• MOTO TAXI – The FUNNEST and reasonably priced (can be ½ the price of a taxi!!! MY FAV driver is Anderson (8-441-8957 • KingPlayOnes@yahoo.es) (not sure if he'll remember me but tell him Vicki - the Big Red haired gal from Costa Rica Connected you!!! He speaks some English and is a sweetie [and cutie!!])
• TAXI - EXPENSIVE (about $25 to get from the Ferry Port to Santo Domingo)
• HITCH HIKE!!! Yes - I said Hitch Hike!! I had JUST missed the bus by 2 minutes and I needed to make the boat and there were no taxi's in site so I just stuck out my hand and a nice gentleman in a truck with his family in it pulled over and gave me a ride into town!! (I gave him the equivalent of $1 as a Thank you)
• Rent a MOPED or MOTORCYCLE - WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! Having been here MANY TIMES - I’ve met/known NUMEROUS people that rented mopeds or motorcycles and had some pretty serious accidents - often on areas on gravel roads - many of which forced them to stay in the area for at LEAST an extra week and mind you the hospital there is practically nonexistent). Recently 1 gal from Britain had an accident that hurt her - but WORSE - the motorcycle kept going and hit an old guy and injured him serious (I never did learn if he made it). She was arrested and they wouldn’t let her leave Nicaragua without paying $5,000 (I din’t know how much of that was to go to “whomever”) Maybe you do think you know how to ride, but are you experienced at dirt, gravel or sandy roads??
PLACES TO RENT MOTORCYCLES OR MOPEDS FROM - ROBINSON RENTALS (8-691-5044 • Robinson170884@gmail.com) Scooters ($30/day – 8am-5:30pm [24 hours +$10])
• Rent a QUAD ($70/day, $90/24 hours, $20/hour), Bikes (they have some of the newest bikes and the most bikes) - $5/day, Motorcycles (125cc - $25/day – 8am-5:30pm [24 hours +$10], 200cc - $30/$40). $50 deposit and license (for helmet and straps). Plus you pay the gas (which as of 11/9/12 was 160-c/liter ($7/gallon). YOU pay for any damage so take a BUNCH of videos/pictures before and after. LOCATION: end of street – turn right and it’s on the corner.
• HORSES
• WALKING (I BELIEVE to walk around the island takes about ___ hours)
• BIKE
• Rent a CAR to AltaGracia 25km (17km on UNpaved road), driving around 1-1/2 drive on unpaved.
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THINGS TO DO ON ISLA OMETEPE:
NOTE: I hear there can be a challenge with “No-See-Ums” (the little bugs that you cant see – I think they’re part of the mosquito family as you don’t see them biting you and often HOURS later you get the itching, bite marks – sometimes even welts and you may even think you had Bed Bugs – but – nope – it was just the “No-See-Ums”
• ****OJO DE AGUA**** - #1 MUST DO!!! A REALLY PRETTY LAGOON and the HIGHLIGHT of my trip August 2012!!! It is a natural spring of crystalline waters that emanate from the Tilgüe farm, located 100 meters toward the lake from the intersection of Puente/ Bridge rio Buen Suceso (Comarca Tilgue). Rustic facilities have been built on the farm, including pools, thatch-roof huts and hiking trails. Tracing the perimeter of the farm, the trails have soft ascents and descents and can be completed in about an hour, walking under a forest canopy inhabited by a family of howler monkeys.
• Horseback Riding to Ojo de Agua - $8-$10/hr. from hotels in Playa Santo Domingo. HOURS: 7am-6pm (but I hear there’s not usually anyone there after hours so sometimes people “sneak in” then).
ENTRANCE: When I went there August of ’12 I was charged $3.50 (though the sign out on the road says $3 and many places still have the old $1). November of ’12 - $3 (8-820-4499). http://OjoDeAguaOmetepe.com/2009/07/el-ojo-de-agua-finca-tilgue-ometepe.html / http://VisitaOmetepe.com/ojo2.htm • http://FincasVerdes.com/inf?tokem=19 HIRE A GUIDE NOTE ABOUT HIRING A GUIDE or DRIVER: If you hire a driver and part of that time includes lunchtime, you would typically invite the Guide or Driver to join you for lunch and you would pay for their food/drinks (do NOT encourage them to drink if they’re driving) plus you would give them a propina•tip (standard is 10-20%+ of the total bill). ARCELIA - OMETEPE SECRET ADVENTURES TOURS (8-205-6190 • http://OmetepeSecretAdventures.com • https://facebook.com/OmetepeEcoTours) MY # FAVORITE is the ONLY FEMALE guide on Ometepe (who happens to speak GOOD English) and is she a fireball!!! Arecelia leads you on hiking tours climbing up Volcan Concepcion and other things. She’s created her own EXCLUSIVE TOURS that are SPECIAL!! One leaves at 2pm, hikes part way up to Volcano Concepcion – drops your things off at the base (someone will stay with your things and set the camp up) then gets up to the ridge or Volcan Concepcion in time to watch the sunset on a SUNSET HIKE. You then stay the night (they provide the tents and sandwich dinner from the REALLY GOOD Corner House Restaurant!!) and get up MEGA early to hike up again for a SUNRISE HIKE = $75. Another of her EXCLUSIVE TOURS is a BIKE•HIKE. And another is a HIKE to a SECRET WATERFALL that hardly anyone knows about!!!! She can also lead you on the standard tours or book/reserve whatever tour you want (remember – she speaks good English so you can count on her being clear with you – something that doesn’t always happen – especially when there is a language challenge) – or you can hire her to accompany you on another tour that’s important to you but the guide does not speak English and you do not speak Spanish. November ‘12 we hired EDDY HERNANDEZ Aguirrez http://OmetepeTravel.com • 8-659-8979 • 8-695-9905 • Eddy_Hernandez@yahoo.es • Ometepedy@yahoo.es) who was recommended to us by the great staff at The Landing Hotel and Hostel where we stayed. He speaks some English and has a VAN!! He took us to the El Ceibo Coin•Numismatic Museum and the Archaeological•Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Oja de Agua, Santo Domingo for lunch at Finca Santo Domingo (the food was tasty and cheap – UNTIL we got our bill and even though we asked for separate checks, at first they tried to insist we pay by one bill and that bill they brought did NOT have each charge on it – just a total – we said “NO!” Then they came back giving us 2 checks – 2 for each “set” of people – except I only met these people the day before so it’s not like we were family – still withOUT the prices broken down – just the total. Only after I said I just met the people did they bring us separate checks and the price was marked up - ahhh – the Gringo Rate!! Because of that, I will not be going back to Finca Santo Domingo again!). Bull Shark Tours BullSharkTours@hotmail.com - All their 33 guides are legally licensened and trained PLUS they have some medical emergency training (CPR+) and most speak English plus some speak German and French. They can book or lead you on just about any tour on the island. Will – is THE BEST!! He speaks great English with very little accent – he knows the island THE BEST/MOST DETAILED - his BIGGEST passion are snakes (and scorpions, torantulas+ - http://WildWillLife.com)!!!! He’s the guide that guides aspire to be like and he’s only 30 years young!! Harold - 8-589-4373 • HaroldTijerino@yahoo.com – speaks good English and his passions are reptiles and orchids (I met him waiting for a boat to go to Ometepe when the winds/waves were high (tell him Vicki said “Hola”). LOCATED: Santo Domingo and AltaGracia Ugo - http://OmetepeGuides.com • 8-827-7714 • UgoOmetepe@yahoo.com - Full Day - $20/pp. ½ Day - $15/pp - drive around the island - or hike up to Volcano Concepsion. Norman, Louis and Martin also speak English. More Moyograpa Chico Largo BIKING (rent bikes in Mayogalpa) CHARCO VERDE NATURAL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/charco2.htm • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/maderas2.htm) - The closest nice beach (not a lot of beaches on Ometepe)? 13 km from Moyogalpa near San Jose del Sur with a protected area/natural park – RESERVA NATURAL CHARCO VERDE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE is open to the public. The reserve has a Green colored lagoon - Xistleteot (”Place where the Gods Pee”/ "where the gods make pis"), on 20 hectares, 1km private beaches - Playa Charco Verde and Playa el Bancon - Green Puddle Beach, Green Puddle Lagoon and El Bancon Beach. Around the lagoon, it is said the indigenous population practiced rituals such as sacrifices, reincarnations and supplications to the gods (Read the story about the local man once known as “Chico Large” and his practice of the “dark science”, witchcraft, reincarnation and transformations to animals). The Charco Verde lagoon is an extinct parasite crater of Concepción Volcano. Its characteristic emerald green color is caused by the abundant algae. There is a 1.7-kilometer easy / moderate path within the reserve. On the 1-hour hike, it is almost certain that you will see animals such as howler (congo) monkeys (best earlier in the day before all the human animals come out and scare them away), guatusas (Dasyprocta punctata), armadillos, rabbits, etc. It’s also a great place for BIRD WATCHING as you might see white herons, black herons, woodpeckers, magpies, night ducks, owls, fireflies, and sparrow hawks. RESERVE ENTRANCE: $1 FARM TOURS: Hacienda el Refugio (aka Tel Aviv Farm) is a working farm where you can also choose other COOL options to do like MILKING COWS – 120-c/$5 (approx.). CHEESE/QUESO MAKING (you get to make it and eat it!!) – 360-c/$15 (approx.). HORSEBACK RIDING – 168-c/$7 (appox). OXCART RIDE - $40/per hours for up to 4 people (hmmmm – perhaps if you have enough people/desire you can get them to do a NIGHT RIDE during a Full Moon???!!) . ENGLISH-SPEAKING TOUR GUIDES – Raul and Karla. Say “Hola! from Vicki” to LOCATION: 10 km from Moyogalpa (15 minutes driving or 20 minutes by bus. Note that you have to walk/drive 2km down a dirt road from the road) (8-874-8076 • MoisesGhitis@hotmail.com). LOCATION: On the grounds of El Ceibo Coin•Numismatic Museum and Archaeological Museum• Pre-Columbian art. HIKING: TO THE VOLCANOS VOLCAN MADERAS - the South Volcano. Over 200 petroglyphs have been inventoried here at the foot of Maderas Volcano. Easier to hike – but you don’t have the great view. BY LAW - you MUST hire a guide to lead you up the volcano!!!!! There’s a lagoon INSIDE of the crater which you get to walk 200 meters down into. It’s Primary Rain•Cloud Forest with 12 microclimates with LOTS of trees but sometimes in rainy season they can have mudslides. Leave the earlier the better – like 5am! 6km up and 6km down. If hiking Volcano Maderas, you want to stay the night in Santa Cruz. DURATION: about 4 hours up and 4 hours down. $25 (Spanish speaking guide, entrance fee, food and drinking water [English-speaking guide probably more]). ENTRANCE: $1 via el Porvenir. Enter through Magdalena $1.50 VOLCAN CONCEPCION - This is the “active” volcano with it’s last real BIG eruption back in 1957 and a smaller about 70 blips eruption in ’09 (so IF you happens to release any gas while you’re there, wet your shirt down and hold it up to your mouth, nose and eyes because the sulfur and other gases are VERY toxic and get the hell down as fast as you can go without running/hurting yourself and walk AGAINST the wind). Secondary Forest. You have forest to 1,000 meters elevation and rest is a red-ish volcanic rock (and no trees). AWESOME Views. It’s a MUCH more challenging hike up there and locals REALLY REALLY HIGHLY suggest you ONLY do it with a Local Tour Guide for numerous reasons! 8-1/2-km up (4 hours up) and 8-1/2 down (6 hours because it’s loose roccks). DURATION: 10 hours. ENTRANCE: $1.50 at la Sabana (la Concha – BEST entrance/trail and they don’t charge you). When it blows – it WILL effect within 10km – La Concha, AltaGracia, Moy, Urbite, San Jose del Sur (which will probably be the MOST effected) WATERFALL on Maderas Volcano – it’s 3/4-km hike from the entrance. It’s a harder walk to the 100 meter tall waterfall that turns into a rushing river (so there’s NO SWIMMING – just getting a shower from it). It’s REALLY BEAUTIFUL and has views of the lake and towards San Jorge/land. ENTRANCE: $3 (this information was provided to me by Harold with Bull Shark Tours) There is a SECRET WATERFALL that VERY FEW of the guides know about BUT - The San Ramon Waterfall is located 4 kms from San Ramon and you can continue on to Maderas Volcano from there. HORSEBACK RIDING: Hacienda el Refugio (aka Tel Aviv Farm [see “Farm Tour”]) - $7/hour Finca Playa Venecia Hotel - $5/hour - http://VisitaOmetepe.com/venecia2.htm KAYAKING: the Istian River / between the 2 volcanos - 5 hours Kayaking and Birding, Turtles and Caymen Tour! - $25/per person includes the guide and you get your own transportation there. I hear el Peru does THE BEST Kayaking tours. Transportation there is around $50 for 1-4 people with the driver waiting you.. Caballitos Mar MOPEDS: Transporte Turistico Ometepe – Richardo Rodriguez Barrios (8-921-2852) – 2 blocks South of Claro PERMACULTURE FARM Punta Jesus Maria - Josh says it’s a GOOD Vista – a little point on the volcano BioSphere RESERVE MUSEUMS El Ceibo Numismatic Museum - Collection of coins and paper money http://ElceiboMuseos.com • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/museo2.htm) PLUS the Archaeological Museum - the museum has 4 exposition halls (including upstairs) focusing on Pre-Columbian art, the island’s environment, ethnology and history and THIS one has AIR-CONDITIONING. NO wifi. PLUS – because it’s a working farm, you can also choose other COOL options like MILKING COWS – 120-c/$5 (approx.). CHEESE/QUESO MAKING (you get to make it and eat it!!) – 360-c/$15 (approx.). HORSEBACK RIDING – 168-c/$7 (appox). $40/per hours for up to 4 people. ENGLISH-SPEAKING TOUR GUIDES – Raul and Karla. Say “Hola! from Vicki” to them plus if you habla Español – say it to Sefora at the desk! LOCATION: at Hacienda el Refugio (aka Tel Aviv Farm) - 10 km from Moyogalpa (15 minutes driving or 20 minutes by bus. Note that you have to walk/drive 2km down a dirt road from the road) (8-874-8076 • MoisesGhitis@hotmail.com). HOURS (for BOTH museums): 9am-5pm EVERY day of the year!! Each tour takes about 20 minutes (depending on the size of the group and how many questions you have. ENTRANCE FOR MUSEUMS: 96-c 1 museum 96-c (approx.. $4). Both museums -144-c (approx. $6). LA MONTANA MOUNTAIN FARM - http://VillaParaiso.com.ni/fincafarm.php - COFFEE FIELDS TOUR - $10, Duration: 2-1/2 hours, 2 people min. PETROGLYPHS - Includes a guide who is an expert on petroglyphs (Prof. Hamilton Silva) - $10/ 2 people min. LOOKOUT - with an incredible view of the isthmus and Concepcion Volcano. $15, minimum 2 people. DURATION: 4 hours. AGRO TOUR: $5 includes a local guide with experience on local plants and farming. DURATION: 1-1/2 hours. COFFEE FIELDS and LOOKOUT: combined visit to the lookout in the morning and on the return trip visit the coffee fields or vice versa. Includes guide, drinking water, entrance fees and a taste of coffee. WATER SPORTS: It is somewhat limited on Isla Ometepe to mainly kayaking (see above “Kayaking”) MISC. NOTES IMPORTANT NOTE: BRING BUG SPRAY!!! On my November 2012 trip I DESPERATELY NEEDED it just in town with the No-See-Ums going to town on me!!! ESPECIALLY needed if you’re near the water or in coffee fields+. Also, I find in LOTS of Latin countries they MEGA use the chemical cleaning products so the cleaner a place is, the more chemicals you’ll smell. So if you’re chemical sensitive, you might want to make a reservation in advance and ask them NOT to use the chemicals (perhaps just vinegar if they have it) and even email them 1 and 2 days in advance and that morning. I’m NOT chemical sensitive but it OFTEN bothers me!!! I find this to be the same be it at a hostel or a 5-star resort!! So if you see a note that says CLEAN or VERY CLEAN – understand that just may be what it’s about! English is not as widely spoken in Nicaragua unless you have English speaking owners. HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR: Around Mid-May – especially between around 10am to 2-3pm. WINDIEST TIME OF THE YEAR: December to February (especially January and February) (what this means is you can sometimes get such high whitecaps on the lake that boats [especially the smaller/non-ferry ones] may not go for a day or 2 or . . .) @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ BANKING and ATM MACHINES i When I was on Isla Ometepe on my Visa Run from Costa Rica in May '12 there were 4 banks - 3 located on the main street up from the port about 3-5 blocks. One located one block off the main street on a side street. Below I put them in order from the port. ONLY HAVE A MASTERCARD? NOTE that ONLY the atm that is furthest from the port accepted my MasterCard Debit card was Banco ProCredit. Banco Lafise BanCentro (ATM had a GREAT FREEZING Air-Conditioned room!!! ATM 24/7. Bank Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Saturday 8am-noon. Banco ProCredit (I think this ATM was also air-conditioned!!!!). They charge $3 atm withdraw fee. Bank Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Saturday 8:30am-noon. BAC/Credimatico They charge $3 atm withdraw fee. I also think this ATM was NOT air-conditioned). Bank Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Saturday 8:30am-noon. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ AREAS When you first arrive onto Ometepe, directly in front of you is Concepcion Volcano and the small port town of Moyogalpa which is the largest “city” on the island with many little hotels/BandB’s/hostels, restaurants, etc. and the only place you’ll find ATM cash machines. CLOSEST BEACH to MAYOGALPA - Punto Jesus Maria is about a 45-60 minute walk there from town. Go to the end of the road and turn Right . Go past the new airport landing strip and turn Right at the first street (there should be a little sign) – walk down about 1km down the dirt road and there it is. WARNING – there is HIGH currents here so you might not want to swim there – just go chill and enjoy a Victoria or Toña cervesa/beer. (Herve Flores shared some of this with me - he’s from Ometepe) MOYOGALPA (closest to the port) PLACES TO STAY CORNERHOUSE BandB, Restaurant and Coffee Shop (2-569-4212 / 8-755-7480 / http://TheCornerHouseOmetepe.com / http://facebook.com/pages/The-Cornerhouse-Ometepe/170727402973616 / http://tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1443289-d1910824-Reviews-The_Cornerhouse-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / http://youtube.com/watch?v=lOCqRdXQw1A ) Double/Full/Matromonial or Queen bed (one room also has a Twin/Individual), fan and private bathroom no hot water. Only drawback - on main street so bring your earplugs. WiFi in common area. Only 4 rooms so no reservations. COOL "CornerShop" has all sorts of locally made products!!! CAFE has healthy home-style food including great sandwiches made with fresh homemade bread, SMOOTHIES, ORGANIC SALADS, VEGETARIAN choices, homemade GRANOLA, special VEGAN PASTRIES!!!! ESPRESSO MACHINE!!! Restaurant open to the public and MANY people seem to RAVE about it!!! HOURS: Monday-Saturday - 7am-5pm. (night watchman after 6:30pm). RATES: $20/1, $30/2, $40/3 INCLUDES full Breakfast (choose from their menu or choose instead to do a takeaway lunch [including a blended smoothie or espresso coffee]). OWNERS: Gary and Laura (British/Canadian) are socially responsible. Tell Laura “HI!” from Vicki in Costa Rica! AMERICAN HOTEL and CAFE (8-645-7193 / 8-650-4069 / http://AmericanCafeAndHotel.com / http://youtube.com/watch?v=mTlpXeQ-SZ0 / http://Escapethatcube.com/2011/01/04/the-american-cafe-hotel-on-isla-ometepe-nicaragua / SimoneSantelli14@gmail.com ) The American Hotel is just 2 blocks from the ferry docks. It’s a very stark/basic white looking building from outside. The rooms seem to be the largest in Moyogalpa, clean, in back of the restaurant - so quieter than most, airy (I’ve heard mixed on how hot it gets in the rooms. Josh said he had 3 fans). They have just 5 rooms (so because of all the positive reviews on Trip Advisors+, they often booked), 1 room with A/C with D only + $10, nice LARGE ULTRA CLEAN rooms (VERY white though) and NICE HOT WATER. Drawback for some - NO internet or WiFi. They have a RESTAURANT and I consistently hear people RAVING about Simone cooking (being Italian she specializes in Italiano) and she makes REALLY TASTY desserts especially CHOCOLATE CAKE, key lime pie, mango pie and great banana smoothies and other food (MANY said it was the BEST on the island). RESTAURANT HOURS: Daily - 7am-4pm. (THANX for turning me onto this place Josh) RATES: $20/1, $30/2 - $35/2 people if 2 beds. 1 room with 3 D/D/D - $45. (note - they're one of the most popular places so not always easy to get in [I've tried 2 times and they were full]) OWNERS: Robert and Simone (she's Italian), are REALLY nice! Tell Simone “HI!” from Vicki in Costa Rica! The LANDING HOTEL, HOSTEL and RESTAURANT•BAR (2-569-4113 • http://Facebook.com/TheLandingHotelOmetepeIslandNicaragua / http://TheLandingHotel.com / http://tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1443289-d1940074-Reviews-The_Landing_Hotel-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / TheLandingHotel@gmail.com • info@TheLandingHotel.com ) The Landings is the first hotel you come to up from the ferry - on your Left. It’s an eclectic mix of backpacker basics and casual elegance. The restaurant bar is a VERY elegant space (especially for Nicaragua)!! On the 3rd floor lounge is a big open space that has a bunch of hammocks (sadly you can no longer rent them to sleep – especially boo for those hotter nights) with a view of Concepcion Volcano and the lake. FREE WiFi (it worked in my room upstairs but doesn't in the nicer front room #4 but there are chairs on the hall balcony. GOOD restaurant/bar, fresh local food, smoothies and juices, espresso coffee. I have stayed here in a Private Room and found the bed was comfy and the fan worked good enough for me! No hot water. Nice Garden in the back. RATES/ROOMS: Private Room - with full size bed or a bunk bed with double on the bottom and twin on top and private bathroom - $15/1, $20/2. Apartment - $30/2 with private bathroom (+$5 with A/C). Cabina - A/C with an open-air sala, a romantic private dining area, queen bed and private bath - $40/2 (+$5 with A/C)(sometime they'll give 10% off in low season or a longer stay). Really Small Dormitory rooms with 6 beds and not much ventilation ($6 - +$1 for sheets and +$1 for towel). Rent you one of our kayaks (guests get 1 hour FREE). OWNER: American John Tansey (please make sure to tell him Vicki - the big red-head gringa from Costa Rica told you about his place!!). Tell John “HI!” from Vicki in Costa Rica! yessenia LOCATION: 1st hotel on the left of the ferry. Hospedaje SOMA http://facebook.com/hotel.ometepe.nicaragua / http://HospedaJeSoma.com / http://HospedaJeSoma.com.blogspot.com / http://Facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150796526755764.389956.82267060763andtype=3 / http://tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1443289-d1657248-Reviews-Hospedaje_Soma-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / HospedaJeSoma@gmail.com) Outside of town, cabinas, hostel. Spacious rooms some with private bathrooms (NO hot water). After you get off the dock at Moyogalpa it's a 10 minute walk going straight until the church, then turn left (I saw somewhere else you go Right???). Once you make that right you will walk about another 5 mins. Once you hit a dirt road it is not far away, located on the left side of the road. Because it is out of the town a bit it is super quiet. Honor-system fridge with beer, water and munchies. Optional Family-style dinners served at 7pm and I hear the lasagna is great. Beautiful gardens with hammocks. NO A/C. WiFi in rooms!!! Breakfast included. OWNER: Zkinny (German). Manager - Sven. RATES: Dorms - $7pp. Private Room - Shared Bath - $22. Private Bath - $29. Cabin - Private Bath - $40. Private Bath and A/C - $50. Hotelito Aly and Restaurant http://HotelitoAly.com / http://tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1443289-d1784014-Reviews-Hotelito_Y_Restaurante_Aly-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / 2-569-4196 / 8-906-6322 / 8-686-0830 / HotelitoAly@yahoo.com) 16 rooms, newer 2nd floor with VOLCANO VIEW from some rooms. OWNER – Melania. MANAGER - Yazzin “Aly” Avellàn (8-498-5014 / Yazzeau@hotmail.com). RATES: $7/1 w/Fan, $10/1, TV/bathroom/fan. Quad/"Family" Room - $50 (holds 4, A/C, TV, Private Bathroom). Family Room (holds 6, A/C, TV, Private Bathroom – tax INCLUDED). LOCATION: On Calle Principal / Main St. 150 mts. from the port on Left Hotel Familiar and Los Ranchitos (2-569-4240) The corridors of this place are dark and dank, but rooms are clean. Extremely clean. But despite their enthusiasm for sanitation, you can't help but question how they justify charging $10 for the same standard, fan-rooms that are found across town for half the price. COST: $10-$20/n (hotel and breakfast) - near port. Yogi’s Hostel - Robinson - Hotel Ometepetl (2-569-4276) Closest Hotel to port, MEGA chemical cleaning smells but it was clean, no hot water, strong mold smell, i've heard the tv is not cable to no clear channels - especially in English. RATES: $25-fan, $30-w/AC breakfast included If they are full the hotel across the street with the beautiful garden is owned by a English speaking Nica. RESTAURANTS: CORNERHOUSE - REALLY GOOD healthy organic breakfasts and lunches. Upper Moderate prices. AMERICAN Hotel - Awesome CHOCOLATE CAKE and great banana smoothies. LANDING Hotel CHIDO’S PIZZA - Josh said it’s REALLY GOOD and he’s PICKY!! Restaurant Bahia Mar Dulce - You must have cena at the about 2 blocks up the hill. Outstanding food, reasonable price, English speaking lady just moved from CR. MADRONAL Zopilote - Sustainable Farm near Maderas – one of the cheapest places to stay – 2km East of Santa Cruz – close to Volcan Madera. ****SAN JOSE DEL SUR!!!!!***** GETTING THERE: BOAT - from the Mainland - There is one boat a day that comes to this area San Jorge at 3:30pm. It returns from SJDS to SJ at 3:20pm. BUS FROM MAYOGAPO – It’s about a $20-$25 taxi ride there BUT, I like taking I hear from this area you can embark on a 3 hour Walking Tour, or a 1-½ hour Horseback Riding Tour to el Mirador del Diablo. NOTE if busing it - all of these properties require a GOOD mile+ long walk on an uneven dirt road to get to them (which can be in the rain or mud or heat). WHERE TO STAY: CHICO LARGO!! 8-473-7210 • 8-886-4069 • ChicoLargo@FincasVerdes.com I LOVE staying at Chico Large!! Such a deal!! I paid $15/n for a sweet little cabin that LITERALLY LAKEFRONT - at the lakes edge (I think it was #4)!!! The walls and ceiling were made out of bamboo. The also have CAMPING here for like $7 or so and Cold water showers only. I LOVED their Pancakes!! Finca Playa Venecia Hotel http://FincaVenecia.com/english • http://FincasVerdes.com/inf?tokem=18 • 409-1486 • 887-0191 • 872-7668 • HotelFincaVenecia@yahoo.com • http://TripAdvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g304024-d944706-Reviews-Finca_Playa_Venecia-Isla_de_Ometepe.html) LAKEFRONT. Began as a tobacco and cattle farm – now an eco-tourism activity hotel with 22 Rooms, WiFi, Internet Café, Restaurant (7:30am-7:30pm. Breakfast $1.50-$3.50. Lunch/Dinner $3-$8+), Bar (7:30am-10pm includes Italian and Chilean Wines), horse back riding/stables, cattle, basic grains, organic fertilizers and the famous pictures legend of Chico Largo; part of our Charco Verde lagoon history. VERY CLEAN (strong cleaning smell), RATES: Standard Double Room with Fan - $25/2. Standard room with 3 Twin beds, Fan - $27/1. Room with Individual Bed and Fan - $7. Cabin for 5 with porch, fan - $40 (+$10 with A/C). Room NOT lakefront, porch, NO A/C - $30/2 ($45 WITH A/C). LAKEFRONT - Triple cabin with NO A/C (3-5 people) - $40 ($50 WITH A/C). LAKEFRONT - Double Cabin, NO A/C - $35/2 ($50 WITH A/C). All +Tax Charco Verde http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm • 8-887-9302 • 8-740-6249 • CharcoVerde22@yahoo.es) - http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm The closest nice beach (not a lot of beaches on Ometepe)? 13 km from Moyogalpa near San Jose del Sur with a protected area/natural park – RESERVA NATURAL CHARCO VERDE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE is open to the public for just $1. The reserve has a Green colored lagoon - Xistleteot (”Place where the Gods Pee”), on 20 hectares, 1km private beaches - Playa Charco Verde and Playa el Bancon. Around the lagoon, the indigenous population practiced rituals such as sacrifices, reincarnations and supplications to the gods. The Charco Verde lagoon is an extinct parasite crater of Concepción Volcano. Its characteristic emerald green color is caused by the abundant algae. There is a 1.7-kilometer easy / moderate path within the reserve. On the one-hour hike, it is almost certain that you will see animals such as howler (congo) monkeys, guatusas (Dasyprocta punctata), armadillos, rabbits, etc. http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/charco2.htm / http://VisitaOmetepe.com/maderas2.htm Hotel Playa Santa Martha http://PlayaSantaMartha.com • 8-330-0165-bar • 8-732-1243-restaurant • info@HotelPlayaSantaMartha.com) - A 20 minute walk to Chaco Verde HPSM is 400 meters/4 blocks South of the lake???? HORSEBACK RIDING - 8-949-5218 SANTA CRUZ or nearby (closest to Volcan Madera) Santa Cruz Hotel and Hostel - $7-$25. Little Morgan - $8-$50. Zopilote - $3-hammock to $15. Hotel Istian - $7-$25. Finca Verde - $45-$80. Casa el Sol, - $ Las Brisas. SANTO DOMINGO I’ve read that it has white sandy beaches and the sand goes out and is shallow so you can walk WAYYYY out there – BUT, the 2 times I’ve been there the tide/water line was a HIGH and because it’s the WINDIEST place on the island – it was MEGA White Caps. GETTING THERE: It’s WAYYYY on the other side so you can either take a $25 taxi ride - OR - take that Moto Taxi for LOTS less - OR - the bus goes from the ferry port to the end near the entrance into SD and you walk about 1/2 km. PLACES TO STAY: VILLA PARAISO (2-569-4859 / 2-569-4858 / 2-563-4675 / http://VillaParaiso.com.ni / Ometepe@VillaParaiso.com.ni) - BEST on Ometepe (though some rooms are quite rusticy [hence their price])!!! ON the Beach! Restaurant and Bar($5-$14), 25 rooms. RATES: Basic Room - Fan, Private bath with HOT WATER, common terrace with lake view - $29/2. Economy Cabin - A/C, 2 beds, TV, Private Bath (NO hot water), terrace with hammock - $48/2-3. Triple Cabin - 3 beds, tv, private bath with NO hot water, A/C, Terrace with hammock - $59/3-4. Standard Cabin - Cabin with Private Bathroom with HOT WATER, A/C, TV, 2 beds, terrace with hammock - $58/2. Suite - Cabin with A/C, satellite TV, minifridge, Private Bath with HOT WATER, beautiful terrace with hammock and lake view - $73/2. Family Suite - A/C, Fan, satellite TV, 3 beds, Private Bath with HOT WATER, terrace with hammock - $75/4. PLACES TO (NOT to) EAT: Finca Santo Domingo – On the lake and the food was tasty and according to the menu – it was cheap – UNTIL we got our bill!!! And even though we asked for separate checks, at first they tried to insist we pay by one bill and that bill they brought did NOT have each charge on it – just a total – we said “NO!” Then they came back giving us 2 checks – 2 for each “set” of people – except I only met these people the day before so it’s not like we were family – still withOUT the prices broken down – just the total. Only after I said I just met the people did they bring us separate checks and the price was marked up - ahhh – the Gringo Rate!! Because of that, I will not be going back to Finca Santo Domingo again! SAN RAMON REALLY NICE - but BADDDDD roads PLACES TO STAY: Hotel San Ramon - A GOOD place to look for a tour guide to take you up the volcano. ALTAGRACIAS http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/altagracia/index.php Located on the NorthEast slope of the volcano Concepcion, Altagracia is the most charming village on Ometepe and the second largest village on Ometepe. 4 miles North of the center is “Port of Grace” where the boats from Granada and San Carlos arrive/depart two times a week each. Buses don’t come around the island real frequently. This is also an alternative way to get to Isla Ometepe from Costa Rica as you can take a boat (just 2 days a week) from San Carlos to AltaGracia or the overnight to Granada (leaves at 12/midnight – arriving around 5am)!! MAP: http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/altagracia/altagracia.php RESTAURANTS: Los Bocaditos, Nicarao, Pizzeria, Bar Alexander, Café and Snack, Tito’s Bar Hotel Castillo (2-552-8744 / HotelCastillo@hotmail.com) - First hotel on Ometepe, restaurant. COST: $10/1, $10/2, $10/2 w/fan and private bathroom, $30/2 w/A/C and private bathroom. LOCATION: 1 block South and 1/2 block West of the catholic church Posada Cabrera Hotel Kencho Hotel Central - 3 blocks up Banco ProCredit R- 100 meters on Right white Hospedaje Ortiz Hotel Tagüizapa @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ VICKI'S VARIOUS NICARAGUA PHOTO and
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VICKI'S VARIOUS NICARAGUA PHOTO SITES:
INFORMATION SITES: CROSSING THE BORDER - a "Step-By-Step Guide to the Costa Rica and Nicaragua Border Crossing" (in transition)
• NicaraguaInfoList.com (a link to all my Photo and Info Sites)
CROSSING THE BORDER between Costa Rica and Nicaragua
(a Step-By-Step Guide to help make your Border Run between Costa Rica and Nicaragua Easier (in transition)
http://SanJuanDelsSurNi.com/GETTING_THERE.html
http://CRNIBorderCrossing.com
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/BorderCrossing/CR-NI-BorderCrossing
http://CostaRicaNicaraguaVisaRuns.info
SAN JUAN DEL SUR:
• http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com
http://facebook.com/SanJuanDelSurNI
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/SanJuanDelSurNi
• ACCOMMODATIONS - http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/SJDSNi-Accommodations
• EATS•RESTAURANTS - http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/SanJuanDelSurNI-Eats
• SUNSETS - http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/Sunsets
PICTURES:
http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSurNicaragua
http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSurNI-Feb13
http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSur-Nicaragua-Feb-23
ISLA OMETEPE
http://www.Saronggoddess.com/Travel/IslaOmetepe-Nicaragua
MANAGUA:
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Managua
RIVAS
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Rivas1/RIVAS-Nicaragua
GRANADA:
http://GranadaNI.info
SAN JORGE
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Rivas1/SanJorgeNicaragua
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COSTA RICA - NICARAGUA BORDER CROSSING: http://CRNIBorderCrossing.com http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com/GETTING_THERE.html PHOTOS: http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/CR-NI-BorderCrossing SAN JUAN DEL SUR http://facebook.com/SanJuanDelSurNI http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com SJDS PHOTOS: http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSur-Nicaragua ISLA OMETEPE http://IslaOmetepeNI.com PHOTOS: http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/IslaOmetepe-Nicaragua
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Info provided for by VICKI SKINNER (aka “THE Sarong Goddess”)
http://LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com • http://LovingYourPetHouseSitting.com • http://TourismFacebookMarketing.com
Costa Rica - (506) 8-378-6679 • U.S. #: 1-941-312-7569 • Skype: VallartaVicki • SarongGoddess@gmail.com .
Read Morehttp://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Ometepe/General
GETTING THERE:
Since it’s an island - of course you’ll be taking a boat!!! The most secure way to get there is on one of the 3 BIG Vehicle Ferry's (ESPECIALLY in the high winds season which can be as early as December till as late as March when you ESPECIALLY might not want to be going on the small boats as it can be VERY SCARY!!!! http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/ferryboat.php
Isla Ometepe is one of my FAVORITE PLACE to go on my 90 day Visa Run renewal from Costa Rica!! I've never lived so far from water than where I do in Costa Rica (Escazu/the Central Valley) so I've found if I'm doing a quickie 1-2 nighter, I'll take a much earlier bus to get me there early enough to take a boat over to Isla Ometepe, stay the night and catch an early boat back, run over to Rivas to the MEGA MEGA MEGA CHEAP pharmacy if needed and catch an early bus back to Costa Rica).
Isla de Ometepe is the largest island in Lago de Nicaragua • Lake Nicaragua (aka Lake Cocibolca), and at 276 square kilometers is the 20th largest lake in the world (I've seen it promoted as the 10th largest but that seems to be more from people promoting something there). The island was formed from 2 volcanoes joined together by a narrow strip of land. I feel Isla Ometepe is good for people like me that just want a place to chill for a bit near water but don’t want to be where it’s as hot as the beaches along the Pacific – OR – for the active person that’s into HIKING, KAYAKING+. Volcan Concepcion on the north side is the larger volcano at 1610m and is still “active” (with that said you do NOT see lava). The southern volcano - Volcan Maderas - is smaller, at 1394m and is dormant with a lake in the crater. Both the volcanoes can be climbed although you should go with a guide as paths are not clear. The island has a population of around 47,000, mostly making their living from fishing and agriculture, particularly plantains and now tobacco, rice and beans, sesame seeds (the only organic things grown are some coffee and cacoa) - and now expanded with Tourism. The island is a beautiful and peaceful place, particularly around the south side of Maderas where the roads are too bad for buses to run and there is nothing but tiny farms and villages set amongst the trees. There are plenty of activities available on the island as well as climbing the volcanoes. Bikes and horses can be rented to explore the island at your own pace and canopy tours are available near the Playa Santo Domingo. You can also visit the many prehistoric petroglyphs scattered around the island, particularly around the north side of Maderas. There are 2 main towns on the island, Moyogalpa on the west side of Volcano Concepcion (the main port where the ferries come from) and Altagracia on the east side. Ferries run from Moyogalpa every day to San Jorge, and from Altagracaia twice a week to Granada and San Carlos. Departure times vary so check at the dock. (Source: http://Travelstick-americas.com/central_america/nicaragua/ometepe_island/home.html) I’m Vicki Skinner and I live in Costa Rica. I’m an Information Junkie and love gathering and sharing information with people so I have created MANY Information Sites! WHERE IS ISLA OMETEPE? Ometepe is an island in the middle of Lake Cocibalca (aka Lake Nicaragua). It's the largest island in the world within a FRESH WATER lake.
WEBSITES ON ISLA OMETEPE:
• http://ViaNica.com/visit/ometepe
• http://VisitaOmetepe.com/welcome.html
• http://TourOmetepe.com
• http://OmetepeNicaragua.com http://ViaNica.com/visit/ometepe
http://www.facebook.com/VillaParaisoOmetepe/videos/1036523270180371
FACEBOOK PAGES:
• http://Facebook.com/pages/Isla-de-Ometepe/157213467624689 (has some GREAT pictures!!)
HOTELS:
• http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/hotels/index.php
VIDEOS: LIST OF VIDEOS:
• http://youtube.com/results?search_query=ometepeandoq=ometepeandgs_l=youtube-reduced.3...7467.7467.0.7793.1.1.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1ac
• http://youtube.com/watch?v=fKEwKGKO8Uo
GETTING TO/FROM ISLA OMETEPE:
First you get to get to Nicaragua (HOW TO CROSS THE BORDER BETWEEN COSTA RICA and NICARAGUA:
• http://CRNIBorderCrossing.info - much of these details is at - http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com but will be moving soon).
The main area/port to get the ferry’s to Isla Ometepe is SAN JORGE – just East of Rivas. To get to San Jorge you’d get off the bus, turn East (towards the lake/volcano’s) from RIVAS (the first “city” from the border of Costa Rica). At the port in San Jorge you catch the majority of the boats to Isla Ometepe. SAN JORGE The main port to depart from (with the most boats) is San Jorge – just East of Rivas. FYI – Are you in San Jorge and missed the last boat to Isla Ometepe (5:45pm) or need to catch an EARLY one? (or like me often – doing just an overnight Visa Run and need your water fix on a ferry to/from Isla Ometepe and back early enough to catch a morning bus back to Costa Rica!!) and need a place to stay in SAN JORGE?
Check out MY FAV place to stay there:
HOTEL HAMACAS and tell Caralia that Vicki Connected you!! Rooms with fan start at $27/1, $32/2. Air-conditioning - $37/1, $42/2. More info on Hamacas at - http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/Nicaragua-Misc
BEST BOAT SCHEDULE I’VE FOUND:
• http://OmetepeSecretAdventures.nicaturismo.com/Ometepe%20Boat%20and%20Ferry%20Schedules.html
• http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/ferryboat.php
There are a few boats that bring you to Ometepe from San Jorge. Each has a different price and owned by a different company.
Launches are the cheapest – BUT – not real good on a windy/rainy day as they also are the smallest. They definitely are the most adventurous ones!!
TRIP DURATION – 1 hour:
SAN JORGE – MOYOGALPA
• 7am Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-cordobas (around $2.50) (a medium ferry)
• 7:45am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
• 10:30am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
• 11am Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry)
• 12/noon - ? 12:30pm Santa Martha Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger)
• 1:30pm Karen Maria Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger)
• 2:30pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
• 3:30pm Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry)
• 4pm Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry)
• 4:30pm Launch -Santa Martha - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger)
• 5:45pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry)
MOYOGALPA - SAN JORGE (NOTE: Che Ferries depart from Left dock. “Launches” from Middle dock. Ferry Ometepe•Arcia Ferries – Right dock)
• 5:30am Karen Maria Launch – 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 6am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 6:30am Santa Martha Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 7am Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry) - Middle Dock
• 9am Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 11am Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-cordobas (around $2.50) (a medium ferry) - Left Dock
• 11:30am Karen Maria Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 12:30pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 1pm Estrella del Sur Launch - 45-c/$2.25-ish (medium car ferry) - Middle Dock
• 3pm Santa Martha Launch - 35-c/$1.75 (passenger) - Middle Dock
• 4pm Ferry Ometepe - Arcia - 70-c/$3.50-ish (large car ferry) - Right Dock
• 5:30pm (Saturday and Sunday 5pm) - Ferry El Che (Guevara?) - 50-cordobas (around $2.50) (a medium ferry) – Left Dock
CAR FERRY BOAT TO ISLA OMETEPE BRINGING A CAR: “Ferry Ometepe” vis Empresa Turistica (“Milton Arcia?”) does the Car Ferry bringing vehicles onto Isla Ometepe. Advanced Reservations are REQUIRED and can be full days in advance – even in low season and ESPECIALLY in Peak Season – Christmas-Easter/Samana Sante and June-Aug. and Nicaraguan Holidays – especially Mothers Day).
PRICE: Vehicle Price is around 620-cordobas/$31 plus you pay for each person as well (60-c/$3ish).
RESERVATIONS: San Jorge - 8-691-3669 • 8-926-2196 • 2-552-8745 • 2-569-4284. Managua - 2-277-5354 • 2-278-8180 Managua
DEPARTS SAN JORGE for Ometepe/Moyogalpa:
• 7:45am
• 10:30am
• 2:30pm
• 5:45pm.
RETURNS FROM OMETEPE/Moyogalpa for San Jorge:
• 6am
• 9am
• 12:30pm
• 4pm
SAN JORGE TO SAN JOSE DEL SUR (this port is best if you are staying OUTSIDE of Moyogalpa) San Jorge to San Jose del Sur Rey del Cocbolca
• 9:30am Launch
• 10:30am Rey del Cocbolca –
• 5pm Launch
• 5:30pm
San Jose to San Jorge Launch:
• 5:30am Rey del Cocbolca
• 7:30am Launch
• 1:30pm Rey del Cocibolca
• 3:20pm
GRANADA to/from ALTAGRACIA-Isla Ometepe http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/ferryboat.php#altagracia (making stopovers in Morrito and San Miguelito on the northern short of Lake Nicaragua) This boat leaves only 2 times a week and is not as reliable as the boats from San Jorge and their port is on the north side of the island in Altagracia (not easy to get to/from there and an expensive taxi ride). They come from/continue on to San Carlos in Costa Rica.
RESERVATIONS: National Port Company (EPN) – 2-552-2966 • 2-552-6618 • PuertoLaCustre@epn.com.ni Granada – Altagracia – San Carlos, Costa Rica - Monday and Thursday - 2pm (arriving at 6pm) San Carlos, Costa Rica - Altagracia - Granada - Wed. and Sat. 12:30am (YES – a.m.!)
COST: Upper Deck - 50-c/$2.80ish, Lower Deck - 25-c $1.40ish (I’ve also seen 90-c (around $4.50ish).
DURATION: 4 hours. SAN CARLOS, Costa Rica San Carlos to Altagracia - Tuesday and Friday - 2pm (I've also seen 3pm?) (arriving at MIDNIGHT) Altagracia - San Carlos - Mon. and Thurs. 7:30pm (I've seen something about a ferry at midnight??)
DURATION: 9 hours. COST: Upper/1st Class Deck - 190-c, Lower/2nd Deck - 80-c (there are sleeping areas on the boat)
Buy your ticket BEFORE going on the boat. A 1st class ticket costs around $9 (double than a 2nd class ticket) and allows you to stay in the freezing A/C cabin and watch TV, or to hang your hammock (if you have one) in the 1st class deck. For the midnight ferry from Altagracia to Granada shared taxis pick up passengers at hotels in Altagracia at around 10:30pm. Coming from San Carlos you arrive at midnight (or often later) at the port of Altagracia where shared taxis wait for the passengers to bring them to hotels in Altagracia.
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GETTING AROUND:
From one end to the other (Moyogalpa to Altagracia) is 24km - only about 30-40 minutes driving, BUT ____ hours by walking/hiking. There are a few ways to get around Ometepe:
• BUS - (of course takes longer but they’re cheap with LIMITED SERVICE on Sunday. Not overly frequent).
Buses leave every hour from the docks or Moyogalpa to Balgüe Altagracia, Merida, Santo Domingo, Charco Verde, Timber+.
ALL buses go to AltaGracia FIRST – then branch off from there.
• Moyagalpa to AltaGracia (to Charco Verde [10c], - One bus every hour on the ½ hour – 5:30am to 6:30pm and 7pm. 16-c to 25-c.
• AltaGracia to Balgue - 5:30am, 11am, 4pm. Return – 6am, 1pm and 5:30pm = 10-25-c
• AltaGracia to Merida – 8am 2 go to Santa Cruz
• Moyagalpa to el Quino (to Oja de Agua) - and then take any bus that passes by to Merida or Balgue and walk 2km in.
• Moyagalpa to Santo Domingo and San Ramon - 5:30am goes to La Palma. 8:30am Moyagalpa to Santo Domingo and Balgue - 5:30am 10:30am and 4pm Moyagalpa to Santo Domingo and Merida (what you take for the Kayak tour) - 8am and 3pm. Returns at 3pm Merida to AltaGracia - 7am. Merida to Moyagalpa – 3pm. Moyagalpa to la Sabana to Alta Grecia - for Concepcion (about 2-1/2 km before AltaGracia) Moyagalpa to La Concha - 8am (the free/better entrance to Concepcion)
• MOTO TAXI – The FUNNEST and reasonably priced (can be ½ the price of a taxi!!! MY FAV driver is Anderson (8-441-8957 • KingPlayOnes@yahoo.es) (not sure if he'll remember me but tell him Vicki - the Big Red haired gal from Costa Rica Connected you!!! He speaks some English and is a sweetie [and cutie!!])
• TAXI - EXPENSIVE (about $25 to get from the Ferry Port to Santo Domingo)
• HITCH HIKE!!! Yes - I said Hitch Hike!! I had JUST missed the bus by 2 minutes and I needed to make the boat and there were no taxi's in site so I just stuck out my hand and a nice gentleman in a truck with his family in it pulled over and gave me a ride into town!! (I gave him the equivalent of $1 as a Thank you)
• Rent a MOPED or MOTORCYCLE - WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! Having been here MANY TIMES - I’ve met/known NUMEROUS people that rented mopeds or motorcycles and had some pretty serious accidents - often on areas on gravel roads - many of which forced them to stay in the area for at LEAST an extra week and mind you the hospital there is practically nonexistent). Recently 1 gal from Britain had an accident that hurt her - but WORSE - the motorcycle kept going and hit an old guy and injured him serious (I never did learn if he made it). She was arrested and they wouldn’t let her leave Nicaragua without paying $5,000 (I din’t know how much of that was to go to “whomever”) Maybe you do think you know how to ride, but are you experienced at dirt, gravel or sandy roads??
PLACES TO RENT MOTORCYCLES OR MOPEDS FROM - ROBINSON RENTALS (8-691-5044 • Robinson170884@gmail.com) Scooters ($30/day – 8am-5:30pm [24 hours +$10])
• Rent a QUAD ($70/day, $90/24 hours, $20/hour), Bikes (they have some of the newest bikes and the most bikes) - $5/day, Motorcycles (125cc - $25/day – 8am-5:30pm [24 hours +$10], 200cc - $30/$40). $50 deposit and license (for helmet and straps). Plus you pay the gas (which as of 11/9/12 was 160-c/liter ($7/gallon). YOU pay for any damage so take a BUNCH of videos/pictures before and after. LOCATION: end of street – turn right and it’s on the corner.
• HORSES
• WALKING (I BELIEVE to walk around the island takes about ___ hours)
• BIKE
• Rent a CAR to AltaGracia 25km (17km on UNpaved road), driving around 1-1/2 drive on unpaved.
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THINGS TO DO ON ISLA OMETEPE:
NOTE: I hear there can be a challenge with “No-See-Ums” (the little bugs that you cant see – I think they’re part of the mosquito family as you don’t see them biting you and often HOURS later you get the itching, bite marks – sometimes even welts and you may even think you had Bed Bugs – but – nope – it was just the “No-See-Ums”
• ****OJO DE AGUA**** - #1 MUST DO!!! A REALLY PRETTY LAGOON and the HIGHLIGHT of my trip August 2012!!! It is a natural spring of crystalline waters that emanate from the Tilgüe farm, located 100 meters toward the lake from the intersection of Puente/ Bridge rio Buen Suceso (Comarca Tilgue). Rustic facilities have been built on the farm, including pools, thatch-roof huts and hiking trails. Tracing the perimeter of the farm, the trails have soft ascents and descents and can be completed in about an hour, walking under a forest canopy inhabited by a family of howler monkeys.
• Horseback Riding to Ojo de Agua - $8-$10/hr. from hotels in Playa Santo Domingo. HOURS: 7am-6pm (but I hear there’s not usually anyone there after hours so sometimes people “sneak in” then).
ENTRANCE: When I went there August of ’12 I was charged $3.50 (though the sign out on the road says $3 and many places still have the old $1). November of ’12 - $3 (8-820-4499). http://OjoDeAguaOmetepe.com/2009/07/el-ojo-de-agua-finca-tilgue-ometepe.html / http://VisitaOmetepe.com/ojo2.htm • http://FincasVerdes.com/inf?tokem=19 HIRE A GUIDE NOTE ABOUT HIRING A GUIDE or DRIVER: If you hire a driver and part of that time includes lunchtime, you would typically invite the Guide or Driver to join you for lunch and you would pay for their food/drinks (do NOT encourage them to drink if they’re driving) plus you would give them a propina•tip (standard is 10-20%+ of the total bill). ARCELIA - OMETEPE SECRET ADVENTURES TOURS (8-205-6190 • http://OmetepeSecretAdventures.com • https://facebook.com/OmetepeEcoTours) MY # FAVORITE is the ONLY FEMALE guide on Ometepe (who happens to speak GOOD English) and is she a fireball!!! Arecelia leads you on hiking tours climbing up Volcan Concepcion and other things. She’s created her own EXCLUSIVE TOURS that are SPECIAL!! One leaves at 2pm, hikes part way up to Volcano Concepcion – drops your things off at the base (someone will stay with your things and set the camp up) then gets up to the ridge or Volcan Concepcion in time to watch the sunset on a SUNSET HIKE. You then stay the night (they provide the tents and sandwich dinner from the REALLY GOOD Corner House Restaurant!!) and get up MEGA early to hike up again for a SUNRISE HIKE = $75. Another of her EXCLUSIVE TOURS is a BIKE•HIKE. And another is a HIKE to a SECRET WATERFALL that hardly anyone knows about!!!! She can also lead you on the standard tours or book/reserve whatever tour you want (remember – she speaks good English so you can count on her being clear with you – something that doesn’t always happen – especially when there is a language challenge) – or you can hire her to accompany you on another tour that’s important to you but the guide does not speak English and you do not speak Spanish. November ‘12 we hired EDDY HERNANDEZ Aguirrez http://OmetepeTravel.com • 8-659-8979 • 8-695-9905 • Eddy_Hernandez@yahoo.es • Ometepedy@yahoo.es) who was recommended to us by the great staff at The Landing Hotel and Hostel where we stayed. He speaks some English and has a VAN!! He took us to the El Ceibo Coin•Numismatic Museum and the Archaeological•Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Oja de Agua, Santo Domingo for lunch at Finca Santo Domingo (the food was tasty and cheap – UNTIL we got our bill and even though we asked for separate checks, at first they tried to insist we pay by one bill and that bill they brought did NOT have each charge on it – just a total – we said “NO!” Then they came back giving us 2 checks – 2 for each “set” of people – except I only met these people the day before so it’s not like we were family – still withOUT the prices broken down – just the total. Only after I said I just met the people did they bring us separate checks and the price was marked up - ahhh – the Gringo Rate!! Because of that, I will not be going back to Finca Santo Domingo again!). Bull Shark Tours BullSharkTours@hotmail.com - All their 33 guides are legally licensened and trained PLUS they have some medical emergency training (CPR+) and most speak English plus some speak German and French. They can book or lead you on just about any tour on the island. Will – is THE BEST!! He speaks great English with very little accent – he knows the island THE BEST/MOST DETAILED - his BIGGEST passion are snakes (and scorpions, torantulas+ - http://WildWillLife.com)!!!! He’s the guide that guides aspire to be like and he’s only 30 years young!! Harold - 8-589-4373 • HaroldTijerino@yahoo.com – speaks good English and his passions are reptiles and orchids (I met him waiting for a boat to go to Ometepe when the winds/waves were high (tell him Vicki said “Hola”). LOCATED: Santo Domingo and AltaGracia Ugo - http://OmetepeGuides.com • 8-827-7714 • UgoOmetepe@yahoo.com - Full Day - $20/pp. ½ Day - $15/pp - drive around the island - or hike up to Volcano Concepsion. Norman, Louis and Martin also speak English. More Moyograpa Chico Largo BIKING (rent bikes in Mayogalpa) CHARCO VERDE NATURAL ECOLOGICAL RESERVE http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/charco2.htm • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/maderas2.htm) - The closest nice beach (not a lot of beaches on Ometepe)? 13 km from Moyogalpa near San Jose del Sur with a protected area/natural park – RESERVA NATURAL CHARCO VERDE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE is open to the public. The reserve has a Green colored lagoon - Xistleteot (”Place where the Gods Pee”/ "where the gods make pis"), on 20 hectares, 1km private beaches - Playa Charco Verde and Playa el Bancon - Green Puddle Beach, Green Puddle Lagoon and El Bancon Beach. Around the lagoon, it is said the indigenous population practiced rituals such as sacrifices, reincarnations and supplications to the gods (Read the story about the local man once known as “Chico Large” and his practice of the “dark science”, witchcraft, reincarnation and transformations to animals). The Charco Verde lagoon is an extinct parasite crater of Concepción Volcano. Its characteristic emerald green color is caused by the abundant algae. There is a 1.7-kilometer easy / moderate path within the reserve. On the 1-hour hike, it is almost certain that you will see animals such as howler (congo) monkeys (best earlier in the day before all the human animals come out and scare them away), guatusas (Dasyprocta punctata), armadillos, rabbits, etc. It’s also a great place for BIRD WATCHING as you might see white herons, black herons, woodpeckers, magpies, night ducks, owls, fireflies, and sparrow hawks. RESERVE ENTRANCE: $1 FARM TOURS: Hacienda el Refugio (aka Tel Aviv Farm) is a working farm where you can also choose other COOL options to do like MILKING COWS – 120-c/$5 (approx.). CHEESE/QUESO MAKING (you get to make it and eat it!!) – 360-c/$15 (approx.). HORSEBACK RIDING – 168-c/$7 (appox). OXCART RIDE - $40/per hours for up to 4 people (hmmmm – perhaps if you have enough people/desire you can get them to do a NIGHT RIDE during a Full Moon???!!) . ENGLISH-SPEAKING TOUR GUIDES – Raul and Karla. Say “Hola! from Vicki” to LOCATION: 10 km from Moyogalpa (15 minutes driving or 20 minutes by bus. Note that you have to walk/drive 2km down a dirt road from the road) (8-874-8076 • MoisesGhitis@hotmail.com). LOCATION: On the grounds of El Ceibo Coin•Numismatic Museum and Archaeological Museum• Pre-Columbian art. HIKING: TO THE VOLCANOS VOLCAN MADERAS - the South Volcano. Over 200 petroglyphs have been inventoried here at the foot of Maderas Volcano. Easier to hike – but you don’t have the great view. BY LAW - you MUST hire a guide to lead you up the volcano!!!!! There’s a lagoon INSIDE of the crater which you get to walk 200 meters down into. It’s Primary Rain•Cloud Forest with 12 microclimates with LOTS of trees but sometimes in rainy season they can have mudslides. Leave the earlier the better – like 5am! 6km up and 6km down. If hiking Volcano Maderas, you want to stay the night in Santa Cruz. DURATION: about 4 hours up and 4 hours down. $25 (Spanish speaking guide, entrance fee, food and drinking water [English-speaking guide probably more]). ENTRANCE: $1 via el Porvenir. Enter through Magdalena $1.50 VOLCAN CONCEPCION - This is the “active” volcano with it’s last real BIG eruption back in 1957 and a smaller about 70 blips eruption in ’09 (so IF you happens to release any gas while you’re there, wet your shirt down and hold it up to your mouth, nose and eyes because the sulfur and other gases are VERY toxic and get the hell down as fast as you can go without running/hurting yourself and walk AGAINST the wind). Secondary Forest. You have forest to 1,000 meters elevation and rest is a red-ish volcanic rock (and no trees). AWESOME Views. It’s a MUCH more challenging hike up there and locals REALLY REALLY HIGHLY suggest you ONLY do it with a Local Tour Guide for numerous reasons! 8-1/2-km up (4 hours up) and 8-1/2 down (6 hours because it’s loose roccks). DURATION: 10 hours. ENTRANCE: $1.50 at la Sabana (la Concha – BEST entrance/trail and they don’t charge you). When it blows – it WILL effect within 10km – La Concha, AltaGracia, Moy, Urbite, San Jose del Sur (which will probably be the MOST effected) WATERFALL on Maderas Volcano – it’s 3/4-km hike from the entrance. It’s a harder walk to the 100 meter tall waterfall that turns into a rushing river (so there’s NO SWIMMING – just getting a shower from it). It’s REALLY BEAUTIFUL and has views of the lake and towards San Jorge/land. ENTRANCE: $3 (this information was provided to me by Harold with Bull Shark Tours) There is a SECRET WATERFALL that VERY FEW of the guides know about BUT - The San Ramon Waterfall is located 4 kms from San Ramon and you can continue on to Maderas Volcano from there. HORSEBACK RIDING: Hacienda el Refugio (aka Tel Aviv Farm [see “Farm Tour”]) - $7/hour Finca Playa Venecia Hotel - $5/hour - http://VisitaOmetepe.com/venecia2.htm KAYAKING: the Istian River / between the 2 volcanos - 5 hours Kayaking and Birding, Turtles and Caymen Tour! - $25/per person includes the guide and you get your own transportation there. I hear el Peru does THE BEST Kayaking tours. Transportation there is around $50 for 1-4 people with the driver waiting you.. Caballitos Mar MOPEDS: Transporte Turistico Ometepe – Richardo Rodriguez Barrios (8-921-2852) – 2 blocks South of Claro PERMACULTURE FARM Punta Jesus Maria - Josh says it’s a GOOD Vista – a little point on the volcano BioSphere RESERVE MUSEUMS El Ceibo Numismatic Museum - Collection of coins and paper money http://ElceiboMuseos.com • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/museo2.htm) PLUS the Archaeological Museum - the museum has 4 exposition halls (including upstairs) focusing on Pre-Columbian art, the island’s environment, ethnology and history and THIS one has AIR-CONDITIONING. NO wifi. PLUS – because it’s a working farm, you can also choose other COOL options like MILKING COWS – 120-c/$5 (approx.). CHEESE/QUESO MAKING (you get to make it and eat it!!) – 360-c/$15 (approx.). HORSEBACK RIDING – 168-c/$7 (appox). $40/per hours for up to 4 people. ENGLISH-SPEAKING TOUR GUIDES – Raul and Karla. Say “Hola! from Vicki” to them plus if you habla Español – say it to Sefora at the desk! LOCATION: at Hacienda el Refugio (aka Tel Aviv Farm) - 10 km from Moyogalpa (15 minutes driving or 20 minutes by bus. Note that you have to walk/drive 2km down a dirt road from the road) (8-874-8076 • MoisesGhitis@hotmail.com). HOURS (for BOTH museums): 9am-5pm EVERY day of the year!! Each tour takes about 20 minutes (depending on the size of the group and how many questions you have. ENTRANCE FOR MUSEUMS: 96-c 1 museum 96-c (approx.. $4). Both museums -144-c (approx. $6). LA MONTANA MOUNTAIN FARM - http://VillaParaiso.com.ni/fincafarm.php - COFFEE FIELDS TOUR - $10, Duration: 2-1/2 hours, 2 people min. PETROGLYPHS - Includes a guide who is an expert on petroglyphs (Prof. Hamilton Silva) - $10/ 2 people min. LOOKOUT - with an incredible view of the isthmus and Concepcion Volcano. $15, minimum 2 people. DURATION: 4 hours. AGRO TOUR: $5 includes a local guide with experience on local plants and farming. DURATION: 1-1/2 hours. COFFEE FIELDS and LOOKOUT: combined visit to the lookout in the morning and on the return trip visit the coffee fields or vice versa. Includes guide, drinking water, entrance fees and a taste of coffee. WATER SPORTS: It is somewhat limited on Isla Ometepe to mainly kayaking (see above “Kayaking”) MISC. NOTES IMPORTANT NOTE: BRING BUG SPRAY!!! On my November 2012 trip I DESPERATELY NEEDED it just in town with the No-See-Ums going to town on me!!! ESPECIALLY needed if you’re near the water or in coffee fields+. Also, I find in LOTS of Latin countries they MEGA use the chemical cleaning products so the cleaner a place is, the more chemicals you’ll smell. So if you’re chemical sensitive, you might want to make a reservation in advance and ask them NOT to use the chemicals (perhaps just vinegar if they have it) and even email them 1 and 2 days in advance and that morning. I’m NOT chemical sensitive but it OFTEN bothers me!!! I find this to be the same be it at a hostel or a 5-star resort!! So if you see a note that says CLEAN or VERY CLEAN – understand that just may be what it’s about! English is not as widely spoken in Nicaragua unless you have English speaking owners. HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR: Around Mid-May – especially between around 10am to 2-3pm. WINDIEST TIME OF THE YEAR: December to February (especially January and February) (what this means is you can sometimes get such high whitecaps on the lake that boats [especially the smaller/non-ferry ones] may not go for a day or 2 or . . .) @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ BANKING and ATM MACHINES i When I was on Isla Ometepe on my Visa Run from Costa Rica in May '12 there were 4 banks - 3 located on the main street up from the port about 3-5 blocks. One located one block off the main street on a side street. Below I put them in order from the port. ONLY HAVE A MASTERCARD? NOTE that ONLY the atm that is furthest from the port accepted my MasterCard Debit card was Banco ProCredit. Banco Lafise BanCentro (ATM had a GREAT FREEZING Air-Conditioned room!!! ATM 24/7. Bank Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Saturday 8am-noon. Banco ProCredit (I think this ATM was also air-conditioned!!!!). They charge $3 atm withdraw fee. Bank Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Saturday 8:30am-noon. BAC/Credimatico They charge $3 atm withdraw fee. I also think this ATM was NOT air-conditioned). Bank Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Saturday 8:30am-noon. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ AREAS When you first arrive onto Ometepe, directly in front of you is Concepcion Volcano and the small port town of Moyogalpa which is the largest “city” on the island with many little hotels/BandB’s/hostels, restaurants, etc. and the only place you’ll find ATM cash machines. CLOSEST BEACH to MAYOGALPA - Punto Jesus Maria is about a 45-60 minute walk there from town. Go to the end of the road and turn Right . Go past the new airport landing strip and turn Right at the first street (there should be a little sign) – walk down about 1km down the dirt road and there it is. WARNING – there is HIGH currents here so you might not want to swim there – just go chill and enjoy a Victoria or Toña cervesa/beer. (Herve Flores shared some of this with me - he’s from Ometepe) MOYOGALPA (closest to the port) PLACES TO STAY CORNERHOUSE BandB, Restaurant and Coffee Shop (2-569-4212 / 8-755-7480 / http://TheCornerHouseOmetepe.com / http://facebook.com/pages/The-Cornerhouse-Ometepe/170727402973616 / http://tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1443289-d1910824-Reviews-The_Cornerhouse-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / http://youtube.com/watch?v=lOCqRdXQw1A ) Double/Full/Matromonial or Queen bed (one room also has a Twin/Individual), fan and private bathroom no hot water. Only drawback - on main street so bring your earplugs. WiFi in common area. Only 4 rooms so no reservations. COOL "CornerShop" has all sorts of locally made products!!! CAFE has healthy home-style food including great sandwiches made with fresh homemade bread, SMOOTHIES, ORGANIC SALADS, VEGETARIAN choices, homemade GRANOLA, special VEGAN PASTRIES!!!! ESPRESSO MACHINE!!! Restaurant open to the public and MANY people seem to RAVE about it!!! HOURS: Monday-Saturday - 7am-5pm. (night watchman after 6:30pm). RATES: $20/1, $30/2, $40/3 INCLUDES full Breakfast (choose from their menu or choose instead to do a takeaway lunch [including a blended smoothie or espresso coffee]). OWNERS: Gary and Laura (British/Canadian) are socially responsible. Tell Laura “HI!” from Vicki in Costa Rica! AMERICAN HOTEL and CAFE (8-645-7193 / 8-650-4069 / http://AmericanCafeAndHotel.com / http://youtube.com/watch?v=mTlpXeQ-SZ0 / http://Escapethatcube.com/2011/01/04/the-american-cafe-hotel-on-isla-ometepe-nicaragua / SimoneSantelli14@gmail.com ) The American Hotel is just 2 blocks from the ferry docks. It’s a very stark/basic white looking building from outside. The rooms seem to be the largest in Moyogalpa, clean, in back of the restaurant - so quieter than most, airy (I’ve heard mixed on how hot it gets in the rooms. Josh said he had 3 fans). They have just 5 rooms (so because of all the positive reviews on Trip Advisors+, they often booked), 1 room with A/C with D only + $10, nice LARGE ULTRA CLEAN rooms (VERY white though) and NICE HOT WATER. Drawback for some - NO internet or WiFi. They have a RESTAURANT and I consistently hear people RAVING about Simone cooking (being Italian she specializes in Italiano) and she makes REALLY TASTY desserts especially CHOCOLATE CAKE, key lime pie, mango pie and great banana smoothies and other food (MANY said it was the BEST on the island). RESTAURANT HOURS: Daily - 7am-4pm. (THANX for turning me onto this place Josh) RATES: $20/1, $30/2 - $35/2 people if 2 beds. 1 room with 3 D/D/D - $45. (note - they're one of the most popular places so not always easy to get in [I've tried 2 times and they were full]) OWNERS: Robert and Simone (she's Italian), are REALLY nice! Tell Simone “HI!” from Vicki in Costa Rica! The LANDING HOTEL, HOSTEL and RESTAURANT•BAR (2-569-4113 • http://Facebook.com/TheLandingHotelOmetepeIslandNicaragua / http://TheLandingHotel.com / http://tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1443289-d1940074-Reviews-The_Landing_Hotel-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / TheLandingHotel@gmail.com • info@TheLandingHotel.com ) The Landings is the first hotel you come to up from the ferry - on your Left. It’s an eclectic mix of backpacker basics and casual elegance. The restaurant bar is a VERY elegant space (especially for Nicaragua)!! On the 3rd floor lounge is a big open space that has a bunch of hammocks (sadly you can no longer rent them to sleep – especially boo for those hotter nights) with a view of Concepcion Volcano and the lake. FREE WiFi (it worked in my room upstairs but doesn't in the nicer front room #4 but there are chairs on the hall balcony. GOOD restaurant/bar, fresh local food, smoothies and juices, espresso coffee. I have stayed here in a Private Room and found the bed was comfy and the fan worked good enough for me! No hot water. Nice Garden in the back. RATES/ROOMS: Private Room - with full size bed or a bunk bed with double on the bottom and twin on top and private bathroom - $15/1, $20/2. Apartment - $30/2 with private bathroom (+$5 with A/C). Cabina - A/C with an open-air sala, a romantic private dining area, queen bed and private bath - $40/2 (+$5 with A/C)(sometime they'll give 10% off in low season or a longer stay). Really Small Dormitory rooms with 6 beds and not much ventilation ($6 - +$1 for sheets and +$1 for towel). Rent you one of our kayaks (guests get 1 hour FREE). OWNER: American John Tansey (please make sure to tell him Vicki - the big red-head gringa from Costa Rica told you about his place!!). Tell John “HI!” from Vicki in Costa Rica! yessenia LOCATION: 1st hotel on the left of the ferry. Hospedaje SOMA http://facebook.com/hotel.ometepe.nicaragua / http://HospedaJeSoma.com / http://HospedaJeSoma.com.blogspot.com / http://Facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150796526755764.389956.82267060763andtype=3 / http://tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1443289-d1657248-Reviews-Hospedaje_Soma-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / HospedaJeSoma@gmail.com) Outside of town, cabinas, hostel. Spacious rooms some with private bathrooms (NO hot water). After you get off the dock at Moyogalpa it's a 10 minute walk going straight until the church, then turn left (I saw somewhere else you go Right???). Once you make that right you will walk about another 5 mins. Once you hit a dirt road it is not far away, located on the left side of the road. Because it is out of the town a bit it is super quiet. Honor-system fridge with beer, water and munchies. Optional Family-style dinners served at 7pm and I hear the lasagna is great. Beautiful gardens with hammocks. NO A/C. WiFi in rooms!!! Breakfast included. OWNER: Zkinny (German). Manager - Sven. RATES: Dorms - $7pp. Private Room - Shared Bath - $22. Private Bath - $29. Cabin - Private Bath - $40. Private Bath and A/C - $50. Hotelito Aly and Restaurant http://HotelitoAly.com / http://tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1443289-d1784014-Reviews-Hotelito_Y_Restaurante_Aly-Moyogalpa_Isla_de_Ometepe.html / 2-569-4196 / 8-906-6322 / 8-686-0830 / HotelitoAly@yahoo.com) 16 rooms, newer 2nd floor with VOLCANO VIEW from some rooms. OWNER – Melania. MANAGER - Yazzin “Aly” Avellàn (8-498-5014 / Yazzeau@hotmail.com). RATES: $7/1 w/Fan, $10/1, TV/bathroom/fan. Quad/"Family" Room - $50 (holds 4, A/C, TV, Private Bathroom). Family Room (holds 6, A/C, TV, Private Bathroom – tax INCLUDED). LOCATION: On Calle Principal / Main St. 150 mts. from the port on Left Hotel Familiar and Los Ranchitos (2-569-4240) The corridors of this place are dark and dank, but rooms are clean. Extremely clean. But despite their enthusiasm for sanitation, you can't help but question how they justify charging $10 for the same standard, fan-rooms that are found across town for half the price. COST: $10-$20/n (hotel and breakfast) - near port. Yogi’s Hostel - Robinson - Hotel Ometepetl (2-569-4276) Closest Hotel to port, MEGA chemical cleaning smells but it was clean, no hot water, strong mold smell, i've heard the tv is not cable to no clear channels - especially in English. RATES: $25-fan, $30-w/AC breakfast included If they are full the hotel across the street with the beautiful garden is owned by a English speaking Nica. RESTAURANTS: CORNERHOUSE - REALLY GOOD healthy organic breakfasts and lunches. Upper Moderate prices. AMERICAN Hotel - Awesome CHOCOLATE CAKE and great banana smoothies. LANDING Hotel CHIDO’S PIZZA - Josh said it’s REALLY GOOD and he’s PICKY!! Restaurant Bahia Mar Dulce - You must have cena at the about 2 blocks up the hill. Outstanding food, reasonable price, English speaking lady just moved from CR. MADRONAL Zopilote - Sustainable Farm near Maderas – one of the cheapest places to stay – 2km East of Santa Cruz – close to Volcan Madera. ****SAN JOSE DEL SUR!!!!!***** GETTING THERE: BOAT - from the Mainland - There is one boat a day that comes to this area San Jorge at 3:30pm. It returns from SJDS to SJ at 3:20pm. BUS FROM MAYOGAPO – It’s about a $20-$25 taxi ride there BUT, I like taking I hear from this area you can embark on a 3 hour Walking Tour, or a 1-½ hour Horseback Riding Tour to el Mirador del Diablo. NOTE if busing it - all of these properties require a GOOD mile+ long walk on an uneven dirt road to get to them (which can be in the rain or mud or heat). WHERE TO STAY: CHICO LARGO!! 8-473-7210 • 8-886-4069 • ChicoLargo@FincasVerdes.com I LOVE staying at Chico Large!! Such a deal!! I paid $15/n for a sweet little cabin that LITERALLY LAKEFRONT - at the lakes edge (I think it was #4)!!! The walls and ceiling were made out of bamboo. The also have CAMPING here for like $7 or so and Cold water showers only. I LOVED their Pancakes!! Finca Playa Venecia Hotel http://FincaVenecia.com/english • http://FincasVerdes.com/inf?tokem=18 • 409-1486 • 887-0191 • 872-7668 • HotelFincaVenecia@yahoo.com • http://TripAdvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g304024-d944706-Reviews-Finca_Playa_Venecia-Isla_de_Ometepe.html) LAKEFRONT. Began as a tobacco and cattle farm – now an eco-tourism activity hotel with 22 Rooms, WiFi, Internet Café, Restaurant (7:30am-7:30pm. Breakfast $1.50-$3.50. Lunch/Dinner $3-$8+), Bar (7:30am-10pm includes Italian and Chilean Wines), horse back riding/stables, cattle, basic grains, organic fertilizers and the famous pictures legend of Chico Largo; part of our Charco Verde lagoon history. VERY CLEAN (strong cleaning smell), RATES: Standard Double Room with Fan - $25/2. Standard room with 3 Twin beds, Fan - $27/1. Room with Individual Bed and Fan - $7. Cabin for 5 with porch, fan - $40 (+$10 with A/C). Room NOT lakefront, porch, NO A/C - $30/2 ($45 WITH A/C). LAKEFRONT - Triple cabin with NO A/C (3-5 people) - $40 ($50 WITH A/C). LAKEFRONT - Double Cabin, NO A/C - $35/2 ($50 WITH A/C). All +Tax Charco Verde http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm • 8-887-9302 • 8-740-6249 • CharcoVerde22@yahoo.es) - http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm The closest nice beach (not a lot of beaches on Ometepe)? 13 km from Moyogalpa near San Jose del Sur with a protected area/natural park – RESERVA NATURAL CHARCO VERDE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE is open to the public for just $1. The reserve has a Green colored lagoon - Xistleteot (”Place where the Gods Pee”), on 20 hectares, 1km private beaches - Playa Charco Verde and Playa el Bancon. Around the lagoon, the indigenous population practiced rituals such as sacrifices, reincarnations and supplications to the gods. The Charco Verde lagoon is an extinct parasite crater of Concepción Volcano. Its characteristic emerald green color is caused by the abundant algae. There is a 1.7-kilometer easy / moderate path within the reserve. On the one-hour hike, it is almost certain that you will see animals such as howler (congo) monkeys, guatusas (Dasyprocta punctata), armadillos, rabbits, etc. http://CharcoVerde.com.ni/ingles/start.htm • http://VisitaOmetepe.com/charco2.htm / http://VisitaOmetepe.com/maderas2.htm Hotel Playa Santa Martha http://PlayaSantaMartha.com • 8-330-0165-bar • 8-732-1243-restaurant • info@HotelPlayaSantaMartha.com) - A 20 minute walk to Chaco Verde HPSM is 400 meters/4 blocks South of the lake???? HORSEBACK RIDING - 8-949-5218 SANTA CRUZ or nearby (closest to Volcan Madera) Santa Cruz Hotel and Hostel - $7-$25. Little Morgan - $8-$50. Zopilote - $3-hammock to $15. Hotel Istian - $7-$25. Finca Verde - $45-$80. Casa el Sol, - $ Las Brisas. SANTO DOMINGO I’ve read that it has white sandy beaches and the sand goes out and is shallow so you can walk WAYYYY out there – BUT, the 2 times I’ve been there the tide/water line was a HIGH and because it’s the WINDIEST place on the island – it was MEGA White Caps. GETTING THERE: It’s WAYYYY on the other side so you can either take a $25 taxi ride - OR - take that Moto Taxi for LOTS less - OR - the bus goes from the ferry port to the end near the entrance into SD and you walk about 1/2 km. PLACES TO STAY: VILLA PARAISO (2-569-4859 / 2-569-4858 / 2-563-4675 / http://VillaParaiso.com.ni / Ometepe@VillaParaiso.com.ni) - BEST on Ometepe (though some rooms are quite rusticy [hence their price])!!! ON the Beach! Restaurant and Bar($5-$14), 25 rooms. RATES: Basic Room - Fan, Private bath with HOT WATER, common terrace with lake view - $29/2. Economy Cabin - A/C, 2 beds, TV, Private Bath (NO hot water), terrace with hammock - $48/2-3. Triple Cabin - 3 beds, tv, private bath with NO hot water, A/C, Terrace with hammock - $59/3-4. Standard Cabin - Cabin with Private Bathroom with HOT WATER, A/C, TV, 2 beds, terrace with hammock - $58/2. Suite - Cabin with A/C, satellite TV, minifridge, Private Bath with HOT WATER, beautiful terrace with hammock and lake view - $73/2. Family Suite - A/C, Fan, satellite TV, 3 beds, Private Bath with HOT WATER, terrace with hammock - $75/4. PLACES TO (NOT to) EAT: Finca Santo Domingo – On the lake and the food was tasty and according to the menu – it was cheap – UNTIL we got our bill!!! And even though we asked for separate checks, at first they tried to insist we pay by one bill and that bill they brought did NOT have each charge on it – just a total – we said “NO!” Then they came back giving us 2 checks – 2 for each “set” of people – except I only met these people the day before so it’s not like we were family – still withOUT the prices broken down – just the total. Only after I said I just met the people did they bring us separate checks and the price was marked up - ahhh – the Gringo Rate!! Because of that, I will not be going back to Finca Santo Domingo again! SAN RAMON REALLY NICE - but BADDDDD roads PLACES TO STAY: Hotel San Ramon - A GOOD place to look for a tour guide to take you up the volcano. ALTAGRACIAS http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/altagracia/index.php Located on the NorthEast slope of the volcano Concepcion, Altagracia is the most charming village on Ometepe and the second largest village on Ometepe. 4 miles North of the center is “Port of Grace” where the boats from Granada and San Carlos arrive/depart two times a week each. Buses don’t come around the island real frequently. This is also an alternative way to get to Isla Ometepe from Costa Rica as you can take a boat (just 2 days a week) from San Carlos to AltaGracia or the overnight to Granada (leaves at 12/midnight – arriving around 5am)!! MAP: http://OmetepeNicaragua.com/altagracia/altagracia.php RESTAURANTS: Los Bocaditos, Nicarao, Pizzeria, Bar Alexander, Café and Snack, Tito’s Bar Hotel Castillo (2-552-8744 / HotelCastillo@hotmail.com) - First hotel on Ometepe, restaurant. COST: $10/1, $10/2, $10/2 w/fan and private bathroom, $30/2 w/A/C and private bathroom. LOCATION: 1 block South and 1/2 block West of the catholic church Posada Cabrera Hotel Kencho Hotel Central - 3 blocks up Banco ProCredit R- 100 meters on Right white Hospedaje Ortiz Hotel Tagüizapa @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ VICKI'S VARIOUS NICARAGUA PHOTO and
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VICKI'S VARIOUS NICARAGUA PHOTO SITES:
INFORMATION SITES: CROSSING THE BORDER - a "Step-By-Step Guide to the Costa Rica and Nicaragua Border Crossing" (in transition)
• NicaraguaInfoList.com (a link to all my Photo and Info Sites)
CROSSING THE BORDER between Costa Rica and Nicaragua
(a Step-By-Step Guide to help make your Border Run between Costa Rica and Nicaragua Easier (in transition)
http://SanJuanDelsSurNi.com/GETTING_THERE.html
http://CRNIBorderCrossing.com
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/BorderCrossing/CR-NI-BorderCrossing
http://CostaRicaNicaraguaVisaRuns.info
SAN JUAN DEL SUR:
• http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com
http://facebook.com/SanJuanDelSurNI
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/SanJuanDelSurNi
• ACCOMMODATIONS - http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/SJDSNi-Accommodations
• EATS•RESTAURANTS - http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/SanJuanDelSurNI-Eats
• SUNSETS - http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/SJDS/Sunsets
PICTURES:
http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSurNicaragua
http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSurNI-Feb13
http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSur-Nicaragua-Feb-23
ISLA OMETEPE
http://www.Saronggoddess.com/Travel/IslaOmetepe-Nicaragua
MANAGUA:
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Managua
RIVAS
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Rivas1/RIVAS-Nicaragua
GRANADA:
http://GranadaNI.info
SAN JORGE
http://www.SarongGoddess.com/Nicaragua/Rivas1/SanJorgeNicaragua
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COSTA RICA - NICARAGUA BORDER CROSSING: http://CRNIBorderCrossing.com http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com/GETTING_THERE.html PHOTOS: http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/CR-NI-BorderCrossing SAN JUAN DEL SUR http://facebook.com/SanJuanDelSurNI http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com SJDS PHOTOS: http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SanJuanDelSur-Nicaragua ISLA OMETEPE http://IslaOmetepeNI.com PHOTOS: http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/IslaOmetepe-Nicaragua
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Info provided for by VICKI SKINNER (aka “THE Sarong Goddess”)
http://LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com • http://LovingYourPetHouseSitting.com • http://TourismFacebookMarketing.com
Costa Rica - (506) 8-378-6679 • U.S. #: 1-941-312-7569 • Skype: VallartaVicki • SarongGoddess@gmail.com .
