Ometepe is a destination that should be on your travel list. If you are visiting multiple places in Nicaragua you can’t skip Ometepe, but also if you’re travelling between North and South America it is worth it to make a stop in the beautiful Ometepe. Here you’ll find information about the ways of travelling to Ometepe.
Travelling into Nicaragua
First you’ll have to get into Nicaragua. There are daily flights from the United States to Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua. If you need to stay the night in Managua there are a few hotels that are close to the airport and convenient while travelling. From the airport you’ll need to travel to Rivas/San Jorge port. This is possible either by bus, transfer or taxi. For the cheapest and most local experience you can take the so called chicken bus. There are ones leaving from across the airport to mercado Huembes, and from there you can take a bus towards Rivas or some go immediately to the port of San Jorge. There are also express busses that go without making stops in between, which will safe you time. The faster and more comfortable option is to take a transfer or taxi straight to San Jorge port, from there you can take a ferry to further travel to Ometepe.
It’s not always easy to find the right flight to Managua, so another option is to fly into Costa Rica and cross the border into Nicaragua by land. Both San Jose, and the airport of Liberia which is closer to the border, have multitude of flights to choose from. You have to cross the border at Penas Blancas, and you can travel either by taxi or bus.
Travel to Ometepe
If your bus stops in Rivas you’ll need to take a cheap taxi from there to the port of San Jorge, from where the ferry leaves to Ometepe. Don’t let yourself be ripped of, a taxi should costs around 120 cordobas. From the port there are multiple ferry’s per day, and also a smaller type of boat called a lancha. If you’re prone to seasickness it’s better to take a big ferry, because the wind and waves on the lake can be quite high. If you want to take a car on the boat you should reserve this in front. A motorcycle or scooter is usually easy to take on the ferry, but sometimes when you show up late it can be full. Most ferry’s will go to the port town on Ometepe: Moyogalpa. There are a few ferry’s that go to another place named San Jose del Sur. Be sure to take the right ferry on your travel to Ometepe.
You can find the ferry schedule here: https://ometepeinfo.com/ferry-schedule-ometepe/
Transportation on the island
In Moyogalpa there are a lot of hotels and hostels to choose from, but I would also advise you to explore the rest of the island. From the port there are a lot of small cars that can take you to your hotel. There are also normal taxi’s which are a bit more expensive, but also more comfortable if you need to travel to the other side of the island. It’s also possible to book a transfer towards your accomodation. The cheapest option is to take a chicken bus on the island, you can find a schedule, but keep in mind that the busses are not always reliable. The best way to get around on the island is to rent a motorbike or scooter, this will give you the most freedom. There are several rental companies that can be found on this site. Enjoy your stay on the island!
You can find the bus schedule here: https://ometepeinfo.com/bus-schedule-ometepe/
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