Getting Here

English below

Tocar enlace por espanol

To arrive on Ometepe you will need to take a ferry from the Port town of San Jorge, Rivas (open every day including Sundays) to get to Ometepe.

If you’re bringing a rental vehicle across to the island, we recommended that you make a reservation in advance, especially during peak periods from Nov - April.

To reach Ometepe, you will need to take a ferry from the port town of San Jorge, Rivas, which operates daily, including Sundays.

From either Managua or Liberia airport, the port of San Jorge is approximately a 2.5-hour drive. You have options to rent a vehicle at the airport or border, have a driver waiting for you, or take the bus routes* to Ometepe and arrive at Selvista.

For those coming from San Juan or Granada, both public and private transportation options are available. Granada is approximately an hour and a half from the port in a car, San Juan around 40 minutes.

If you’d like a driver waiting let us know what ferry time you’ll be leaving the mainland on

Ometepe has two port towns receiving ferries from San Jorge, and you can make your way to Balgüe easily from either of them.

Moyogalpa is the main port and has more frequent options for arrival and departure to Ometepe. You will also find a larger supermarket and ATMs there; most businesses on the island are cash only (or paying by card if available will incur extra charges) so this is a good place to arrive and get situated for island life.

Driving tip: for a smoother ride turn right at the top of the hill when leaving the Moyogalpa port; the left turn makes for a much longer journey and can require 4x4 capabilities at certain times of the year.

The San Jose port is slightly closer to us, so your drive would be a bit shorter but there are fewer amenities upon arrival and only two ferries running from there as opposed to the 6 to Moyogalpa.

Please park to the right in the lower parking area if you have a small car. Do not attempt to pass the final part of our rocky driveway in a low vehicle or scooter. 4x4 and quads are great up there. Motorbikes are fine if you’re confident to do so.

***NOTE: google maps does not recognise our driveway and as such will direct you up the nearest roads, signposted to Finca Magdalena or Finca Ometepe. Do not follow these roads. Continue on through Balgüe and follow the signs to Selvista and Bona Fide as directed above. First right after Balgue Bridge***

If anything comes up on your trip to the property, you can contact us via whatsapp or call on +505 8444 4519

Ferry schedule

The boats leave from San Jorge, just outside of Rivas center on the mainland. Passengers cost c$50 per person. Under 5s free. There is a charge for visitors of $1 to enter the port on the mainland.

A taxi should cost a few dollars from Rivas. A collectivo minivan around $1.

A ferry can transport vehicles. A boat is smaller and for passengers only, no cars.

Reservations are recommended for vehicles during busy holiday periods. Check for service on the national holidays.

You can call to reserve spaces for vehicles on the ferries 2-3 weeks in advance.

They are Spanish speaking only, so guests should let us know in their reservation correspondance what type of vehicle and preferred time if assistance is wanted.

They will arrive at one of two ports on the island, Moyogalpa or San Jose.

The journey takes approximately 1hr & 15 minutes.

There is no other way to enter Ometepe publicly than via San Jorge in Rivas at time of press (Apr 24).

The weekly ferry service between Granada and San Carlos resumed in 2022, only to stop again in 2023, unfortunately. The boat to Granada is not running.

RENTAL CARS

You can hire rental cars at the airport. Be aware that you cannot cross the border with a rental vehicle, the vehicle must be registered in your name to do so. 4x4 is most useful, if possible, for reaching some of the best spots in Nicaragua. We recommend Dollar rentals.

bus schedule

Buses here are lovingly refered to as 'chicken buses', thanks to the live cargo they can often be seen carrying. They are mostly old school buses from the USA that have been sent down here at the dusk of their heyday. Crowded and scenic- all part of the adventure!

They are an economical, local, eco-friendly way to travel. You can flag them down anywhere that’s safe to stop. You may have a wait in between buses, there is not one company, they are all family owned.

* Buses on Sundays on Ometepe are sporadic at best and non-existent most likely. Not the best day to try to travel on public transport in Nicaragua. We can help to arrange private transport or you can stay another day and relax with us.

Coming in from the ports: If no direct bus to Balgüe, change at El Quino (“El Key-no”), just before Altagracia.

For travelling on the bus from Managua to Rivas: make your way to Mercardo Huembes (pronounced more like ‘Wembes’ to an English speaker) to find a bus to Rivas; they leave roughly every 30 minutes and take 2-3 hours. You can also take any bus going to San Juan del Sur or the border, Peñas Blancas.

Buses run regularly from the frontera to Rivas.

Get off at the gasolinera and pay around $2 to get a taxi to the port in San Jorge or wait for a collectivo (mini-bus) for a cheaper ride over. Taxis charge per person when found by the road usually and may pick up other passengers along the route.

Flying to Ometepe

*currently suspended until further notice

La Costeña airlines run flights to La Paloma (Ometepe) airport twice a week, on Thursday and Sundays. The line runs between Managua and San Carlos, on its way to San Juan de Nicaragua (Greytown), then returns.

Flights leave Managua at 12:00 midday and land around 12.20pm on the island. 12.30pm to the caribbean.

They leave from Greytown at around 1.35pm to reverse the trip, departing from Ometepe at 2.30pm for Managua to arrive just after 3pm.

You can book with La Costena here.

You can fly domestically and economically around much of Nicaragua.

Here is a list of destinations with one airline.

PRIVATE DRIVER

From the (air)port to the door, mainland drivers and island drivers available on request.

On-island rentals:

You can have a rental vehicle (quad bike, scooter, motorbike) dropped off and collected from the houses for you by a reliable, reputable, and friendly local family-run businesses.

CONTACT US TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS ON the ISLAND