Getting To & Around Ometepe Island

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). This is the only port on the mainland open for public arrivals to Ometepe (2025). There is no current service from Granada to Ometepe.

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

From either Managua or Liberia airport, the port of San Jorge is approximately a 2.5-hour drive in private transport.

You have options to rent a vehicle at the airport or border, have a driver to bring you, or take the bus* to Ometepe.

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 port-town and has more frequent options for arrival and departure to Ometepe from San Jorge. This is the main town on Ometepe and its where you’ll find banks and the most varied stores.

IF DRIVING: as you leave the port follow the other vehicles uphill and a few blocks right if heading to Merida, Santa Cruz, Altagracia or Balgue. Taking the back route around Conception (left at the top of the hill once at the main road) 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 a day to Moyogalpa.

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.

If you arrive by bus or shuttle to Rivas a taxi to San Jorge should cost around $2 dollars from the bus station or roundabout (“Rotonda”). 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, especially during busy holiday periods or agricultural export times. 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.

We can try to get reservations for our guests, but can’t be held responsible for the ferry reservations. We are unaffiliated with the ferry companies.

If you’ll be staying with us and need assistance you should let us know in your reservation correspondance what type of vehicle you’ll be bringing and your preferred time.

They will arrive at one of two ports on the island, Moyogalpa or San Jose. It doesn’t matter much which.

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 (2005).

Read more about the ferries and ports in the link above.

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 have used Dollar rentals and Alamo with good service.

Ometepe 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-friendlyish 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 privately own. You should have some patience and flexibility and be ok with little personal space during busy periods.

* 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, heading towards Santa Domingo. If you take the bus to Merida, you can change at Santa Domingo.

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