Guidebook for Balgüe
Food Scene
Consistently ranked #1 restaurant on Ometepe on TripAdvisor, Café Campestre offers a wide variety of fresh foods made from organic and locally sourced ingredients, including sandwiches, pastas, salads, Indian curries, smoothies, alcoholic beverages, and desserts. They are open 12:00-9:00pm seven days a week (last hot food orders are taken at 8:00pm). A 20-25 minute walk from the house. My on-site team also offers meal delivery for Jackfruit House guests, seven days a week, bringing the food straight to your door.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Café Campestre
Consistently ranked #1 restaurant on Ometepe on TripAdvisor, Café Campestre offers a wide variety of fresh foods made from organic and locally sourced ingredients, including sandwiches, pastas, salads, Indian curries, smoothies, alcoholic beverages, and desserts. They are open 12:00-9:00pm seven days a week (last hot food orders are taken at 8:00pm). A 20-25 minute walk from the house. My on-site team also offers meal delivery for Jackfruit House guests, seven days a week, bringing the food straight to your door.
Best pizza and ravioli on the island. Casual ambience, fabulous service and good wine. Pasta and mains all day, pizza oven fired up from 5.30-8.30pm
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pizzeria Mediterranea bar ristorante
NN-226Best pizza and ravioli on the island. Casual ambience, fabulous service and good wine. Pasta and mains all day, pizza oven fired up from 5.30-8.30pm
Drinks & Nightlife
El Bamboo is an Argentinian grill and bar open Mondays-Saturdays until 10:00pm (last food orders taken at 9:00pm). Closed on Sundays. Located a 25-30 minute walk from the house. Also offers vegetarian options and many mixed beverages to choose from.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El bamboo
El Bamboo is an Argentinian grill and bar open Mondays-Saturdays until 10:00pm (last food orders taken at 9:00pm). Closed on Sundays. Located a 25-30 minute walk from the house. Also offers vegetarian options and many mixed beverages to choose from.
Chill vibes, late night drinks and yummy bar snacks. The great staff on hand in a super-relaxed environment.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Restaurant Clandestino
Chill vibes, late night drinks and yummy bar snacks. The great staff on hand in a super-relaxed environment.
Sightseeing
A crystal-clear natural swimming pool area, of water running from an underground stream. Plenty of lawn chairs, benches, shady spots, and even a rope to swing and jump in "Tarzan style." Also offers food and drinks in a restaurant area. Open 8am-5pm daily.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Waterhole
A crystal-clear natural swimming pool area, of water running from an underground stream. Plenty of lawn chairs, benches, shady spots, and even a rope to swing and jump in "Tarzan style." Also offers food and drinks in a restaurant area. Open 8am-5pm daily.
Embark on a guided 3-hour kayaking tour at Caballito de Mar in Mérida, journeying on the calm lake up to the Istiam River. Guide included who points out various species of birds, turtles, monkeys, etc. Caballito de Mar also includes a restaurant and tranquil, sandy beach area.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Restaurante Caballito
Al CaballitoEmbark on a guided 3-hour kayaking tour at Caballito de Mar in Mérida, journeying on the calm lake up to the Istiam River. Guide included who points out various species of birds, turtles, monkeys, etc. Caballito de Mar also includes a restaurant and tranquil, sandy beach area.
Visit the Mano Amiga community center for a tour of the roastery by Tostadores de Ometepe, the island's one and only certified organic coffee project! All of the organization's proceeds to go funding the free community programs offered by the center. Roasting tour is followed by a coffee preparation & tasting session, with your own 1-lb bag of organic island coffee to take home with you. Contact our on-site team to schedule your tour.
Mano Amiga Proyecto Comunitario
NN-226Visit the Mano Amiga community center for a tour of the roastery by Tostadores de Ometepe, the island's one and only certified organic coffee project! All of the organization's proceeds to go funding the free community programs offered by the center. Roasting tour is followed by a coffee preparation & tasting session, with your own 1-lb bag of organic island coffee to take home with you. Contact our on-site team to schedule your tour.
A beautiful place to get off of the beaten track and even catch the sun rise in the east.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Punta Gorda
A beautiful place to get off of the beaten track and even catch the sun rise in the east.
Parks & Nature
Hike to the crater of the active Concepción volcano (guide required). The full hike is about 10 hours round-trip from the house, departing at 5:00am to take a short bus ride across the isthmus to the trail entrance. My on-site team can organize a hike for you that includes a bilingual guide, all transport and entrance fees, and packed lunches.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Concepción
Hike to the crater of the active Concepción volcano (guide required). The full hike is about 10 hours round-trip from the house, departing at 5:00am to take a short bus ride across the isthmus to the trail entrance. My on-site team can organize a hike for you that includes a bilingual guide, all transport and entrance fees, and packed lunches.
Hike to the lagoon crater of the (inactive) Maderas volcano (guide required). The full hike is about 8 hours round-trip from the house, or 3-4 hours round-trip to the "mirador" halfway lookout point. The trail entrance at Finca Magdalena is a 10-minute walk from the house. My on-site team can organize a hike for you that includes a bilingual guide, entrance fees, and packed lunches.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Maderas
Hike to the lagoon crater of the (inactive) Maderas volcano (guide required). The full hike is about 8 hours round-trip from the house, or 3-4 hours round-trip to the "mirador" halfway lookout point. The trail entrance at Finca Magdalena is a 10-minute walk from the house. My on-site team can organize a hike for you that includes a bilingual guide, entrance fees, and packed lunches.
Finca Magdalena is a local-run hostel, restaurant, and farming cooperative just 10 minutes' walk from the house. A neat place to relax or walk around the old hacienda and coffee harvesting areas. Also the entrance point for hiking up the Maderas volcano (guide required) or walking to see nearby petroglyph rock carvings.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hostel Finca Magdalena
Finca Magdalena is a local-run hostel, restaurant, and farming cooperative just 10 minutes' walk from the house. A neat place to relax or walk around the old hacienda and coffee harvesting areas. Also the entrance point for hiking up the Maderas volcano (guide required) or walking to see nearby petroglyph rock carvings.
Long stretch of uncrowded sandy beach area. Great spot to enjoy the breeze and the freshwater lake. You can get refreshments at any of the various hotels and restaurants right on the beach area.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Santo Domingo
Long stretch of uncrowded sandy beach area. Great spot to enjoy the breeze and the freshwater lake. You can get refreshments at any of the various hotels and restaurants right on the beach area.
Long stretch of uncrowded sandy beach area. Take a dip in the freshwater lake, then have a snack or smoothie at one of the several small restaurants just across the street from the beach.
Playa Santa Cruz
Long stretch of uncrowded sandy beach area. Take a dip in the freshwater lake, then have a snack or smoothie at one of the several small restaurants just across the street from the beach.
A sandy beach area jutting out into the freshwater lake. Looks like you're "walking on water"!
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Punta Jesús María
A sandy beach area jutting out into the freshwater lake. Looks like you're "walking on water"!
If you're looking for a short hike, try the trail to the 50-meter-high waterfall above the town of San Ramón. From the main road, you can drive up the gravel road (motorcycle or 4x4 vehicle recommended) to the halfway point, then continue on foot for a 1-hour hike up to the waterfall. Can also wade in the water (knee- to waist-deep). NO guide required!
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
San Ramon
If you're looking for a short hike, try the trail to the 50-meter-high waterfall above the town of San Ramón. From the main road, you can drive up the gravel road (motorcycle or 4x4 vehicle recommended) to the halfway point, then continue on foot for a 1-hour hike up to the waterfall. Can also wade in the water (knee- to waist-deep). NO guide required!
Getting Around
Port for ferries/lanchas between Ometepe and San Jorge. This port is closer to the house but has no town/facilities. The other port is in Moyogalpa.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
San José del Sur
Port for ferries/lanchas between Ometepe and San Jorge. This port is closer to the house but has no town/facilities. The other port is in Moyogalpa.
Port for ferries/lanchas between Ometepe and San Jorge. This port is further from the house but is in a town with ATMs, restaurants, small shops, etc. (The other port is in San José del Sur.) ALSO: Gas station located in the center of town about 2 blocks uphill of the ferry port. One of two gas stations on the island (the other is in Altagracia).
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Moyogalpa
Port for ferries/lanchas between Ometepe and San Jorge. This port is further from the house but is in a town with ATMs, restaurants, small shops, etc. (The other port is in San José del Sur.) ALSO: Gas station located in the center of town about 2 blocks uphill of the ferry port. One of two gas stations on the island (the other is in Altagracia).
Gas station located on the main road at the entrance into town. One of two gas stations on the island (the other is in Moyogalpa). Good place to fill up your tank if you're returning a scooter/motorcycle/ATV rental in Balgüe or on the isthmus.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Altagracia
Gas station located on the main road at the entrance into town. One of two gas stations on the island (the other is in Moyogalpa). Good place to fill up your tank if you're returning a scooter/motorcycle/ATV rental in Balgüe or on the isthmus.
Arts & Culture
El Ceibo is a major Museum in the Ometepe island, The museum requires multilateral support to increase the exhibition area as well as scientific research on many pieces, to enhance information about the articles and to support scientific studies of the important archaeological area. Located 35min by scooters from house.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hotel Museos El Ceibo
El Ceibo is a major Museum in the Ometepe island, The museum requires multilateral support to increase the exhibition area as well as scientific research on many pieces, to enhance information about the articles and to support scientific studies of the important archaeological area. Located 35min by scooters from house.
Finca El Porvenir is a local-run hostel and farming cooperative just 25 minutes' walk from the house. A neat place to relax or walk around the old hacienda and coffee harvesting areas. Also the entrance point for hiking up the Maderas volcano (guide required) or walking to see nearby petroglyph rock carvings.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hotel Finca El Porvenir
Ometepe, cerro Maderas Hotel Finca El PorvenirFinca El Porvenir is a local-run hostel and farming cooperative just 25 minutes' walk from the house. A neat place to relax or walk around the old hacienda and coffee harvesting areas. Also the entrance point for hiking up the Maderas volcano (guide required) or walking to see nearby petroglyph rock carvings.
Essentials
15 minutes on foot to the center of town. Grocery stores (pulperias), bus stops, fruit stands, health center and labrotory, pharmacy, shoe repair, nacatamales (a local specialty), gasoline etc
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Balgue
15 minutes on foot to the center of town. Grocery stores (pulperias), bus stops, fruit stands, health center and labrotory, pharmacy, shoe repair, nacatamales (a local specialty), gasoline etc