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Tag: "Nicaragua"

Where to stay in Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Where to stay in Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

[ 0 ] March 20, 2011

Planning a trip to Isla de Ometepe? Wherever you stay expect a bumpy ride. Hostels are few and far between and the roads are in a bad way. Read on to see which are the best areas and how much to pay in a taxi…

Beaches underwater at Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Santa Domingo, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua - Fabulous Travel Guide

Santa Domingo (pictured) is about 40 minutes from Moyogalpa in a taxi. Either get a local bus (which takes around 3 hours) or take a taxi (1 hour). Don’t pay any more than $15.

Here you’ll find several hostels, a couple of restaurants and one internet café. There’s also somewhere to hire motorbikes and mopeds. TOP TIP Don’t give them your passport – pay a deposit instead. We handed our passports over and when we came back a few hours later they said they’d lost it…

Santa Cruz is a little further away, and it’s here that the roads get particularly bad. It should take around one hour in a cab ($20). There’s not much to do here but it’s a good base if you want to climb Volcan Maderas and San Ramon waterfall.

Volcan Concepcion, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua - Where to stay - Fabulous Travel Guide

Hostels

If you’re looking for a sociable vibe and lots of fun, head to Little John’s ($7) in Santa Cruz. The bar here gets lively at night and there’s plenty of hammocks to chill out in when you’re not exploring the island. Be warned, it’s a fair distance to Santa Domingo on foot so you’re best bet is to hire a motorbike to see the island.

If you’re staying in Santa Domingo then Hostel Buena Vista ($7) is your cheapest option. Dorms are a little old fashioned with worn out sheets and only a curtain separating the toilet from the bedrooms, but it’s cheap and cheerful. There are hammocks out front, a bar and good views of the lake.

Staying in Granada or San Juan del Sur? Find out how to get to Ometepe and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for more travel updates,

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How to get to Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

How to get to Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

[ 0 ] March 16, 2011

Isla de Ometepe in Nicaragua is formed out of two volcanoes: Volcan Concepcion and Volcan Maderas. It is the largest island located on a fresh water lake in the world – and it’s well worth a visit.

Staying in San Juan del Sur or Granada? Your hostel should have plenty of info on bus times and prices. Check out the map below to start planning your route.

Catch a boat to Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Catch a boat to Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

From Granada: Get a direct boat (Monday and Thursday) or get the local bus to Rivas (takes 1 hour), a taxi to the port (10 minutes) and a boat from there (1 hour) to Moyogalpa.

From San Juan Del Sur : Get a bus to Rivas (40 minutes) and a boat from there (1 hour) to Moyogalpa.

See more pictures of Ometepe and  check out the freshwater springs. Need more advice on travelling through Nicaragua? Follow our top tips on staying safe in Central America.

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Volcan Concepción

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Volcan Concepción

[ 1 ] March 13, 2011

Planning a trip to Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua? Get ready for magnificant views of Volcan Concepción and Volcan Maderas as you speed around the island by moped.

Volcan Concepción, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Volcan Concepción on Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua - Fabulous Travel Guide

See what else there is to do in Nicaragua and see more pictures of Isla de Ometepe here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, too!

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Party hard in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

Party hard in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

[ 2 ] March 7, 2011

Looking for big waves and an even bigger party scene? San Juan Del Sur on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua is a dream come true for surfers.

Both Playa Maderas and Playa Hermosas (where season 22 of US TV show Surviver was filmed) are great for surfing, while the local beach (pictured below) is perfect for sunbathing and enjoying a few beers.

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua - Beaches in San Juan Del Sur - Nicaragua

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua - Beaches in San Juan Del Sur - Fabulous Travel Guide

Where to party

If you’re a girl head to Iguana to drink free from 8-10 every night Sun-Thurs. If you’re a guy? Head down there anyway as it’s packed to the rafters with fun-loving ladies.

The Black Whale is another cool bar with several pool tables, hammocks and live music. Be sure to try the biggest burgers in town (120 cordobas) – they are literally bigger than your head…

Where to eat

For breakfast try El Gato Negro. It has a great, chilled out vibe and you can browse the book store while you’re waiting for food. Make sure you try one of the infamous smoothies – they’ll leave you feeling like a new person!

Big Wave Dave’s is another cool hangout that serves up great North American food, such as nachos and fajitas. It also shows all the major sporting events.

Looking for somewhere to stay? Check out our pick of the best hostels and find out more fun things to do in Central America.

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Best hostels in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

Best hostels in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

[ 2 ] March 6, 2011

There are loads of great hostels in San Juan Del Sur, but our favourite has to be PachaMama ($8 per night). There are hammocks and rocking chairs on the porch, a communal kitchen and great banter between staff and guests.

Pacha Mama hostel, San Juan Del Sur

Top Pick: Pacha Mamas hostel in San Juan Del Sur - Nicaragua - Fabulous Travel Guide

When you’re not playing table-tennis, you can chill out with a movie or hang out in the back yard. Best of all? It’s just around the corner from the local beach and there are daily shuttles to Playa Hermosa ($10) and Playa Maderas ($5).

Pacha Mamas hostel - staff and guests
Staff and guests at Pacha Mama’s have fun at the beach

Casa Oro ($8.5 per night) is another favourite with backpackers.There’s a TV area in reception showing short videos of surfers, regular barbecues, daily shuttles to the beach and cheap surf lessons.

Hostel Esperanza, just round the corner from PachaMama, is the chepaest option at $7. The dorms are spacious (although very bright in the morning!) and the backyard has a tropical feel, with hammocks, benches and colourful plants.

Looking for the best places to party? San Juan Del Sur is great for surfing and ladies drink free nearly every night of the week… Follow me on Twitter for more updates.

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Crossing borders in Central America - Tips and advice - Fabulous Travel Guide

How to cross borders in Central America

[ 3 ] March 4, 2011

Planning to travel through Central America? Crossing borders is fairly straight forward but occasionally tourists have trouble. Read these top tips for crossing borders safely:

* Avoid crossing borders at night

There’s usually a fair bit of walking to do between immigration offices so don’t leave yourself in a vulnerable position by arriving at night. You’re an easy target.

* Get stamped

Make sure you get stamped in and out of countries – this is really important as you could get refused entry/exit.

Crossing borders in Central America - Tips and advice for crossing borders - Fabulous Travel Guide

Crossing borders in Central America - Tips and advice - Fabulous Travel Guide

* Keep tourist cards and documents safe

It’s a good idea to buy a passport wallet so you can tuck away forms and tourist cards.

* Proof of onward travel

Read the latest entry requirements before travelling. Some countries, such as Costa Rica and Panama, require proof of onward travel. So print off flight documents or bus tickets ready to show them.

* Ask for receipts

There is usually a departure tax/entry fee when crossing borders in Central America. However, always ask for a receipt (see Spanish phrases) as tourists are often ripped off. It’s a good idea to carry extra cash in case of emergencies.

* Change your currency before you get to the border

You’ll get a better deal if you change your currency before you reach the border.  If you do need to change money, make sure you know the exchange rate before you start negotiating.

* Be wary of fraudsters

Don’t hand your passport over to anyone until you’re safely inside the immigration building. Some fraudsters try and get you to ‘buy’ a stamp outside and insist you give them your passport. Don’t!

* Don’t leave valuables in your backpack

If you take a bus over the border it will usually drop you off at immigration and drive through separately. Don’t leave any valuables in your backpack – keep them on your person at all times (a money belt is a good idea).

* Travel in a group

You’re less likely to get ripped off if you’re in a group. If you’re travelling solo don’t worry, there will always be other people crossing at the same time as you so try and stick with them.

* Don’t carry drugs!

This may seem like an obvious one but it’s surprising how many travellers get into trouble because they forget to check their pockets.

Planning a trip to Central America? Get more tips for travelling safely abroad and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!

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