What to do on Isla de Ometepe with kids? Isla de Ometepe, is located in the vast Lake Nicaragua and is a fun destination for families with kids. The island is best known for the island’s two massive volcanoes, Maderas and Conceptión, which cover most of the island. This volcanic island has enough activities to keep the family entertained for about 3 to 4 days. In this blog, we list the best children’s activities on Isla de Ometepe and give family-friendly tips regarding restaurants and accommodations.
Best travel time Isla de Ometepe with kids
The best time to visit Isla de Ometepe with kids is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. During this period, you have less chance of rain, which is the nicest thing for exploring Isla de Ometepe with the family. After all, most activities are outdoors. Temperatures are generally warm during this period and therefore you can get in the sea just fine during this period.
Although the rainy season (May to November) makes the island beautifully green, the rain can sometimes make roads difficult to pass through. Therefore, if you have the choice, the best time to explore the island with the family is during the dry season.
Transportation to and on Isla de Ometepe
To get to Isla de Ometepe with kids, you must travel with the family to San Jorge. From here, boats leave for Isla de Ometepe and take about an hour. From Granada, it takes about 1.5 hours to travel to San Jorge by car or bus. From the capital Managua, it is about 2 hours of travel to San Jorge.
The boats can go to two places on Isla de Ometepe. These are the ports of Moyogalpa and San José del Sur. Check beforehand where your accommodation is and to which port your boat will then be best to go. This saves a lot of travel time on the island itself. Always ask about this when you go to book the boat.
The best way to explore Isla de Ometepe with kids is by scooter, quad bike or car. The roads are not always in the best condition, especially if you want to go to more remote places, but a quad or 4×4 car will get you to most places. Keep in mind that cabs are few and far between on the island and you often have to book them in advance. Buses do run, but only a few times a day and that is not the most ideal way to explore the island with kids.
On a quad bike, it is possible for 1 adult and 2 kids to ride it, and on a scooter, if necessary, 1 kid can ride on the back. Of course, be sure to bring a helmet for each family member from the rental company, as this is checked by the police and it is recommended with kids anyway.
It is also possible to rent a bike, but that is especially suitable with older kids. Children’s bikes are often not in very good condition, so keep that in mind.
Children’s activities Isla de Ometepe
#1 Swimming in Ojo de Agua
One of the most fun activities to do on Isla Ometepe with kids is swimming at Ojo de Agua. Ojo de Agua is a natural spring and one of the most popular spots on Ometepe. The spring’s clear water comes directly from the Maderas volcano and is great for swimming. There are several pools that are not too deep, so these are also perfect for younger kids.
Around the pool are sunbeds and shaded areas where parents can relax while the kids play in the pool. There are also swings and a jumping platform for the kids. The smallest kids can play here on the trampoline and playground near this natural pool. Ojo de Agua also has a small café where you can buy snacks, soft drinks and fresh coconuts.
You pay an entrance fee here, half of which you can spend in the café. It is a very nice place to spend at least half a day if you are visiting Isla Ometepe with the family.
#2 Kayaking on the Istian River
An active activity you can do on Isla de Ometepe with kids is kayaking. You can do this on the Istian River. This quiet river flows through a beautiful nature reserve where you can see many birds, turtles and sometimes even caimans. You go through the mangrove here by kayak, and you can rent a kayak at several places around the river. You can do this with a guide, or do it yourself with the kids.
#3 Hiking to the waterfall of San Ramón
You can also visit a waterfall on Isla de Ometepe with kids. The route to this waterfall is about 1.5 hours of walking and it is advisable to put on walking shoes. This can be a tough hike with very young kids, though. The closer you get to the waterfall, the more you enter the jungle.
The waterfall is 50 meters high and looks beautiful. It is a very photogenic place. You can also swim here with kids. So be sure to bring swimwear for the kids, too. It depends a bit on how big the waterfall is. In the rainy season, of course, the waterfall is a lot bigger than in the dry season.
#4 Beach day at Santo Domingo
You can also go to the beach on Isla de Ometepe with kids. Located on the east side of the island, Playa Santo Domingo has black volcanic sand. The water there is calm (of course, it is on a lake and not the sea), making it ideal for kids to play in. The beach is spacious and has plenty of room.
The beach has some small eateries where you can grab a bite to eat and a drink. There are also a number of beach chairs and umbrellas on this beach. A great way to spend half a day here at the beach on a hot summer day.
#5 Volcano Maderas
As we mentioned earlier in the blog, the island of Isla de Ometepe is known for its two volcanoes and you can go hiking at both of them. Many of these tours are really full-day and these tours are certainly unsuitable for young kids. The shortest hike is at volcano Maderas.
It’s best to hike here with kids 8 or older, though. For younger kids, the hike of about 10 kilometers is quite tough. It is also best to hire a guide for the ascent. Who can also take into account the kids present in the company and, of course, you can walk part of the route.
You walk through the beautiful jungle surrounding the volcano on this hike, and the trail is beautiful. The higher you get on the volcano, the more beautiful the view becomes.
Other children’s activities Isla de Ometepe
In addition to the children’s activities described above on Isla de Ometepe, there are other activities you can do with kids. We list them below.
#6 Punta Jesús María: this is a narrow beach on the western side of Isla de Ometepe and a cool place to go to watch the sunset. You have a view of the Concepción volcano here, so there are stalls where you can buy some food and drink. This beach is unique because it juts into Lake Nicaragua like a long point, so you are surrounded by water on both sides. So kids can walk across a small stretch of beach into the lake and can play just fine here.
#7 Chaco Verde: You can go hiking with kids in this beautiful nature reserve on Isla de Ometepe. You can spot all kinds of animals here during this hike including toucans, parrots and monkeys. You can hire a guide at the beginning of the park who will take you for a walk in the park. You can do walks as short as 1 or 2 hours here, making it doable with kids, too.
#8 Visit Chocolate Factory: you can visit several factories on the island, where they make chocolate. Usually here you can see the process of how chocolate is made and kids can taste chocolate, of course.
Family-friendly restaurant Isla de Ometepe
You can also have great food on Isla de Ometepe with kids. Keep in mind that there are not super many supermarkets on the island. It is then best to bring food from the mainland to the island if you want to cook for yourself, for example, because otherwise you will have to eat out. There are several fun and family-friendly restaurants on the island. We list some of them.
Pizzeria Mediterráneo: This cozy Italian restaurant is located in Moyogalpa, the main town of Ometepe. At this family-friendly restaurant on Isla de Ometepe, you can order pizza and pasta for the kids. The atmosphere is informal and the restaurant has a large terrace.
Café Campestre: This restaurant in Balgüe serves dishes such as burritos, pastas and salads and also has several vegetarian options. You have a nice garden sitting by the restaurant where you can eat. This family-friendly restaurant is rated tremendously well online.
El Bamboo: This restaurant is located in Santa Cruz and you can have a nice outdoor meal with the kids here. This family-friendly restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has dishes like wraps, burgers and smoothies.
Family-friendly hotel Isla de Ometepe
There are plenty of family-friendly hotels on Isla de Ometepe where you can stay as a family. Here are three well-reviewed family-friendly accommodations on Islad de Ometepe for every budget:
Budget accommodation: Hostal tortuga viajera: this hostel in Moyogalpa has family rooms for a low price per night. The hostel has a communal garden and a tour desk, where you can book various tours for around the island.
Mid-range accommodation: Totoco Eco-Project: this accommodation is an eco-lodge with a swimming pool and here you have a nice view of the surroundings from the accommodation. You also have a beautiful sunset to watch here in the evenings.
Luxury accommodation: Selvista Guesthouses: this eco-lodge in Balgüe offers beautiful views of the island and features spacious family lodges. This accommodation is rated with an overall score of 8.7 by guests who have stayed there overnight.
