Stay in the center of the tourist town of Balgue. Steps away from the lake (2 mins) and a 30 minute walk to medicinal spring water near Finca Magdalena. Located just off the main road in a secure and chill location. • WIFI • Communal kitchen • Hot tub/pool under stars Sleep in a PRIVATE, locked/secure room downstairs with a new, THICK double bed, hammock, desk, fan, and access to 2 shared bathrooms. If you don’t like kids this isn’t the place for you. Owner lives on site with 5 + 8 yr old. Welcome home! ❤️ It’s much like coming home to visit family here! Cozy & safe with everything you need… • 1 queen bed for two (or 3 if it’s short people/kids and you can lay sideways) • 1 twin bed (for up to 2) • 1 hammock above the twin bed • small desk • towels • 2 fans (mosquitos are not an issue here as long as fans are used) — one for each bed • nice tile floor • window with bars • enclosed roof (not standard here) Downstairs, this is one of 3 private rooms for rent, 2 bathrooms, communal kitchen, front porch, back porch, and dining area. 💛 There are hammocks, a bamboo sofa, swings, and dining tables available in the large community space. 💛 The front & back porch are great places to relax between your adventures. Out back we just built a small plunge pool/hot tub to cool down in when hot. To be noted about my place: 👧👶 If you don’t like kids (and are insulted/annoyed/bothered by their mess/noises) this IS NOT the place for you. It’s a family environment. Owner lives on site (upstairs) with 5 + 9yr old + Nicaraguan partner. 🌟 If you like talking with super cool/interesting unschooling/gringo kids that live in Nicaragua as expats they are usually pretty friendly and helpful! 🎨 If you are traveling with kids you will probably love it here!! We have colors and games and free tour guides (the kids) all included ☺️ To be noted about Ometepe: ⛺️ We are in the jungle! It is a step above camping almost ANYWHERE you stay on the island. Power outages are normal for the whole island (but we have backup fans/charger/light for guests) as well as water outages (but we have a backup tank). 🐜 Bugs exist *everywhere* but our place seems to have less because of the vibrations of road and no wild jungle as neighbors. Ants are always abundant during the switch of season. Big toads and spiders (neither which will harm you) exist everywhere. 🥵 It is HOT HOT by the end of March/April while we wait on the rain to return. If you can’t do hot maybe better not travel to ometepe during this season or pay for Air-conditioning (a handful of places exist with this on the island). My place is no hotter than anywhere else without A/C… it’s just a hot time to travel. You have access to all parts of the house EXCEPT upstairs which is reserved for family. We’re happy to help you and available anytime to assist in making your stay wonderful. Upstairs, Missy (owner), lives with Nicaraguan partner (Jonathan), 9 year old (Grayson) & a 5.5 year old (Kenna). We are always excited to get to know our guests and help be your guide during your stay. Jonathan can be your tour guide on the volcano for just $15/pp (saving you $10 per person). Be sure to reserve him if you’re interested in hiking. We also have a scooter for rent for just $15/day or you can pay Jonathan to take you around town for 100 cordobas one way. Missy speaks English and decent Spanish and Kenna is fluent in Spanish/English. Jonathan speaks a little English and Grayson speaks a little Spanish. If you want to practice Spanish or English we’re happy to chat! Balgue is a hip & peaceful little village, in the center of this magical island, and close to many of the island's main attractions (Ojo de Agua -a natural spring swimming hole, el pital - yoga & chocolate tours, zopilote - fire shows, pizza night, & organic permaculture farm, kite surfing, kayaking, Saturday night poker, horseback riding and more!) The ancient Indian settlers considered the Maderas a sacred place of the sun and you find pre-Columbian petroglyphs dispersed all over Balgüe and Santa Cruz. It seems as if the spirit of the former inhabitants inspires today's residents to strive for a life in harmony with nature. There are farming projects dedicated to permaculture and environmental education, and eco hotels and communities using regenerative technologies and growing their own organic vegetables. The slopes of Balgüe and Santa Cruz have scenic views of the Concepción volcano whose top is sometimes neatly visible, and sometimes dresses a cap of clouds. You see gorgeous sunsets while in your back you hear the howler monkeys and birds from the forest of the Maderas volcanoe. If once you have had enough of nature contemplation and bliss you can dive into action with a hike up the Maderas volcano. The most popular starting point is from Finca Magdalena, 2 km uphill from Balgüe. If you don't want to make the entire, strenous hike to the top of the Maderas you can walk only a portion of the trail into the elf forest of the nature reserve. Take a guide as otherwise you get lost in the maze of trails. The guide will also point out plants and wildlife of the cloud forest. Other tours from Finca Magdalena lead through the organic coffee plantation and to a couple of sites with intriguing petroglyph. A nice spot for a river bath in the forest is at the foot of Finca Magdalena. A small pool is fed with the cool water of a natural spring. Sometimes you can watch birds and monkeys who descend from the treetops to drink. Next door to us is an amazing restaurant, a store to buy food, and a produce stand…. Although there are more options for food to buy in Moyogalpa (Pali) and/or in Santa Cruz at the main corner store. Being centrally located and on the main road, we are easy to get to by bus or taxi (from the ferry). Please note on the island the bus does not run on Sunday meaning if you’re planning to come or leave on a Sunday you need to budget in $20 for a taxi. Once here, you can decide whether you want to • walk (we are within an hour walk of most things happening between the town of Balgue and Santa Cruz). • rent a scooter ($14-$25/day) • rent a 4 wheeler ($40-$50/day), or • get a moto taxi to get around (usually 150 cordobas within 20 mins) • get a taxi (expensive) We do offer scooter rental but only have 2… you’re welcome to rent (if available) for 500 cordobas ($14ish)/day... I suggest reserving it with me if you plan on renting one. If not available through me, there is a scooter rental place for $15-$20/day just down the street. NOTE: the closest ATM is a 20 min drive away in Santa Domingo and the island is 98% cash with a few exceptions (the restaurant next door takes cards). The positive side of Kailaia is authenticity - you get more of a real Nica day-to-day type experience, both with locals and expats (AND btw we really do have far fewer bugs including mosquitoes!) than anywhere else on the island. Kaikaia is located on the main road in the town of Balgue which is a hip location on the bus line… but if you are a light sleeper or don’t like kids you might need earplugs/headphones or maybe a place more in the jungle is for you.