Isleta El Espino Ecolodge

We spent our days kayaking, watching birds, doing yoga, and resting. They even have Manduka mats. Henry and Juan Carlos are genuine, lovely people, and we especially enjoyed the hibiscus ginger drink and breakfast. It was a great place to reset and disconnect. A couple of things took away from the stay. Pablo's service on our last night was poor, and his manner made guests uncomfortable. The generator on the neighboring island also disrupts the eco feel. We know it's outside their direct control, but think the community should work out a solution. Dinner could use a little more creativity too.

We'd happily recommend this hotel, and suggest booking a lake view room. Just keep in mind that plants along the shore partly block the view. The restaurant deck by the lake and the pool areas were especially pleasant. We also recommend kayaking in the morning and at sunset. If you already know your way around a kayak, you don't need to hire a guide. The hotel beat our expectations. The rooms were clean, nicely equipped, and had good airflow, so they cooled down at night. With only two other rooms occupied during our stay, the property felt private. Staff were friendly, though a few service issues brought our rating down. Our room safe wouldn't open. The concierge said he'd unlock it but never came back, so we couldn't use it. On a private island, it wasn't a major problem. The water heater was also acting up, and the shower kept shifting between boiling hot and cold.

We loved the dinner and the complimentary kayaks. I only wish we'd booked two nights here and cut our Granada stay by one night. We'd almost skipped this hotel, but it turned out to be the best one of our Nicaragua trip. If you're on the fence, just book it.

The staff made us feel so welcome, and our room was cozy with an amazing view. We had a couple's massage and really enjoyed it. I was celebrating my birthday, and at dinner they surprised me with a birthday sign and dessert. Such a thoughtful touch. Every meal was delicious, especially the iced lemongrass tea made with lemongrass from their garden. We also tried net fishing, which was fun, and they offered to cook our freshly caught fish for lunch. We had a wonderful two-night stay and will definitely return and tell friends and family about it.