Hostal El Guis Ometepe

A clean, basic place at a good price for travelers, in a very handy part of Balgue. The woman running it was so kind and helpful, always ready to do more for her guests. Breakfast is worth the cost. I’d definitely recommend staying here :)

Once we got settled, the family made us feel incredibly welcome. Our room was simple and clean, and I slept better here than anywhere else during our six nights on Ometepe. By 7:45 at night we were already in the hammocks, barely able to keep our eyes open. It’s peaceful and quiet, and just far enough off the main road for a good night’s sleep while still being close to Balgue. At first my wife and I were skeptical. We hadn’t expected the steep road up to the hostel to be so difficult on our small scooters, even though it’s only about 100 meters. For budget travel in Balgue, though, this place is safe, quiet, clean, and friendly.

We liked the location so much that our two-night booking turned into seven. Obdela arranged a scooter and a guide for us, and we walked to yoga at el pital each day. The room was clean and comfortable, and having the towels and sheets changed every two days was a nice bonus. My only criticism is that the kitchen and bathroom could have been a little cleaner.

The owner was very kind and welcoming, and a single room seemed like fair value for the price. The accommodation is basic, though, and the bathroom and kitchen could have been cleaner. The soap I was given was so watered down it was basically just water, and there was no wardrobe, shelving, or desk for clothes and storage. I booked four nights but left after one and wasn’t allowed a refund. A local festival right next to the guest house meant loud music that shook the walls until 11pm, with more music going past midnight the night before my early hike. With little sound insulation, even earplugs didn’t help much. Dogs woke me at 2am, then roosters at 4:30am. The rooms shouldn’t have been bookable for those festival nights, or guests should at least have been warned.