Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Casa Istiam
OFFLINE MAP
( 2569-4879; r with fan/air-con US$15/30; )
About halfway between Playa Santo
Domingo and Santa Cruz, with the beach right across the road and the Río Istiam out
back, this is one classy location. Rooms are basic but cute, with fresh, bright paint jobs
and cool stone floors.
HOTEL
$
Hostal Espirales
OFFLINE MAP
( 8573-4998;
www.hostalespirales.com
; dm/s/d US$7/15/20, r with air-con US$25)
Across the
road from the beach, this farm/hotel has simple rooms and a basic dormitory.
HOSTEL
$
El Encanto
OFFLINE MAP
( 8867-7128;
www.goelencanto.com
; s/d US$20/ 25)
Set on a 4-hectare banana farm, rooms
here are simply but pleasantly decorated, with big, screened windows and clean, modern
bathrooms. Hammocks out front of your room have great lake views. The restaurant gets
raves for its mix of Nicaraguan classics and international food, including curries, whole-
meal bread and several vegetarian options.
HOTEL
$$
Volcán Maderas
Climbing this 1394m
volcano
(guides per person US$5-20)
involves a muddy seven- to eight-
hour slog (with four to five hours of climbing). Eventually, you'll reach a misty cloud
forest ending with a steep crater descent to a chilly jade green lake. The halfway point of
the Finca Magdalena trail, with benches, offers the money shot of Concepción.
There are three trails to the top: the original at Finca Magdelena (US$15 per group of
three) and two slightly longer trails beginning at Hacienda Mérida (US$20 per group of
three) and Finca El Porvenir (US$15/20 for one/two people).
Around Volcán Maderas
This is the lusher, wilder side of the island. It's even less developed than Concepción's
side, and petroglyphs are much more common. Any hotel can arrange guided hikes
