Beneath the shadow of the Mombacho Volcano, on a secluded island within Lake Nicaragua's Las Isletas de Granada lies Jicaro Island Lodge, Nicaragua's most exclusive & authentic nature resort. Though only 20 minutes from the colorful colonial city of Granada by boat and car, Jicaro Island feels a world away, an oasis of peace and tranquility where one is serenaded by birdsong and the gentle lapping waters of the lake. Nine private 'treehouse' casitas overlook the water and feature a two-story, open air plan with king canopy beds and private decks with oversized hand crafted hammocks. The entire property was built from reclaimed hardwood and blends seamlessly with the natural vegetation, offering guests a hospitality experience that is simultaneously indulgent and completely sustainable. Upon arriving on the island, friendly staff welcome guests with a refreshing concoction of local herbal iced tea and Flor de Caña rum and are always on hand to help arrange a bird watching tour by kayak, a guided walk through the fascinating local markets or to help interested guests practice their Spanish. Yoga classes on the sun deck are available on request and guests are free to use the island's kayaks and SUPs, to swim out to the floating dock or to take in the sunrise and sunset from the "Mirador" tower at the island's highest point.
Honeymooners, adventurous travelers and wellness seekers are all well-catered to on Jicaro Island, both an excellent basecamp from which to explore the culture and nature of Lake Nicaragua and simultaneously an exclusive retreat offering peace and tranquility.
PROPERTY FACTS
9
Treehouse Casitas - Can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children
Full Board or Private Buyout
Yes, Throughout and Complimentary
Open Year Round
Andrew Harper
Massages & Facials Only
Pool, Spa, yoga space, SUP boards and kayaks
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RATES
$800 +tax per casita per night, based on double occupancy
$800 +tax per casita per night, based on double occupancy
$1200 +tax per casita per night, based on double occupancy
Full Board Green Season
Full Board High Season
Full Board Holiday Season
Rates are inclusive of all meals, one roundtrip boat transfer between Jicaro Island and the Port of Asese, + use of Jicaro's yoga equipment, kayaks and SUP boards. On-island experiences like the Behind the Scenes Sustainability tour, cocktail lessons and Spanish classes are also included in the rate. Off-island tours are an additional cost. An additional person may share a casita with two adults for $250 per night. Government tax of 17% is not included in the rates. Keep in mind that we do offer private buyouts of the entire island, but recommend booking this up to 6 months in advance.
LOCATION: ISLETAS DE GRANADA, NICARAGUA
Closet Domestic Airport:
Managua's Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) is the closest airport and only a 50 minute drive from Granada. Managua offers both international flights as well as connections to smaller regional airports throughout Nicaragua. However, the best way to get there currently is via land border crossing via Costa Rica. The best way to do this is by flying into Liberia, CR (LIR).
Managua's Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) is the closest airport and only a 50 minute drive from Granada. International flights from Houston on United and Miami w/ American.
Most guests travel by car from Managua to Granada and then take Jicaro's boat transfer across the lake. Helicopter connections between Managua and Granada are also possible though Jicaro Island is only accessible via boat.
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WHEN TO VISIT
Lake Nicaragua and Granada are located right in the tropics within a humid tropical forest/rainforest environment and can be visited year-round. Like much of Central America, two main seasons exist; the Dry Season from December to April and the Green Season from May to November. The rain on this side of the country falls almost exclusively during the late afternoon or evening and rarely lasts more than a few hours. Warm temperatures are characteristic throughout the year, with high temperatures in the low- 80’s to 90’s and low temperatures in the high 60’s to mid-70’s.
Granada is well known for its colorful religious processions during Semana Santa just before Easter. May marks the beginning of the 'Green Season' which is the best time to view wildlife and go birdwatching.
FOR FAMILIES
Jicaro Island welcomes children 12 and older year-round. Sofa beds on the first floor of the casitas can be made up as a queen sleeper sofa so each casita can accommodate a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children. During peak family travel times from March 15-April 15 and from July 1- August 20 children as young as 8 may visit Jicaro with their families.
Children will enjoy paddling the lake near the island in kayaks or SUPs, swimming in the warm lake waters and jumping off of the floating dock. Jicaro's friendly staff are also delighted to help families experience the local culture with visits to the community school and a nearby farm where pigs are fed organic matter from Jicaro Island to produce biogas. Spanish classes and cooking lessons are also regularly offered on-site, the colorful markets of Granada and Masaya are a visual delight and of course zip-lining, hiking and horseback riding excursions are all possible in the surrounding rainforest.
Lifejackets are available though we recommend that children staying on the island already know how to swim.
RECOMMENDED LENGTH OF STAY
Because of the numerous activities and experiences surrounding Jicaro Island as well as the exceptional service and focus on wellness and relaxation that Jicaro is known for, 3 nights is the recommended minimum. Take it easy and join the Island Tour the first day or go for a swim or a sunset paddle; devote the next two days to off-island adventures and spend the last day focused on wellness with yoga and a spa treatment. Granada most certainly warrants a day of exploration as well; for guests who have the time, we suggested a guided tour of Granada on the last day and then stay one additional night in the colonial city to enjoy the nightlife and restaurants. More about this is found below in the “Best Combined With” section.
Guests who have stayed fewer than 3 nights at Jicaro have frequently lamented that they wish they would have included an extra day just to enjoy the island and that they wish they would have had more nights to enjoy dinners – including the popular ‘street food night’ and the ‘Caballo bayo’ spread of traditional Nicaraguan dishes.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
With just 9 rooms, Jicaro Island provides an intimate and highly personalized guest experience and is ideal for private buyouts. GM Howard Coulson heads up the team of 32 and has been with Jicaro Island since it opened in 2010.
The location on Lake Nicaragua immerses guests in centuries of culture & community, centered around the water, which is very different from staying in more Granada. From the casitas balconies, guests see fishermen casting their nets & children rowing colorful boats to school and can venture out by boat, kayak or SUP to visit local communities with a guide.
Small details highlight Nicaraguan culture; from the hand woven table mats to the drinking cups carved from Jicaro pods to the casita bar stocked with Flor de Caña rums and local beers on arrival.
For wellness seekers, morning yoga classes are available on request and the spa overlooking the water offers a variety of treatments. We recommend the facial with the handmade coffee and sugar scrub!
Jicaro island is 100% sustainable. The timber used in construction was from trees felled by Hurricane Felix, water is filtered to eliminate the use of plastic bottles and solar panels provide electricity and water heating.
Sustainability also means minimizing environmental impact while supporting the local community. Learn more about how Jicaro has improved the local public school & provided training and economic opportunities for families on the surrounding Isletas.
The owner of Jicaro Island is Karen Emanuel, a London businesswoman who was traveling in Nicaragua when she saw a sign reading "Island for Sale." You can read her blog about the process of building a sustainable island retreat - complete with funny anecdotes about smuggling yoga mats through customs - at www.karensisland.com
BEST COMBINED WITH
Jicaro Island combines well with a few nights on Nicaragua's southwestern Pacific shores, known as the Emerald Coast, for a trip that highlights both the interior (colonial cities, lush volcanoes and Lake Nicaragua) and beaches famous for world class surfing. Start with 3 or 4 nights at Jicaro and finish with 3 or 4 nights on the coast with a night in Granada in between for guests who want an evening for city nightlife. On the coast, Morgan's Rock is an excellent complement to Jicaro Island.
For guests who wish to combine Nicaragua with Costa Rica, we can offer transportation via land to Liberia and San Jose.
ROOM Category Descriptions
In early April of 2019 I spent a week in Nicaragua with a good friend from college. Using Jicaro Island Lodge as our base, we planned day trips around Granada, Mombacho and Masaya. Here, I share my thoughts on revisiting Jicaro Island, traveler safety in Nicaragua following political unrest in 2018, and the moral dilemma of “should you go?”