Moyogalpa

Moyogalpa is a town on the island of Ometepe, in the Southern Pacific Coast region of Nicaragua.

Understand
One of the two major towns on the island, as well as the administrative seat of one of the islands two municipalities. It is the starting point for most tourists, as the ferries from San Jorge on the western shore of Lake Cocibolca leave and arrive here.

By boat
There are frequent ferries from San Jorge on the mainland, taking you to Moyogalapa in just under one hour, with great views of Volcán Concepción along the way. Some of the ferries can take cars with enough advance notice.

By bus
There are regular buses from the other major town of the island, Altagracia. Note that while the road is the best on the island it is not comparable to the roads on the pacific side of the mainland, so bring patience and expect a bumpy ride.

Get around
The town is walkable (albeit a little hilly), although you will be met by countless taxis once you step off your ferry. If you search for one later on, they are much harder to find. Several businesses in town also rent bicycles and motorcycles.

See
Views of Volcán Concepción are breathtaking and you will probably catch yourself taking two dozen or so photos of it. The sunsets are said to be the best in the country, although with the competition it is hard to judge. Take in as many of them as you need to come to your own conclusion.

Do
You can take a guided hike up Volcán Concepción. Guides are required by law and well worth the roughly US$20 they cost. The hike is long and even steeper than it looks, so come prepared, in good shape, and bring plenty of water.

Buy
Moyogalpa has an assortment of small ventas and one big supermarket named Palí (owned by Walmart). Note that everything that has to be imported from the mainland will be more expensive. Plantains, beans and many fruits are locally grown (without fertilizer and pesticides mostly so they would count as organic if anybody bothered to get certified) and known throughout the country for their quality.

Eat
Moyogalpa has a couple of pizzerias and other tourist-oriented restaurants, and you can get your gallo pinto here as well as anywhere else.

Drink
While you can certainly get your Flor de Caña here, this is not really a party destination. Nothing to say against a quiet beer, however.

Sleep
The street from the harbor up to town is lined with many hotels and hostels. A little farther inland, you will find cheaper and more basic accommodations, catering mostly to locals.



Connect
Wi-Fi is unreliable, but can be found at some of the restaurants in town, including: Soda el Antojito and Chido's Pizza.

Go next

 * Altagracia
 * Balgue and Volcán Maderas
 * Granada, by boat to San Jorge, and then bus.
 * San Juan del Sur via San Jorge and Rivas