The magical island of Ometepe ranks as one of our favourite places in Central America. Its unique topography and location - two towering volcanoes placed in the middle of a gigantic lake - plays a significant part in this, but the peaceful atmosphere, mystical history, and welcoming communities are just as vital.

Accessible only via the daily ferries from mainland Nicaragua across the largest lake in Central America, if you're planning a few days or longer on the island, it's important to understand how the Ometepe ferry works, where to catch it, timetables, tickets, associated costs, and onward connections to popular places to stay on the island.

In this short practical post, we've shared everything you need to know about the Ometepe ferry crossing to ensure a smooth, hassle-free journey across Lago de Nicaragua.

After you’re done, check out 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Ometepe guide for travel inspiration + information!

The Ometepe Ferry Essentials

All Roads Lead To San Jorge

The little town of San Jorge (Google Maps) is the place you need to arrive for the ferry, but there aren’t many direct bus connections to it from elsewhere in Nicaragua. This means most of you will have to first take a bus to Rivas bus terminal (maps), and then a shared or private taxi to San Jorge port ($C20-30, 10-15 minutes).

There is also a bus running between Rivas and San Jorge for C$10 per person, but sharing a taxi is usually quicker and more convenient.

Here's how to reach Rivas from other popular traveller destinations in Nicarauga:

· From Granada*, walk or take a taxi to this street (here on Google Maps) where you’ll find the chicken buses for Rivas bus terminal. Travel time to Rivas is about 2 hours and the fare is $50-100 per person depending on whether the ayudante feels like overcharging you or not. If there isn't a direct departure for a while, you’re best to get on the next one to Nanadaime (C$20, 30 minutes) and transfer to a Rivas bus along the way. It is also possible to get dropped off at la rotunda, a roundabout between Rivas and San Jorge, and catch a shared taxi (C$20 pp) from there to the ferry terminal.

· If travelling from San Juan del Sur, we've written this dedicated blog post on the route + costs to Ometepe.

· From Managua, there is actually a bus service which will drop you off in San Jorge but we don't have the information available. Alternatively, head to Mercardo Huembes for regular Rivas bus departures (2 hours).

· From León, it's a pretty long travel day involving a change in Managua UCA and at least a couple of colectivos. We’d actually recommend splitting this journey up with a few days in or around Granada (why would you miss it?), but if you're seriously thinking of doing this route, send us a message on Instagram and we'll give you the details.

*The Granada to Ometepe ferry finally reopened in 2021, but its new schedule means it's not the most convenient option for travellers. At time of writing in March 2022, there is only a single departure per week from Granada at 5 pm on Monday, with the ferry dropping off at Altagracia on Ometepe around 9 pm. Given that Altagracia isn't one of the most popular accommodation hubs on the islands, you'll need onward transport which isn't prevalent on the island after dark. Therefore, we recommend going on a ferry from San Jorge.

The 2022 Ferry Ometepe Schedule

After our most recent visit to Nicaragua in 2022, we wanted to share the updated San Jorge - Ometepe schedule here to help you plan your route.

There are multiple and regular departures six days a week, but a reduced service on Sundays; if travelling on that day, we recommend arriving earlier and factoring in that there will also be far fewer bus services and taxis running on the mainland and the island. Note that weekend ferries will also be much busier due to local holidaymakers.

Travel time ranges from 45 minutes to just over an hour depending on the service and weather conditions.

Please note that times + fares are subject to change. The above timetable above is from February 2022, and we will do our best to keep this updated for you and other travellers - if you do know of any changes, please email or let us know in the comments.

We’ve shared the timetable for the return Ometepe to San Jorge ferry in this post.

Travel Tip | If you arrive at the port with an hour or so to spare, we recommend heading into El Navegante (maps). Just before the port entrance, it’s got a great view of the two Ometepe volcanoes so you can hang out with a Toña or two, but if you’re feeling hungry and have the time, we can personally recommend indulging in a very very decent plate of pasta and glass of wine. The owner is Italian and it’s better than 99% of pasta dishes you’ll find elsewhere in Central America! Beyond the port entrance, you can also find a few stalls serving quick snacks and drinks, whilst some of the ferry services sell snacks and drinks on board too.

The Difference Between Lanchas And Ferries

A variety of independent operators handle the Ometepe boats and routes, rather than a single company. This means some vessels are large and quite modern with space for several vehicles and 80+ passengers, whilst others are very weathered cargo-carriers with the ability to carry some foot passengers on the upper deck.

The ferries are generally larger, more comfortable, passenger-oriented, and stable than the 'lanchas' (many of which have seen better days). If the weather is inclement - most common from November to February - a ferry will also give a smoother ride in the rougher conditions. They tend to be a bit slower than the nippiest lanchas though, but only by about 10-15 minutes.

However, as San Jorge to Ometepe is a short crossing you shouldn't stress too much about which you set off on as a foot passenger.

You Can Arrive in Moyogalpa or San José

There are two ports on Ometepe, and the vast majority of the ferries and boats will arrive in Moyogalpa (maps), the main town of the island.

From there, you're a short walk or tuk-tuk journey to several excellent accommodation options, or can get a bus or private transport onward to the other popular accommodation hubs on the island.

There are also currently three boat services a day San José (maps), a smaller town about 10 kms east of Moyogalpa. The ferry journey there is closer to 90 minutes and the port has fewer facilities and connections, but it does bring you a little closer to accommodation on the Volcan Maderas side of the island.

If you're staying in / around Moyogalpa, make sure you don't set off on a San José service! Also, unless your reserved accommodation specifically recommends otherwise, we advise taking a ferry to Moyogalpa.

However and whenever you make the journey, pay attention during the memorably beautiful crossing over Lake Nicaragua toward the imposing Volcano Concepcion and Maderas.

You Don't Need To Buy A Ticket in Advance

For all Ometepe ferries, you don’t have to reserve your ticket or buy in advance as a foot passenger. You can simply turn up, enter the port and buy a ticket at the kiosk window for the next departure. You can also just go straight on board and buy your ticket once the boat departs from the person who checks/collects them.

As a general recommendation though, it's best to arrive and board the boat a good 20 minutes before the schedule departure to guarantee yourself a place and a good seat. During high season (January to March) or on peak afternoon boats though, we'd extend this to 30 minutes.

If you’re running super late, you can usually still make it on with 5 minutes to spare, but you’ll maybe not get a good seat (or any seat).

There’s also an official entry fee for foreigners to enter San Jorge port (C$36), and you need to get this sorted before boarding; it's payable at the window just after the taxi drop-off point and El Navegante restaurant. Prior to boarding, there's usually someone with a clipboard to take details of all foreign passengers and check the port tax has been paid.

Someone will also ask for your ferry ticket on board, so don’t lose it.

If you're travelling in Nicaragua or Central America with a vehicle, then you should only go for one of the Ometepe ferry services as the lanchas can't take anything bigger than a motorbike (and those aren't guaranteed a place). If trying to cross over with a vehicle or motorbike, we recommend turning up at least an hour in advance to take care of admin.

Onward Travel In Ometepe

We go into more detail on transport on and around the island 16 Things To Know Before You Visit Ometepe, but if you’re planning on staying outside Moyogalpa or in some of the more remote hostels and eco-lodges on the island, then onward transport from the ferry terminal is necessary.

Public buses run from Moyogalpa to Altagracia primarily, but you’ll likely need one of the less frequent buses travelling onward to Merida or Balgue (about C$35 pp). They’re slow and not terribly frequent though, with only a few services in the morning and in the afternoon, so you shouldn’t dally after disembarking the ferry just in case there’s one leaving soon. A bit of walking from the stop to your accommodation may also be required!

Tuk-tuk drivers will be fine for shorter distances, but a taxi is a better option if you’re travelling onward to Santo Domingo, Balgue or Mérida and short on time / daylight (Ometepe is larger than most people realise). Although more expensive, there’s bound to be other travellers on the ferry heading that way too, so try to get a group together and share the costs.

Alternatively, there are guys in San Jorge who offer to arrange a ride on the other side to be waiting for you but as we didn’t require this, we can’t vouch for their reliability or pricing. Let us know in the comments if it’s legit (and just don’t pay anything up front).

Note that a number of roads on Ometepe are in poor condition and certain transport won’t go down it, so if staying somewhere off the main roads, we recommend contacting the owners directly for specific advice on timings, costs, and options. Some may offer to arrange transport on your behalf for a fair price.

If you haven’t booked anywhere yet, then find our pick of the best options in Where To Stay in Ometepe.