ananda
Sustainable Boutique Guesthouse
Maderas Volcano Reserve, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua
escape the beaten track & find ananda
Ananda means unceasing joy & bliss in Sanskrit
In a league of its own in terms of quality/price ratio, Ananda is barefoot luxury bed and breakfast at its finest. Over the last few years we have become a favorite among digital nomads, performing artists and writers looking for that spectacular somewhere to call home.
At Ananda beauty & joy are all around you, from our mesmerizing views, to the smiles on the faces of our incredible team as they genuinely care for you to the countless tiny design details executed in each of our 5-custom designed guest spaces.
Ananda is so much more than an a guest house or hotel. It is an artistic expression of love.
Situated in the village of Balgue, our organically managed 5-acre property enjoys spectacular views of Concepcion active volcano, Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca) and the surrounding lush-green valley. Chilax in our stunning gardens, perfect for yoga, energy-soaking, sun-baking,
moon-bathing, star-gazing and marveling at Ometepe's divinely inspired sunsets.
our ometepe rooms
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Our Ometepe bed and breakfast can accommodate up to 12 people in 5 custom-designed guest rooms/spaces.
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Volcano & Lake View 1-Bedroom Apartment - 120m2 - Max. 3 persons.
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Volcano & Lake View Studio Apartment - 85m2 - Max. 2 persons.
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Volcano & Lake View King Suite - 55m2 - Max. 2 persons.
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Garden View King Suite - 50m2 - Max. 3 persons.
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Volcano & Lake View King Room - 30m2 - Max.2 persons.
All of our nightly rates include daily house-keeping, a vegetarian breakfast for two, free 20mbps wifi, free parking & unlimited filtered drinking water. Contact us for long-term rates including weekly & monthly options.
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Each space has;
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king bed with quality cotton bedding
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custom-made furniture made from locally sourced precious woods
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access to either a private (i.e. both apartments) or shared (i.e. the suites & king room) well-equipped kitchen
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built-in closet to store your belongings
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private modern bathroom with solar hot water shower
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large screened windows
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industrial strength ceiling fan
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In-room Wi-Fi
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detailed manual explaining the many tours & activities offered on Ometepe.
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We happily help arrange ferry reservations for your vehicle & any transport, guides or tours you need.
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In case you don't feel like cooking and want a romantic evening dining in, we work with a number of great nearby restaurants who provide delivery options.
why ananda?
COMPLIMENTARY CONCIERGE SERVICES
What ever you need, we have you covered.
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We can help you with;
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tours & activities;​
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scooter/ATV/motorbike rentals;
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car rentals;
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taxis;
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ferry reservations for vehicles;
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order home delivery
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COMPLIMENTARY WIFI & FILTERED SPRING WATER
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Disconnect and connect as needed with our 15 Mbps in-room WIFI connection.
Using a natural filtration system we provide guests an unlimited supply of mineralized volcanic spring water direct from Maderas Volcano. It's like Evian on tap!
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VIEWS & LOCATION!
Ananda occupies a priveledged position. Only a 10-minute walk from the center of Balgue, our property offers jaw-dropping views of Concepccion Volcano & Lake Nicaragua as well as allows guests to undertake some cool hikes of Maderas Volcano that start from here.
By foot, Ananda is;
10 minutes from Cafe Campestre
15 minutes from Finca Magelana
15 minutes from El Pital
18 minutes from Mediteranea Pizzeria
20 minutes from El Zopilote
SUSTAINABLE BEST PRACTICES
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Ananda is committed to sustainable best practices. We;
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operate primarily from solar energy;
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100% of our hot water is generated by the sun;
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a number of passive cooling techniques were used in the design of the house;
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the entire property is managed organically
FRIENDLY, HONEST & HELPFUL
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Our staff are awesome. Each is an invaluable member of the team and has your best interests at heart. We each promise to be friendly, helpful, honest & professional.
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Miguel oversees daily operations and is the primary guest liasion. Adelayda & Lorena are our beautiful house-keepers and don Osman & don Rafael are our night guards.
KITCHEN ACCESS
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All guest spaces have access to a well-equipped kitchen complete with full-size fridge, gas cookers & oven.
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The two suites and the king room share the downstairs communal kitchen while the 1 bedroom apartment & studio apartment have their own private kitchens.
GALLERY
Room #4 - Hammock
Maderas Volcano crater lake in the foreground and active Concepcion Volcano in the background
Ninja, our cat, enjoys your company.
TOURS & ACTIVITIES
HIKE an ACTIVE VOLCANO or a DORMANT CLOUD FOREST VOLCANO
Hike one or both of the island's volcanoes. Hikes of Maderas Volcano & Cloud Forest set off on foot from Ananda. Your private guide will safely traverse you up and down the rustic trail where you will see howler monkeys, several ecosystems and perhaps even swim in a volcanic crater lake. The hike of Concepcion Volcano requires transport.
SEE ANCIENT PRE-COLUMBIAN PETROGLYPHS
Ometepe is famous for its rich pre-Columbian past and belongs to the great rock art areas of the world.
Thousands of ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings) and stone statues & indigenous utensils have been found all over the island, but none more than on Maderas Volcano. Walking distance from Ananda is one of the best sites to see the 'farm' of petroglyphs
VISIT a WORKING COOPERATIVE & ORGANIC SHADE-GROWN COFFEE PLANTATION
Ometepe produces some of Nicaragua's best organic and shade-grown coffee.
Visit the island's largest working cooperative and oldest hacienda where coffee is produced for both national and international markets. No transport needed!
SWIM in the crystalline waters of el OJO DE AGUA
Great for all ages & conditions. This natural volcanic spring water swimming pool is wonderfully refreshing and rejuvenating. Studies show its waters have medical properties due to the high mineral content including phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and sulphur. In fact, it reportedly has the same qualities as thermal spring pools – except that this water is cold!
Spoil yourself with a
MASSAGE
Lidia is the island's best masseuse and has over 15 years professional experience. She can work with a number of styles including Swedish and Ayurveda. Yolanda adores being a masseuse and has been perfecting her art for the past 7 years. She offers general massage has strong and capable hands. Massages are performed on your bed inside your room.
KAYAK el RIO ISTIAN - a rich bio-diverse wetlands
This tour will see you paddle along Lake Nicaragua and then enter the mouth of the Istian wetlands where you are likely to see Cayman alligators, iguanas, turtles and a plethora of aquatic (and migratory) birds. Your knowledgeable private guide will explain the flora and fauna and help you maximize the experience.
ZIPLINE the MIRADOR del DIABLO
With 2500meters of cables and incredible views from the Mirador del Diablo, this canopy tour is a great way to get some awesome photos as well as an adrenaline rush! This a professionally run outfit and perfect for the whole family. N.B. The first part of the tour includes +/- 400meters of hiking up to the first platform.
HIKE or HORSE RIDE to the SAN RAMON WATERFALL
This waterfall is lovely– especially in the rainy season (June to mid-December) when the flow of water is at its peak and the falls approach an 90meter drop.
Refresh yourself in the cool volcanic spring water by standing under the falls and then sun dry yourself on the rocks.
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SWIM in the POOL at TOTOCO ECO-LODGE and ENJOY a SUNSET COCKTAIL
Walking distance from Ananda is Totoco Ecolodge - a true ecological experience offering awesome views. Enjoy a meal or thirst quenching cocktail, marvel at one of the most spectacular sunsets you have seen and don't forget to take your swimmers & enjoy the infinity pool.
IS OMETEPE & ANANDA RIGHT FOR YOU?
​RUSTIC CHARM: A large part of Ometepe's charm is its unadulterated natural state. Infrastructure on the island tends to be rustic and largely under-developed. There are no large cities but rather numerous small villages and an abundance of natural treasures to be explored. The village of Balgue in which ANANDA GUESTHOUSE is located is small, safe and very friendly. Stores are mostly family owned & operated and carry a limited selection of products. If you are planning to cook for yourselves, it is recommended to buy your ingredients on the mainland or in the port town of Moyogalpa where there are more options.
ROCKY DIRT ROADS: While the majority of the ride to us is paved, the last 650meters is along a dirt & rocky road. Those bringing a vehicle will find it easier going with a 4WD although non-SUV's can still pass year-round. In general, the island offers a mix of road conditions varying from surprisingly good to 4WD only.
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BUGS, SNAKES & SPIDERS: In-line with Ometepe's Biosphere Reserve status, bio-diversity is abundant! For those adverse to bugs, we suggest you visit during the dry season when insect populations are at its lowest. The rain season brings with it stunning vibrancy but also an explosion of life in various forms. While all guest accommodations at ANANDA GUESTHOUSE are screened, we cannot guarantee critters or insects will not enter but we do promise to clean thoroughly and help you, if needed. For those with severe phobias of spiders or snakes, you may not find the island appropriate - although it should be noted that sightings of spiders and snakes is NOT a daily occurrence but certainly possible.
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CASH ONLY (for the most part): - When planning your stay keep in mind that most businesses on the island, including ANANDA only accept cash (US$ or Nicaraguan Cordobas). There are a few ATMs in the port town of Moyogalpa & one in Altagracia but they are not always cashed-up. We do accept, by request only, digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum Classic.
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DOGS: We have two medium/large dogs on the property, who are a part of the ANANDA family. They may initially bark to notify us of a new presence but they do not bite.
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DARK AT NIGHT: If you are without a vehicle, walking to the village at night is safe but dark. We recommend each person brings a flash light. The walk takes +/- 10minutes and you will pass a number of local homes many who also have dogs that bark at strangers but are not typically physically aggressive.
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