Playa Santo Domingo

Playa Santo Domingo with Volcan Maderas in the background

Playa Santo Domingo is the name for a small strip of hotels, hospedajes, and restaurants on Isla de Ometepe in the region of southern Pacific Coast (Nicaragua).

Get in

Take the ferry from San Jorge to Moyogalpa, which not does the ~45 minute trip several times daily. Large old school buses run from Altagracia and Moyogalpa. Locals run from all over the island, as Santo Domingo is along the one main road between the Volcanos.

Get around

Walking is usually fine for the small town, some hotels rent motorcycles and bikes.

Eat

Food here tends to be geared towards the tourist clientele, which makes it a bit more expensive compared to other parts of Nicaragua. There are some restaurants in the northern part of the strip which are a bit cheaper and have tables right along the shore. This is also the location of the only vegetarian restaurant on the island.

• 1 Natural, Playa Santo Domingo, ☏ +505 2569 4878. Vegetarian restaurant serving delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Great pastas, curries, stir-fries. Dine under a large rancho with a wonderful view of the Maderas volcano. 
• Los Cocos, At the Santa Cruz end of Playa Santo Domingo, ☏ +505 8744 6313. A family run restaurant situated across the road from the beach, Los Cocos has a small but tasty menu, nearly half of which is vegetarian. Very friendly and even willing to customize the standard veggie fare for vegans US$3-5. 

Drink

Not much for nightlife here, but you can easily get a bottle of Ron Plata at the pulperia and have a little party with some fellow travelers.

Sleep

There are a few different hotels of different price laid along the main road. Anywhere from US$15-50 a night and all are close enough to walk between in about 10 minutes. The best way to choose is to just walk along the main road.

• Hospedaje Espirales, Santa Cruz (at the end of Playa Santa Domingo, at the base of the hill to the fork in the road). Hospedaje Espirales is a small, family run hotel that seems to be filled with people who couldn't find space at Hostal Santa Cruz. There's nothing special about the hotel - except for use of the kitchen - but it's a good place to meet other travelers, and is centrally located for island activities. A double bed private room without bathroom was US$6/night. There are two 4 bed dorm rooms, but as of Feb 2014 it seemed that the owners saw them more as private rooms with many beds than as your standard idea of a dorm room. Still, with some negotiation and if everyone sleeping there agrees, she is happy to rent it out by the bed. $6+. 
• Casa Istiam, Playa Santo Domingo. A great budget place to stay right across the road from the beach. 
• Hotel Finca Santo Doming (Playa Santo Domingo). A more expensive place right on the beach. Approx. US$30. 
• Villa Paraiso (Playa Santo Domingo). Reputedly the nicest place to stay and probably the most expensive. Tours can be arranged. Bicycle rental available.