Birdwatching at Jicaro

The summer season in Nicaragua starts in the month of November until April, and is one of the best seasons for the observation of birds. Many species of birds migrate from North America, looking for better weather and food in tropical countries.

This wonderful experience of enjoying the birds can be easily found in the environment around Jicaro Island Ecolodge. You can take walks, take a boat tour or kayaking  tour in the vicinity of the hotel and find different species of resident and migratory birds who have found  a paradise in the area of the islets of Granada. In the vicinity of Jicaro, you can observe: Herons, osprey, cormorants, kingfishers, whistling - ducks,  parakeet, among others that you can hear  every morning or in the afternoon singing happily on our little island.

Jicaro's Pig Project

Jicaro Island Ecolodge is committed to the support of the community of Las Isletas de Granada. For this reason we started a pig farm project on one of the neighboring islands. The long-term goal of this project is to produce bio-gas for the family living on the island, so that they will be able to use this gas for cooking. Once this project has been carried out successfully it will be introduced on other Isletas as well, so that ultimately the firewood consumption in the community will gradually decrease. So far our sustainability team helps the family by bringing over the food leftovers from the restaurant to feed the pigs, so that no extra costs for food will have to be spent.

Next time you visit Jicaro Island Ecolodge you can learn and experience more about this project by visiting our enchanting community.

Jicaro Culinary Highlights!

Food at Jicaro can be described as a Gastronomical Journey of its freshest ingredients and its traditional creations. Nicaragua, like most Latin American countries, has a mixture of African/European/Caribbean-Creole and even a little bit of Asian flavors. We´re a melting pot of flavors and preparations. Fruits and vegetables will be featured, from the moment the sun sends its very first ray of sunlight, in the form of a refreshing juice, or a colorful fruit plate, or let us surprise you with our seasonal fruit cocktails (mandarin mojitos, cactus fruit daiquiris, passion fruit margaritas, to name a few).

Salads will entice our guests during lunch with a variety of lightly-seasoned creations, utilizing a mixture of fruits/ legumes/beans  such as chayote and pipian (squash families), chilote (baby corn), grapefruit, papaya, beets,  seasoned with herbs grown on the premises and topped with local farmers cheeses. Delicacies from our lakes and oceans feature Shrimp Tacos, baked Guapote (also known as Jaguar Capote), and succulent “mojarras”, a small but flavorful fresh water fish (ciclid familly).

Sit back and enjoy the afternoon breeze and views of Mount Mombacho Volcano, while we prepare Hors d´oeuvres and wine in anticipation for a quiet candlelight dinner, an excellent opportunity to try the revered Nicaraguan beef (tasty and succulent), pelibuey (local lamb), or a made-to-order ceviche/carpaccio freshly caught. We offer an open kitchen, and guests are welcome to experience our traditional preparations with our chef.

You will be able to taste Vigorón (baked pork with yucca and a spicy-tangy fruit sauce), quesillo (soft cheese with homemade tortillas), Sopa de Punche (Crab Soup) and the famous “Cabayo Bayo” on Saturday, another opportunity to taste many preparations served in traditional pottery, including meat and vegetable hashes, and experience our gastronomy , drinks, garments, and musical traditions.  At Jícaro Lodge you will definitely experience Nicaragua´s freshest fare and traditional tastes!

Cedric Martin School Visit

JicaroIsland Ecolodge has, as one of its main objectives, to support the community of Las Isletas. One of these priorities is education, which is essential for the development of any society. Primary students attend school daily and the children commute in small boats to their school to continue preparing for a better future that will help them develop and become professionals, helping in the development of their community.

There are three schools, which are located in the Isletas which Jicaro has been working directly with on programs such as environmental education, donated supplies and infrastructure support.  This has been due to the support of our guests, who have seen the need and desire to learn in these children.

Karen Emmanuel was visiting the Cedric Martin School  and shared with the children a very cheerful morning. Both teachers and students appreciated the visit of the owner of Jicaro Island Ecolodge, as well as for her valuable support provided to  these children.

Granada Market

The Market in the city of Granada is located in one of the colonial style buildings, built in the late nineteenth century. It is the main site to find fruits and vegetables grown in the area.  Very early in the morning, you will find many people visiting this site to do their shopping.  It is a very busy place, but there are always enough products for everyone. Oranges, papayas, melons, avocados, pineapple, cucumbers etc., are some of the products purchased by the Jicaro Island Ecolodge that are used in the preparation of dishes and delicious juices.

Karen Emmanuel, owner of Jicaro, recently visited this market to meet one of our local suppliers of fruit and vegetables and spent some time walking through the market to talk to buyers and sellers, learning more about local life.   In the future, Jicaro plans to plant orchards with families located on the Isletas to help them improve their quality of life.

Cocktails and Coffee at Jicaro!

Our guests often tell us that not only are our cocktails delicious and refreshing but they're so pleased to see how reasonably priced they are, as well! With three pages of drinks to choose from, there are sure to be a few that you'd like to try during your stay with us! Here are a few of our guests favorites...

The Macua...made with Rum Extra Lite, sugar syrup, guava juice, orange and lime...

The Jicaro Sunset...made with Jicaro Liquor, passion fruit juice, banana and coconut milk...

For a light beverage to enjoy with your lunch, we recommend Toña beer, a local Nicaraguan favorite...

And for those of you who need a little pick-me-up in the morning, we offer early morning coffee delivery service to your room as well as coffee drinks, like cappuccinos, throughout the day!

And of course, we also offer coffee liqueur drinks as well!  Now your only decision is where to enjoy your drink...at the swimup bar, the bar/lounge area, poolside or on the deck by the Lake!

Sunset Tour of the Islands

The tour of the Isletas of Granada is one of the best experiences you can have during your stay at Jicaro Island Ecolodge. Not only will you enjoy the beautiful paradise landscape that surrounds the Asese Peninsula, but you can also enjoy beers and Nicaraguan rum during the ride! In addition, our guests have the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim in the warm waters of the great Lake of Nicaragua. 

In the pictures, we see our guests enjoying this beautiful tour and since we have begun the summer season, our tour began at 4:30 pm to see the sunset from the boat between the small islands. Bathed in the cool breeze of the lake we continued the trip and our guests enjoyed the moment: talking, dancing, enjoying foreign and local drinks and finally to swim a bit as the moon was rising on the waters of the great lake.  

Prepare your luggage and come enjoy with us this wonderful experience!