Reputed to be the best place to stay on the island we found the accommodation sub-standard for $58 a night. Good views, fresh breezes and an open-air restaurant are the high points. Hygiene, service and exorbitant prices (a cheap bottle of Chilean plonk fetches US $25) are the lows. I’m sure one could do better renting reasonable accommodation nearby and eating at Paraiso’s restaurant, as long as the stray dogs, begging cats and birds (which at first seem attractive but whose appeal diminishes in proportion to the excrement deposited on the tables) don’t put you off.

We had cabin 22, which I recommend asking for because it had the best views, but keep in mind it’s also closest to the restaurant and gets some noise spill over as a result (not a big deal since they stop serving around 9:00 though) and some people try to use the patio as a walkway to the beach (we moved the table and chairs so as to block people from doing so).

We booked the island cultural tour through the hotel that including stops at the museum, stops at the Charco Verde reserve, the Finca Magdelena coffee plantation and the petrogliphs. While it was interesting to see everything, our guide was not very talkative and we felt that made it hard to learn much (Jose Antonio was his name…very nice, but not a great guide as you have to pull info out of him).

Defintely double check your bill when leaving as they added a couple things that weren’t legit and we had to challenge them on it.

Also, if you want calmer waters, stay on the west side of the island as it is very windy on the east side all the time.

This has the all the makings of a truly idyllic place to stay. The location is perfect, it benefits from the prettiest stretch of beach on the isthmus. The cabanas dotted around all have beautiful views of the lake, some with porches and hammocks. However, the level of hygiene is poor, the food at the restaurant is mixed - coffee sometimes instant which is inexcusable on the island that produces some of Nicaragua's finest! However, the fish dishes are excellent - particularly the lobster! Front of house were sullen and rude although the other staff were attentive. This is a place that with a little tweaking could be outstanding but is sadly let down by hygiene standards, large groups of tourist and front of house. Mixed feelings......

Villa Paraiso is certainly not perfect, but is probably the best place
to stay in the Playa Santo Domingo section of Ometepe, a very poor island, with limited lodging options. Our cabin - number 25 - was comfortable and relatively clean; request it specifically. Santo Domingo is a bare bones beach area - no retail district, nowhere to walk to for food alternatives, or entertainment, or shopping. You are essentially dependent upon your hotel in the evenings. That said, Paraiso's restaurant was decent, with a wide range of average to decent food. As one goes to Ometepe for the natural wonders, one should not expect the Ritz Carlton in terms of food & amenities. The staff, however, was super. They picked us up at the dock, helped us arrange tours, and were generally kind and polite. Antonio and Javier, especially, are gems. For its location, price and service, this is the place to stay in Santo Domingo; high-maintanence nitpickers, though, should avoid Ometepe altogether.