I've stayed at this hotel three times. The reason I have returned is because it has a nice location and some of the rooms offer modern conveniences like A/C and televsion (local television, few channels, all spanish). The restaurant and bar are very convenient, but the food is only ok. I'm giving this hotel a low rating this time because of the front desk staff. They, including the owner, are unhelpful and indifferent. I was actually chased and bit by the owners bird while I was trying to protect it from my dog. The bite really hurt, but the owner just laughed. Everytime I have checked out of the hotel, there have been extra items, drinks, meals, activities that I did not use on my bill.....and it's always a very long process to confirm the items are not mine. I totally understand the occasional billing error, but three times in a row! It can get complicated because rates before check out are always in US dollars, but then the somewhat vague bills are presented in Nicaragua cordobas at check out, so a lot of conversion is necessary to find the errors. The rooms have a cheap motel feel, but unfortunately, it's as good as it gets on Ometepe. All of the rooms have patios, but the suite category rooms have patios with excellant views of the lake. I did enjoy hiring the hotel boat out for a sunset cruise.....the hotel guide took me to see great views of the island, we visited smaller islands to see bird nesting areas, and I was introduced to some local fishmen. Unfortunately, at checkout I was charged for 4 hours instead of 2. This is not a great hotel......this place could use a good dose of customer service and a better billing system. However, options for hotels with first world conveniences are very limited on Ometepe, so I would not book with high expectations.....I actually doubt I will return to Villa Paraiso in the future.

My family and I just came back from a three day stay here. It was lovely beyond words, with dense green foliage everywhere and cockatiels and parrotw wandering out on the grounds. We took an unforgettable tour of the selva primaria where we saw monkeys, bats, and a huge boa. Our guide Julio was nice and held my mother-in-law's hand througout the trek, so she wouldn't fall. I was a little afraid of all the wind warnings I had heard, but wind was not a problem w hen sitting outside in the restaurant, and they have screens to guard against it, if you prefer. The water and beach were clean and warm, no undertow and so shallow that my kids (6 and 8) could wade in for several yards without any problem. The road to the hotel did suck, but it was not that long, and once you are there, you dont' have to deal with it. The restaurant was excellent, with special mention of the pancakes (screamin').

Super-cute villas laid out on a well-landscaped lot, full of lush, tropical foliage, with paths that meander down to the beach. Each villa has a hammock on the front patio, rooms are very basic, there was cold water only in the shower, but I believe they were to get hot water showers in May '06. Lovely parrots talk and squak at daybreak, but they are so cute you can't be mad at them for waking you up (you are in the tropics, remember). The food was good, although one is limited to eating at the hotel for the most part, because this hotel is in a quite remote locale. In fact, it takes a really long time to go down the dirt road, off the main road, because the roads are so potholed. One of the bumpiest, organ-sloshing rides I've had in a long time. The volcano is visible from the hotel's beach, and if you're lucky enough to be their during full moon, it is pure magic to be in the lake, as it is very shallow (waist- to- neck-high) for a long way out. Had a really fabulous time. Agree with another reviewer about the coolness of the owner (or his wife, rather0. Other than that, the Tona beer and Flor de Cana rum was flowing and made for a great time!

The hotel itself was nice enough and had an excellent location right on the beach. However, a request made at the front desk for additional towels went unfulfilled and my family ended up sharing one towel. I later discovered the woman at the desk was the owner! When we checked out, another employee couldn't be bothered to even make eye contact.