My husband and I were fortunate enough to visit Jicaro for four nights last week, and we loved every minute. We are experienced travelers and did a lot of research before we decided on Jicaro (and Nicaragua), so we knew we'd like it... but were surprised by how much we fell in love with the isleta!

The other reviews are spot-on: the location is unforgettable, the casitas are charming (albeit a bit tight) and the food is good. What made Jicaro stand out for us was the quality of service. It may sound trite, but the staff really made us feel "welcome". They were superb, and their attention to detail was excellent.

We were also very impressed by Jicaro's sustainability commitment. We attended a sustainability presentation one evening, and they are establishing a great program to not only minimize their impact on the precious Lake Nicaragua environment but to perhaps even more importantly stimulate the local economy and culture. We've stayed at other "ecolodges" around the world, and we felt that Jicaro's program was among the most comprehensive and authentic. It made us feel good to support their effort!

Other highlights for us were enjoying the lake (swim and kayak), chatting with the other guests at the bar, induling in a massage at the spa (I get massages regularly, and I thought the therapist was excellent), participating in a restorative yoga session one evening (Adrienne is awesome!) and enjoying cocktails by the pool or the dock.

If I HAD to critique Jicaro, I would say that I would wish that the decks off the casitas were a bit larger (but I understand why they aren't, due to the size constraints of the island). Also, I think 6 of the 9 casitas were occupied when we were there. The pool area seemed a little crowded one of the days, so I would think that if Jicaro was fully occupied, the isleta may seem a bit tight (but I understand that many people take daily excursions off the island). Again, neither of these points are an issue whatsoever... just trying to point out a few things that other reviewers may have not.

The bottom line is that we can't wait to return! GO!

My husband and I have travelled a lot and I have to say that staying at Jicaro is the most fascinating, unusual, and delightful place we've ever stayed at. If you are looking for quiet, relaxing, get away from it all this is the place to go. The casitas are beautiful, waking up to bird song and beautiful sunrises is just amazing. Never have I stayed anywhere, where the hotel is the destination. At first we thought the price was a bit steep, but after staying there, we actually thought it was good value. So much to do or so little if you prefer, so ridiculously relaxing. The staff are so friendly, such beautiful people. Can't wait to go back to Nicaragua and Jicaro. ^5

This is one of the best accommodation experiences of my life. As one of my traveling friends mentioned "on top of the amazing setting and quality of service, it is the attention to details that makes this place a real paradise"... and I could not agree more. From the food to all fresh drinks, we had a fest exploring Nicaraguan cuisine in such a remote setting. Yoga during sunset, swimming the warm lake waters in the morning, kayaking in the afternoon, full massage with view of the lake, resting by the pool or just reading a book in our casita's hammock, there is always something to do in that paradise (and we did it all !!! ). But the best part of the experience is the service. From moment one, all staff call you by name and make sure your time during your stay is maximize to its best. Every night they will get our Casita ready for the night and will quickly fix it during the morning. Privacy and comfort combined with prime service. A must visit for every nature and comfort lover.

This is a relaxing, service-oriented resort. The staff are totally focused on customer satisfaction. There are only 9 casitas so there are no crowds and excursions are tailored to you. Internet is sporadic so load your kindle and forget about checking your email. Sometimes our meal order was wrong but we didn't care because the food and service are so good small hiccups are irrelevant. Go if you can.