What You Need To Know About Renting A Cheap Scooter In Ometepe, Nicaragua
Renting a scooter in Ometepe, Nicaragua can be a little bit intimidating if you have no idea where to begin. But after staying on the island in 2024 after finishing up our volcano boarding adventure in León, I realized that renting a scooter in Ometepe was much easier than I had imagined. The island is a refreshing place to soak in natural beauty, slow down for reflection, and have some fun along the way.
Benefits Of Renting A Scooter
On the island of Ometepe you have options for getting around. In addition to scooter rentals, you can pick from four wheelers, bicycles, or cars. While bicycles are the most economical option, things on the island are quite spread out and going by bike will add an enormous amount of effort and time to all of your trips. Cars or off-road vehicles are great because they do just that: allow you to go off-road. But they’re also a good bit more expensive than scooters and most things that you’ll want to see are accessible by scooter. Going by scooter beats cars in the environmental and financial department, so for those who feel comfortable riding them it’s your best choice.
Scooter Safety And Travel Insurance In Nicaragua
As I get older I realize that I’m not as invincible as I once thought I was, besides making it through so many epic adventures with only scrapes, bruises, and wild travel tales as reminders. Despite your age, as a fellow backpacker I highly recommend getting travel insurance for all of your adventures outside of your home country. This induces riding scooters. Almost every tourist that we met at Ometepe knew someone who had a scooter accident or had one themself.
I use SafetyWing for all of my travels because I’ve found their policies to be the most affordable and their service to be incredibly flexible (you can purchase travel insurance even if you’ve already started your trip!) and user friendly.
Best Place To Rent A Scooter In Ometepe
When we stepped off of the ferry and onto land in Ometepe we were immediately approached by multiple different people trying to offer us rides or scooters. Although it was overwhelming, we hopped on the back of the scooter of a local woman and she took us to her office that doubled as a pharmacy so that we could check out her scooter prices. The pharmacy is called Farmacia Espinoza Salgado, and it’s about 10 minutes walking distance from the ferry port. Their cell number is +505-8691-5044. Another number they have listed is +505-8856-8184.
After seeing prices from hostels or other rental spots around the island, I was pleased with what we chose. Renting from them was only $15 a day with a $100 deposit per bike, with everything being paid in cash up front. If you don’t have that much on you, they’ll be able to show to you an ATM machine. (Note: a $100 deposit per rental is typical on the island! Some places also let you leave your passport or other important document in place of money.)
Our hostel was renting scooters for $30 a day, and I had heard of others charging even more than that. Trust your gut when looking at different rental options and never be afraid to say “no” or stay uncommitted to a rental until all of your questions are answered.
What To Do Before Renting A Scooter
Before you sign anything or pull away on a scooter, be sure to check it over for any scrapes, scratches, or issues. Take pictures and a detailed video of your rental from all sides. While we didn’t have any serious problems, both of the lights on the front of my scooter were loose and one had completely fallen off by the time we reached our hostel on the first day. Instead of taking it back to the rental place I took the advice of one of the locals and paid a trusty local mechanic 100 cordobas (around $2.75) to fix it for me. This seemed to be by-far the most affordable option.
In addition to documenting the condition of your rental, read the insurance policy that they offer! There are usually no expansive policies like you could take out elsewhere on a rental car. If you break the bike or it gets stolen, it’s coming out of your own pocket. Mechanical failures are about the only thing you won’t be responsible for. This is a financial risk worth considering before renting!
Pro Tip: If you’ve never ridden a scooter before or feel uncomfortable in any way, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions! The people who are renting to you most likely want you to have a good experience, so they’ll be happy to show you how things work and offer safety tips and advice. Even after successfully riding scooters around Pai, Thailand, I was still nervous to be back on a bike. I had our renters give me a demo and didn’t pull away until all of my questions were answered.
Getting Gas At Ometepe
You’ll also need to bring your rental back with a full tank to avoid paying extra fees. There are three gas stations on the island and they all charge about the same prices. You’ll go far on the scooter with a tank of gas, so depending on how long you’re there you may only need to refuel once on your way back to the rental company.
How To Keep Your Scooter Safe
Never park your rental scooter overnight somewhere that’s not a protected parking lot. That’s a great way to have your mirrors stolen (or the bike itself!) and have to pay extra fees and deal with extra stress. Most hostels or accommodations will have guarded parking lots where you can leave your rental overnight.
Additional Safety Tips For Driving Scooters
As I mentioned before, almost every backpacker that we spoke to either had an accident themself or knew of someone they did. When I asked some locals about this, they credited it to tourist drivers being too bold and confident in their scooter abilities. With that being said, take it slow. You’re on island time now; there’s no rush! Once on the road you’ll realize that there are moving obstacles along the way: cows, chickens, turkeys, children, and entire families may be mosying about, stopping directly in your path. Additionally, you’ll be sharing the road with taxis, chicken busses, bicycles, and other tourists.
I was quite nervous about driving a rental scooter (mainly because of the financial risk) but it ended up being fine. I did drive slower than everyone else I was with but I was able to return my bike, and myself, in one piece.
Road Conditions In Ometepe
The island is flat in some areas and not in others, so expect some hills and bumps along the way. A good part of the island can be accessed by paved roads, but there is one part of it that is largely dirt and not suitable for those with little to no driving experience. Your renter will show you a map of the island and give recommendations on where to go and where to avoid. After heavy rainfalls some dirt roads may not be accessible by four wheel drive.
Exercise Caution On Steep Driveways
Some points of interests or accommodations have steep and uneven driveways. If you don’t feel comfortable driving it, don’t! Our 100% plant-based hostel El Pital could only be accessed by going down a steep hill. Instead of doing it myself I paid the parking lot attendant 20 cordobas (around $0.54) to do it for me. They were happy to make some money and I was happy to save some by not crashing down the hill.
Drive During The Day
If possible, avoid driving at night. As I just mentioned there are so many variables happening and passing through the road at any given moment. Not every biker, family, or animal crossing the road has a light on them, so driving during the day in full visibility is the way to go. I arrived to the island later than I had hoped and ended up having to drive partly in the dark to reach our hostel but I went slow, turned my lights on, and hugged the side of the road to let people pass me.
Avoid Driving In The Rain
If you’re on the island for more than 24 hours, chances are you’ll get caught in a rain storm. They’re beautiful and a part of the island experience, but they’re not ideal for riding scooters. If you get caught in a rain storm it’s best to pull over and wait it out. You’ll see many locals doing this too. There are plenty of small business and stands along the way where you can get cover, lay back in a hammock, and grab a snack to pass the time.
Is Ometepe Worth It?
Overall we had a great time in Ometepe. Staying at El Pital, a 100% plant-based hostel that is located in a gorgeous spot on the water, really made our stay as peaceful as it was. El Pital doubles as a chocolate factory where visitors can take chocolate making classes and enjoy a fully vegan-friendly menu with most produce being grown on site.
They offer daily yoga classes with a pay-what-you-can model and lots of funky accommodation options. Between the yoga and amazing food we ended up spending a lot of time at El Pital, but venturing out by scooter really made it an adventure. In addition to volcano boarding in León, a visit to Ometepe is worth adding to your Nicaragua bucket list. Drive safe, respect the locals, and enjoy!
