This is how we crosed the Penas Blancas border from Granada Nicaragua to Costa Rica. 1. Catch the bus to Rivas. To get to the bus stop in Granada walk past the market and the Pali supermarket. Walk past the garage and take the next left. The bus stop is on your right. We caught the bus at 6:30am. It cost C$30 and arrived in Rivas at 8:10am. 2. Catch the bus to Penas Blancas. In the same bus station as you arrive you can catch the bus to the "frontera" (border). People will approach you when you are getting off the other bus and ask you where you are going and direct you onto the right bus. Our bus left at 8:25am. It cost C$28 and arrived at the border at 9:15am. 3. Arriving at ... read more

Our Arrival The panga drops you off at the docks on the West of the island. Once you get off the boat people from different hostels meet you or there are signs to hostels in the village. Where We Stayed 3 Brothers in the village - $15 for a double room with shared bathroom. 2 kitchens and laundry sink. What We Did Walked around the island. The nicest beach is at the North of the island. Turn right at the school in the village and keep walking. You can walk from there all the way around to the hostels on the East beach. There are some small beaches just South of Casa Iguana which you can visit. Where We Ate The restaurants on the island all sell dinner for about C$200 each so we cooked mostly. ... read more

Our Arrival There are 2 different panga companies from El Rama. One drops you at the main port, the other (ours) at a different port a couple of blocks further down hidden down some alley ways. Follow the alleys up to the main road. Where We Stayed Hostal Dona Vero - 2 blocks up from the port on the left. Hard to spot as there is a sliding metal barred door and the sign is hiden behind it. $12 room with shared bathroom or $15 for room with bathroom. Free hot/cold drinking water and coffee. Laundry sink and swimming pool. Good internet, towels and soap provided. What We Did Watched a baseball game on the weekend. C$20 for us to get in although ticket showed C$10. Waited around for boats. There is not much happening in ... read more

Our Arrival The slow boat from El Castillo arrived at 4pm. From the port turn left to get into the town. Walk until you get to the main street you will know when you are there) and there is a map of the town. Where We Stayed Hostal/Hotelto Evo - C$300 for a room with bathroom. When you reach the main street turn right for a couple of blocks and it is on the corner. Nice room with mosquito nets. You can book tours as well. What We Did Trip to Graytown - $25 each min of 3 people. Booked through our hotel. Visisted the old dredge/ship, the graveyards of Greytown, the sanbank by the sea and a lagoon. Our guide spoke English and had laminated old pictures and maps of the area. Very informative but ... read more

Our Arrival We caught the 5pm ferry on Thursday from Granada. The ferry took 12 hours and stopped at Ometepe but not the other 2 stops even though people had tickets for there. When we arrived nowhere was open so we sat at the waterfront until the first hostel opened at around 6:30am. Where We Stayed Hospedaje El Madrono - $10 for a double room with shared bathroom. On the waterfront with a nice balcony to sit on. Toilets are flushed with a bucket of water and a scoop and bring your own toilet roll. What We Did Visit the fort and the cannons by restaurant Mirador. Not much to see. Where We Ate The Bus Station - the usual chicken and rice etc for C$70. In the mornings people sell plastic plates of food for ... read more