Top Hotels in San Carlos
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6 hotels in San Carlos: Best hotel deals for 2023
Discover the best hotels in San Carlos, Rio San Juan Department including Cabanas Caiman Los Guatuzo, La Esquina Del Lago, Hotel Grand River Lodge, Hostal Don Frank, Cabinas Leyko, Cabanas Cielo Azul.
Things to do in San Carlos
1. Cabanas Caiman Los Guatuzo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Natural heaven
Reviewed By KotinkaWe wanted to experience more rural parts of Nicaragua where we could see more wildlife, and the Los Guatuzo natural reserve hit that spot fully. It's not the easiest place to get to. We stayed one night in San Carlos (not worth sticking around there for much longer, to be honest) and the next morning got the 3-4 hour boat ride across the lake and down the river Papaturo to a small village where Cabanas Caiman are based. We contacted the owners Aillen and Armando in advance via their Facebook page for timetables of boats (they dont run every day) but the journey over the lake and down the river is stunning in itself. Once you leave the dock (under the watchful eyes of the policemen, given you are so close to the border with Costa Rica I suppose) you can jump on the roof and take in the views. The getting there is part of the fun. Cabanas Caiman have a couple of properties all on the river itself; one two-level building for guests, which is simple but comfortable, and 5 mins along the river, another which serves as a restaurant/art gallery (craved wooden figures) and garden (amazing selection of plants). We ate here every day, and food was simple but good; things like grilled chicken and fish from the lake. There are a couple of other properties where you can eat in the village or get a beer, you need to ask them a few hours in advance so they can prepare what food is available (all of it seems to be brought by boat from San Carlos). We spent our days renting kayaks from the nearby "ecoological center" (the only other toursist accommodation in the area) and taking tours with Armando, one of the owners, and Carmen, his assistant nature guide. We did one day and one night river tour, as well as an early morning jungle tour. They lasted several hours each. Armando is a fantastically talented guide; if it's there, he will find it. Amongst other things, we saw white faced capuchin monkeys, spider monekys, howler monkeys, caiman, river turtles, possoms, poison dart frogs, iguanas, many impressive birds like boat-billed herons and trogons, tarantulas, boa snakes, the list goes on... The tours are great value (especially compared to Rio San Juan where they can charge you a small fortune) and an absolute must if you come here. They provide binoculars if you dont have your own. Recommend staying at least 3-4 nights as there is so much to explore here, and bring good insect repellant - they come out in force at dusk. But more than worth the journey (and mosquitos) for all the nature and the incredibly warm hospitality that Armando and Aillen provide. It was one of the highlights of the 5 week trip we had around the country.
2. La Esquina Del Lago
Overall Ratings
4 based on 60 reviews
La Esquina del Lago Jungle River Lodge is located only at five minutes from the town of San Carlos, on the other side of the river and on the corner of the lake (hence the name). The place is set in the peace and tranquillity of the Los Guatuzos National Park. La Esquina del Lago offers a wide variety of activities and services. There is a FREE BOAT SHUTLE from San Carlos available at any time, and kayaks can be used in and around the property free of charge as well. Equipment can also be provided to practice fishing around the hotel. The hotel has GUIDED TOURS in motor boats (there are 6 boats of various sizes, all fully registered).
World Class Tarpon Fishing
Reviewed By NorthwoodsAlI write this review as someone who went to fish Tarpon and I love the Central American rain forest.. My friend and I went in October, 2017.We thought it was beyond expectations and a trip of a lifetime. Our guide, Jumper, and the boatman were great fisherman and led us to the fish. We caught 9 tarpon and brought 6 to the boat! These fish leap out of the water 6 feet and weigh 100 pounds! The equipment was good as were the boats and motors. If your going for world class Tarpon fishing this is the place. (It's fishing, though, so not everyone so lucky. Depends on the weather, season and -- the fish), Is catch and release to protect the fishery and the guides were very careful to release the fish healthy and didn't bring them into the boat but one was hooked in the gills and died so we did take pictures and took the fish to a local family on the river to eat. We worked hard. 90 degree heat, got up at 6AM and fished til 6PM, six days. Too tired to care about the fan or bathroom mats. The food was great. Visited other lodges to find the fish so saw a lot of the Lake Nicaragua and the Rio San Juan. Also loved all the animals. You are in a boat on the river going through the jungle so the animals aren't hiding from you. Saw howler, and white faced monkeys, caiman, birds,snakes, tarantulas, iguanas... Beautiful place. Stayed in Granada one night, Fun and a nice view of colonial Nicaragua.Guides took us to a festival in San Carlos. Sometimes the transportation is not well organized so take your own initiative to get there if you have to or call Phillipe to remind him. Just get to hotel Colonial in Granada and Phillipe will get a taxi for you to San Carlos.Have his cell number in hand, Sure, the place is a little threat bare but the people were great, the food good and the fishing spectacular, What do you need the internet for anyway? If you are looking for a getaway, you found it.
3. Hotel Grand River Lodge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Well this is a new Eco lodge Rustic Resort Grand River Lodge yes start in Nicaragua near San Carlos Nicaragua in the community La Esperanza is 34 kilometre from San Carlos. Write in front the water San Juan River. The hotel is located in farm of 200 very nice location ride on the river Rio San Juan we have now houses with a private bathroom, a sink, mosquito nets; outside we have a little place to sit and relax with hammocks. We have also internet and outside kitchen with a fridge, also restaurant. Also they sell drinks. Also you can horseback ride or fish also the little village Esperanza is 2km. Away there are alot of things to do surrounded by the birds and howler monkeys are not far away maybe they wake you up.
No Spanish, no service
Reviewed By Markus MActually I have no idea if the staff is just unfriendly if you're not fluent in Spanish or just in general. Already in the beginning it took ages until they would finally stand up from their tables and their beers to talk with me, assuming that I would take a single hut, even though I booked the cheaper dorm (which I at least had for myself). From then on it was a hassle asking anything, starting from "how to get to the nearby town", "when does the bus go" and so on. They just wouldn't answer me - especially with the shedules it would have been useful to write them down. My day at the lodge I wanted to use for some nature exploration. Well, a nature pool really doesn't exist. In the end I had to travel 1,5 hours back to the next town to get cash at the ATM, because they wouldn't, as promised and advertised even right there, take any credit cards. Well, if I had known earlier... When I came back I wanted to cook, what became another problem, since the receptionist wanted to charge me the gas use per minute. I refused. Generally I had the feeling of not being welcome there at all. The almost angry and annoyed looks, information had to be literally sucked out of them. And I mean, at least I know some Spanish, even if not very well, but basically they could have communicated with me if they wanted. All in all you can't really call this place a hotel. If they would change their attitude towards guest, it might become something nice. For now, not worth the long journey through the jungle.
4. Hostal Don Frank
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Good cheap stay
Reviewed By Nicole IGood place with private room and bathroom and amazing wifi in central location. Super cheap for what we got and very powerful fan! Bathroom door was a shower curtain and no soap to wash hands. Would definitely recommend
5. Cabinas Leyko
Overall Ratings
2.5 based on 32 reviews
Small Hotel located in the urban center of San Carlos, with access to Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge, Solentiname, and El Castillo to Perform day tour. Ecotourism, history and culture. We rent canoos and kayak, we organize ecotourism tour to Reserva Esperanza Verde, for the lovers of the Nature.
Ask for a room facing the garden
Reviewed By LisaAnn61The secret to this hotel is to get a room overlooking the garden. It is very quiet and you can spot a lot of birds. The rooms overlooking the garden have A/C and so cost $50 a night, which I think is expensive given how basic the rooms are (and no hot water). Rooms near the reception are noisy and don't have A/C but are only $30. For us, secure parking was very important. We enjoyed our stay, breakfast was good, and really enjoyed talking to the owner, Leonel, who founded an NGO to preserve a beautiful piece of nature along the river. The NGO offers tours if you're interested.
6. Cabanas Cielo Azul
