💧 Ojo de Agua in Ometepe: My Honest Review & Tips

Ojo de Agua is a crystal-clear freshwater spring on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. Using a clear rating system, I share my honest review of the experience, along with firsthand tips.

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🍀 Lukiih’s Verdict

I only recommend visiting Ojo de Agua in Ometepe if you have extra time and it’s an exceptionally hot day.

• The natural spring has a serene ambiance with slightly mineral-rich water, but it’s also very cold for swimming.
• The experience is affordable. It’s pricey for Nicaragua but very reasonable otherwise.
• Minimal preparation is required, as the spring only requires some transportation time, depending on where you’re staying.

Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Nicaragua.

🏆 Where Does It Rank?

Ojo de Agua ranks as the #6 experience I had in Nicaragua. Here’s how it compares to other things I did on my trip:

	Experience	Location	Overall Rating
1	🌊 Laguna de Apoyo Day Trip	Granada	7.7
2	🏖️ Playa Mango	Ometepe	6.7
3	🏍️ Ometepe Scooter	Ometepe	6.3
4	💧 Cascada de San Ramón	Ometepe	6.1
5	⛪ Church of La Merced	Granada	5.9
6	🏊‍♂️ Ojo de Agua	Ometepe	5.7
7	🏄‍♀️ Playa Maderas Surfing Lessons	San Jual del Sur	5.7
8	🌋 Concepción Volcano Hike	Ometepe	5.6
9	🏖️ Playa Santo Domingo	Ometepe	5.6
10	🛶 Islets of Granada	Granada	5.5
11	🏄‍♀️ Playa Remanso Surfing Lessons	San Jual del Sur	5.4

My Nicaragua itinerary features the above experiences.

✈️ About My Trip

For context on my review, here’s what to know about my trip:

• I finance my trips and don’t receive sponsorship; this review reflects my honest opinions.
• I visited Ojo de Agua in late 2024.
• My Nicaragua trip was in October when it was transitioning from the low, rainy season to the high, dry season.

• The natural spring is decently memorable because of its lush landscape and surprisingly large size. There are two pools, and you can do swimming laps in the bigger one if it’s not crowded.

• Ojo de Agua is not a rare attraction. I estimate that there are at least 100 other natural freshwater springs globally that are surrounded by a lush tropical setting that visitors can swim in. Other impressive ones include Cenote Ik Kil in Mexico and Rio Celeste in Costa Rica.

• The freshwater spring has an accessible Tarzan rope swing about 6-7 feet high. I had a great time jumping off it about 7 times.

• The spring is also near a 30-minute-long trail called Sendero Musaceas. You walk through a banana farm (which I thought was interesting) and get a chance to see some monkeys (I got to see two). Bring mosquito repellent!

• The water in Ojo de Agua is cold despite some people claiming it’s room temperature. A few locals who visit the spring multiple times told me it’s always cold. The temperature made it difficult to stay in the water and relax for more than 5 minutes, which significantly lowered my enjoyment of the spring.
• Ojo de Agua has a restaurant, but I thought the food was terrible. I had one of the worst quesadillas ever here, and they were out of all but one fruit for juices and smoothies when I visited for lunch.
• It’s not a particularly rewarding experience (i.e., there are no challenges to overcome) because it’s primarily a place to enjoy and relax.

Ojo de Agua has a $10 entrance fee, which is expensive for Nicaragua but reasonable otherwise.

The entrance fee is technically $5, and the other $5 can be used as a voucher at their restaurant. But their restaurant is pricey, and I found the food terrible. I recommend using the $5 voucher on drinks.

If you prefer a hassle-free experience with less planning, consider visiting Ojo de Agua as part of a guided Ometepe tour that covers many of the island’s big attractions.

See my Nicaragua trip expenses.

• No specific skills or fitness is required. It’s safer if you know how to swim to use the Tarzan rope swing.
• Ojo de Agua is located 40 minutes from Moyogalpa and 15 minutes from Balgue. When approaching the entrance, you’ll have to drive over a flat dirt road that’s very manageable, even for beginner scooter drivers.
• No reservation is required; you pay the entry fee at the entrance. Bring a towel since they don’t provide any for rental.

For more detailed tips on my experience, check out my trip planner below.