El Zopilote

I was first drawn to El Zopilote because I am always keen to support eco hostels, however, I had never heard of permaculture before. During my stay at El Zopilote I learnt firsthand that, in a nutshell, permaculture is a design system for ecological and sustainable living that incorporates plants, animals, buildings, people and communities. Out of all the eco hostels I stayed at during my travels through Central and South America, I found El Zopilote to be the most authentic of them all.

I stayed in a private room called the ‘Mariposa Hut’. The rooms are all dotted around the farm, and it really does feel like you could be in the middle of the jungle. In terms of facilities, if you are someone who enjoys your home creature comforts, then this may not be the place to stay for you. In saying that, if you can let go and be at one with nature, you will truly have a fulfilling experience.

The different sections of the hostel are spread out across the farm, with the common area being the restaurant. Depending on your choice of accommodation your stay at El Zopilote can be as basic as you like, however even the private rooms may not be up to scratch if you are travelling on a mid-high range budget and expect those little extras. I found that sacrificing a few creature comforts for a couple of nights really opened my eyes to living a more sustainable future and helping our planet. If you are travelling solo, there are plenty of free-spirited, open-minded individuals to connect with. You can also feel safe and sleep soundly at night because the farm is tucked away from the main areas and towns. 

Ometepe is an island within a large lake in Nicaragua, well known because of its twin volcanoes that you can see from almost everywhere on the island. Getting to and from the island can be quite the adventure (as it is only accessible by ferry from the mainland), but is well worth the trip.

Zopilote is filled with shirtless yogis, musicians, slackliners, and like-minded travellers with an interest in the environment. One of the highlights was meeting the owner Bruno on one of the daily tours of the farm, where we were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand the reasons why they pursued this adventure. After a lot of hard work establishing the farm, Bruno and his two sons have realised their dream of creating a space where travellers can stay and enjoy, whilst also living in harmony with nature.