NICARAGUA: London Business Woman Builds An Ecolodge On Beautiful Lake Nicaragua - Jicaro Island Ecolodge

Karen Emanuel has been running a successful company in London for the past 25 years. Whilst on holiday in Nicaragua in January of 2007, she walked into a restaurant and saw a notice proclaiming "Island for Sale".

This rather interested her, partly as a fantasy, partly as she had recognized that Nicaragua was a developing Central American country with a lot to offer.

A short boat ride later with the owners, followed by a relaxing week at an astounding eco lodge on the Nicaraguan coast, an idea had started developing in her head.

After arriving back home to the bleak London winter, she got out the back of an envelope and scribbled down a few figures. Within a few weeks she had wired a deposit for the Island over to the owners.

With the help of architect Matthew Falkiner and team from Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, a Costa Rica based hospitality management company that develops and manages eco-lodges, sustainable resorts and green hotels in Latin American and the Caribbean, the dream has become a reality.

Jicaro Island Ecolodge - a secluded island getaway. Has it been easy? Of course not, but it was the right thing to do.

Jicaro Island Bar and Restaurant

At Jicaro we are passionate about serving great food produced from local ingredients. The restaurant and bar are at the center of the Jicaro experience with fabulous views across Nicaragua Lake.

Globally inspired food from local ingredients.
Although secluded on an island we want to give our guests a memorable culinary experience. All of your meals and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the room rate.

Breakfast and lunch are served a la carte and dinner is a choice of fresh daily specials created by our chef. Jicaro has an open kitchen right next to the restaurant, so it is a real treat to watch the chef prepare your dinner.

The menu has plenty of options and prides itself on the selection of fresh fish from the lake and nearby pacific ocean, locally produced vegetables and fruit, and locally farmed chicken and beef. We believe that when you have fresh, tasty ingredients you can cook very simply and the food will be extraordinary.

Sample menus from jicaro

Breakfast

Bananas Foster Pancakes with Flor de Caña Rum.
Housemade Granola with Yogurt and Fruit Sliced to Order.
Huevos Nicaraguenses with Gallo Pinto, local cheese and plantains.
Avocado Toast served with eggs to order.

Lunch

Fresh Fish of the day Ceviche
Market Vegetable Salad with seasonal vegetables, like roasted beets, avocado over greens with grapefruit citronette dressing.
Pulled Chicken Sandwich braised with tamarind, served with fresh coleslaw.
Jicaro Burger with caramelized onions and peppers.
Garlic Shrimp Fish Tacos.

Cocktails and Drinks

CaipiNica – local rum, soda, sugar and lime.
Jicaro Sangria – red wine, sugar syrup, tropical fruit, orange and soda.
Jicarito – Tequila, pinapple juice, organge juice and soda.
Locally brewed craft beers.
Chilean and Argentine Organic and Biodynamic Wines

Dinner

Fresh Watermelon Salad with Feta cheese and balsamic vinegar dressing.
Red Beans, Heart of Palm, Spinach Quesadilla.
Rum Caramel Chicken with rice and vegetables.
Grass-fed beef steak with Chimichurri Sauce.
Spicy Coconut Shrimp.
Baked Guapote or Tilapia fish, caught in Lake Nicaragua.
Frozen Banana coated in Nicaraguan chocolate and cashews.
Freshly prepared sorbets with Seasonal Fruits.


Private Island luxury ecolodge with Treehouse Casitas, Granada Isletas

At Jicaro ecolodge hotel you stay in your own luxury two storey house, a 'casita', raised up above the ground like a treehouse. The nine casitas on the island all have lake views and are only a short walk from the pool, restaurant, and wellness center. You can relax in the private space of your casita with its views of Lake Nicaragua or join other guests in the communal areas.

The casitas are two stories. There is a private bedroom with a king size bed on the second floor. On the first floor, a spacious living area connects to an outside deck overlooking the lake. The casitas and the furniture are made locally from Rainforest Alliance certified wood. Most notably, the oversized hammock and comfy furniture of the deck will invite you to relax and feel the peace of this magical lake. Early morning coffee and late afternoon 'sundowner' delivery service is available upon request.

The nine casitas distinctive charactor came about through the combination of the local materials used and the unique vision of architect Michael Falkner. All the buildings at Jicaro blend into the natural environment helping to promote a sense of tranquility. Mature trees and natural forms of the island were preserved when building began so the casitas feel like part of the island.

Each casita is raised above the ground so as not to disturb the natural form of the island so the feeling is like living in a treehouse suspended amongst the foliage of the islands many trees. Cross ventilation plus ceiling fans and shade from the trees keep the casitas cool without the need for air conditioning; keeping you cool without warming the planet.