Welcome to El Zopilote, a unique eco hostel in Ometepe founded in June 2002 by Cristiano together with his father Bruno, with the financial support of his mother Lina and the help of his siblings Lucia and Daniele. Daniele has played an important role in the project’s management over the years, making it a truly family-run initiative. Additionally, Cristiano’s children, Lena and Kai, are actively involved in the daily life of the farm. Originally created as an eco hostel, in 2004 it evolved into a permaculture farm after Cristiano attended the first Permaculture Design Course in Nicaragua, organized by Michael Judd at the Bona Fide Project. Today,  El Zopilote is both a renowned eco hostel in Ometepe and an active permaculture farm, a living encyclopedia where visitors can learn about sustainability, tropical plants, permaculture, mushrooms, and natural living.

Furthermore, guests can join our daily practice at our yoga deck, or enjoy life through workshops, live music, ceremonies, gatherings, and festivals held throughout the year.

The farm also features an organic restaurant and pizzeria, where many dishes are prepared with fresh products grown on-site. Beside the restaurant, we run a mushroom farm where we cultivate organic oyster and reishi mushrooms. Moreover, we produce a wide range of natural products, from sourdough bread, sauces, chocolates, and ice creams to natural cosmetics and medicinal preparations, all made with ingredients from our land. Feel free to explore our hostel & booking page to reserve your stay, check out our daily yoga and activities, or discover Ometepe Island with us.