Museos El Ceibo

Top choice in Isla de Ometepe

LoginSave

The excellent Museo Numismástico (Money Museum) documents the troubled history of the Nicaraguan economy through its coins and banknotes. Across the road, Museo Precolombino (Pre-Columbian Museum) displays an excellent collection of more than 1500 pieces of ceramics, metates, funeral urns and jewelry, spanning the different civilizations from all around the island, and some over 5000 years old. The museums are located 2km down a shady lane off the main road, about halfway between Esquipulas and San José del Sur.

In the Money Museum, look for cacao – the edible currency of the Nahuatl people – and the notes showcasing the hyperinflation during the Contra War.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Volcán Maderas

    Volcán Maderas

    11.21 MILES

    Climbing this 1394m volcano is challenging but worthwhile. Guides are required for the seven- to eight-hour round-trip trek (with four to five hours of…

  • Volcán Concepción

    Volcán Concepción

    5.3 MILES

    This massive (and active) volcano is an Ometepe landmark. The seven- to 10-hour hike up loose volcanic stone to the summit of this looming peak can be…

  • Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor

    Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor

    24.5 MILES

    One of the principal laying grounds for endangered olive ridley and leatherback turtles, this wildlife refuge (locally called by its shorter name, 'La…

  • Cristo de la Misericordia

    Cristo de la Misericordia

    20.63 MILES

    This 25m statue of Jesus – one of the tallest in the world – overlooks the town from its perch 2km to the north. Take the one-hour hike up from the north…

  • Museo de Antropología e Historia

    Museo de Antropología e Historia

    11.18 MILES

    If you have some time to kill in town, this 200-year-old house is the place to go. Inside you'll find some moth-eaten taxidermy, a wall of myths and…

  • Aguas Agrias – La Nanda Community

    Aguas Agrias – La Nanda Community

    28.7 MILES

    This rural community, just south of Mombacho volcano, is an off-the-beaten-path destination where local guides lead hikes through a traditional plantation…

  • Nuestra Señor de Rescate

    Nuestra Señor de Rescate

    8.78 MILES

    The most striking church in town has been repainted a brilliant purple with a mix that uses huevos de amor (fertilized chicken eggs) donated by…

View more attractions

Nearby Isla de Ometepe attractions

1. Reserva Charco Verde

2.68 MILES

Rich with wildlife and fringed with black-sand beaches, this wooded ecological reserve is a quiet spot for hiking, birdwatching and taking a dip in the…

2. Galería de Arte Casa de Artista

2.95 MILES

Near the beach, local artist Abel shows off his work – from nudes and still life to landscapes. Swing by and have a look; it's signposted from the main…

3. Punta Jesus Maria

3.77 MILES

Just outside the town of Esquipulas, this well-signed sand spit stretches out into the lake for more than 1km at the height of the dry season, when lake…

4. Volcán Concepción

5.3 MILES

This massive (and active) volcano is an Ometepe landmark. The seven- to 10-hour hike up loose volcanic stone to the summit of this looming peak can be…

5. Museo de Ometepe

8.63 MILES

The village's main attraction is this museum packed with information (in Spanish) about the island. (Though you’ll find a much more comprehensive…

6. Monoliths

8.72 MILES

A place to see some of the finest remaining ancient excavated statues on Ometepe is beside the Altagracia church, close to the Parque Central, where a…

7. Nuestra Señor de Rescate

8.78 MILES

The most striking church in town has been repainted a brilliant purple with a mix that uses huevos de amor (fertilized chicken eggs) donated by…

8. Isla Grande

9.2 MILES

Close to Altagracia, this island, basically a plantain finca (farm) gone feral, is rarely visited despite being a fantastic place for birdwatching. If you…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "nicaragua/esquipulas/attractions/museos-el-ceibo/a/poi-sig/1324449/1333958",
  "destination": "Isla-de-Ometepe",
  "continent": "Central-America",
  "country": "Nicaragua",
  "region": "Isla-de-Ometepe",
  "position": "superzone"
}