Selvista: Casa Chilamate canopy top jungle studio
The Space
This spacious, self-contained treetop cabin features a bright and airy room with natural finishes, nestled in the canopy at the base of Volcano Maderas. Facing west, it offers views of Volcano Concepción. The cabin is conveniently located just 10 minutes from Balgüe and 10 minutes from the trailhead to the Maderas lagoon, providing a peaceful jungle setting.
Guests receive complimentary breakfast fruits, juice, coffee, WiFi, parking, travel assistance, advice, and tours of the farm. This accommodation offers a genuine island experience.
Casa Chilomate is situated on the foothills of Maderas within a thriving agro-tourism permaculture farm and guesthouse. The cabin includes a modern indoor toilet, an outdoor shower, and a private entrance. The property is shared with chickens, ducks, pigs (all kept in an enclosed area), and three friendly farm dogs (petting is optional).
Location
- 10 minutes from the official trailhead to the Maderas volcano crater lagoon summit
- 15 minutes from the center of Balgüe town
- Positioned in a UNESCO biosphere reserve with abundant wildlife
Guest Access
Guests are welcome to explore the small farm and homestead, which features edible plants and exotic fruits throughout the property. Access is provided to a shared open-air kitchen equipped with:
- Stovetop
- Gas oven
- Refrigerator
- Kitchenware
- Herbs, seasonings, and oils
Additionally, there is an outdoor grill and a cob oven available for use.
Private parking is included. A 4x4 or similar vehicle is recommended for full access. For smaller cars and scooters, parking options are available lower down the private driveway.
Amenities and Features
- Modern indoor toilet
- Outdoor shower
- Private entrance
- Complimentary breakfast fruits, juice, and coffee
- WiFi
- Travel assistance and farm tours
- Shared open-air kitchen with cooking facilities
- Outdoor grill and cob oven
- Private parking (4x4 recommended)
Other Information
Friendly, affectionate dogs live on the property to keep guests company. The driveway is a rocky dirt track due to its volcanic location. If you are uncomfortable driving on such terrain or your vehicle is not suitable, alternative safe parking is available further down the road.
The cabin is located in a jungle environment within a UNESCO biosphere reserve, where diverse wildlife thrives. You may encounter small creatures such as ants, toads, insects, butterflies, birds, and spiders. These animals are neither aggressive nor harmful to humans. Mosquito netting is provided for comfort during the night.
There is one venomous snake species on the island, the coral snake. It is small, shy, and rarely seen, typically residing higher on the volcano slopes. Its distinctive red and black warning colors make it easy to identify. Guests are advised not to touch any unfamiliar animals or plants and to ask for more information if interested.
Reviews
4.77
(53 reviews)
4.8
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4.7
Recent Reviews
5
Emily
3 months ago
Ok where to begin? I cannot say enough about how restorative and beautiful this property is - and I imagine the same of any of the casitas on the Selvista farm. It’s definitely as described; a treehouse casita, so yes there are monkeys and birds and geckos talking at all hours - if you’re a light sleeper bring some earplugs, but for me honestly I loved it, along with fireflies dancing around in the evenings and the sounds of tropical rainstorms. The staff on property are incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and all in such sincere community with one another - a lot of laughter and genuine enthusiasm coming from the kitchen - which I think needs to be on a Michelin list asap. Fresh, local, straight from the farm, ingredients make for super nourishing meals; something as simple as home baked bread and tomatoes becomes elevated when the quality is so high - coffee with coconut milk and honey, I couldn’t get enough. We hope to come back soon, the entire experience was magic ✨✨✨
5
Cathy
10 months ago
Beautiful spot, just as described/seen in the pictures. We used the shared kitchen to make food, and tried plantain, coconut and jackfruit from the property. Breakfast was delicious - recommend the French toast! No bugs bothered ys at all despite being wet snd rainy on and off. We had hoped to see some monkeys - heard them but had no luck. Saw beautiful birds and butterflies though. It really is a peaceful quiet and soulful experience that we highly recommend!
5
Robert
10 months ago
Incredibly responsive and helpful as we navigated our way from Managua. Beautiful lodging in an idyllic and peaceful spot, pictures can barely do it justice. We stayed at the tail end of the rainy season and basically had the spot all to ourselves
5
Matt
1 year ago
We had a wonderful stay. Everyone was super nice and helpful, and the property is absolutely beautiful. Truly feels like you are sleeping in a treehouse in a rainforest. A great place to stay on Ometepe. Would stay again!
5
Dario
1 year ago
We had a wonderful time! The property is located in the middle of nature, surrounded by the jungle – perfect for switching off and experiencing the beauty of Ometepe up close. Everything was very well maintained and designed to be close to nature. A little tip: Be sure to read the directions carefully, otherwise it's pretty hard to find. If you are looking for peace, nature and an authentic jungle feeling, this is the place to be. Highly recommended!
5
Tracy
1 year ago
This stay was special in exactly the way we thought it would be. You’re sleeping right in the middle of the jungle, but protected with a net on the bed. You can hear all sorts of animals throughout the night and day which enhances your experience. The restaurant on the grounds is magnificent and has amazing food. Our host Megan was so supportive and proactive with our constant change in travel plans. She also helped setting up a guide to hike the volcano as well as took care of our ferry tickets to come in (we did ourselves for the way back due to last minute changes and it was a huge pain) Overall, if you’re looking to be immersed in nature on an island with several good restaurants and plenty of things to do. This stay is perfectly located for that and offers great value for the price.
3
Rachel
1 year ago
Authentic jungle experience! Upside: 1) Good location 2) relaxing, serene experience, 3) very nice host 4) Sunset view But certain things could really be better, 1) The room is not sealed properly, spiders, lizards, and insects everywhere, 2) ceiling fan helps nothing 3) Shower water is very weak, 4) No hot water, 5) Towels are old and rough, 6) we went in October and it was really hot by day and night We chose this location because we wanted to go camping in the jungle, but we were not in the mood of going in a tent , But this felt more like a tent
5
Baiden
2 years ago
Had a lovely time staying at Casa Chilamate! The grounds were beautiful, and the staff were incredibly accommodating and helpful.
3
Maximilian
2 years ago
For what you get in comparison to other accommodations in Ometepe and Nicaragua highly overpriced. Breakfast is included but do not expect too much…
5
Michael
2 years ago
Great place, great hosts. They helped us book our boats to come to the island because we were told at the port that there was no more space. They were very responsive before and during our stay. The place is beautiful. The service provided by the on-site employees is impeccable. A MUST, the pizzeria which is 7-8 minutes by car from the site. Several very interesting services offered on the site itself.
Location
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