Jicaro Island
Jicaro Island is a forest eco lodge in Nicaragua, good for couples and wellness breaks. Explore its recorded details and environmental evidence to help you decide where to stay in Nicaragua.
Google reviews
Google rating · 4.8/5 · 102 reviews
Stored Google rating; this is separate from the Accommodation Eco Score or Throne Score. The current Google rating may have changed.
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Environmental evidence and weighted assessment
3.0/5 Accommodation Eco Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 48.8%
Green flags
- Energy and climate, level 3/4.
Press coverage says the lodge runs on solar power with solar thermal hot water and no air conditioning, using natural ventilation.
“The lodge operates off-grid using solar power and has installed community solar panels”
Source · 2026-11-03 - Buildings, heritage reuse and land use, level 3/4.
The casitas use local materials, hardwoods salvaged after Hurricane Felix and a raised design that keeps large trees and boulders and avoids air conditioning.
“Built using local materials, rough stone bricks and recycled materials including FSC / Rainforest Alliance-certified tropical hardwoods were salvaged from what Hurricane Felix left behind in 2007.”
Source · 2026-11-03
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature, biodiversity and regeneration | 30% | 2/4 · A named area of habitat kept undisturbed, or one named native planting or conservation activity | 15 / 30 points | Press coverage of the lodge describes a native tree nursery that reforests the Asese Peninsula. The lodge's own website jicarolodge.com no longer loads, so no protected status or measured results were found. “The lodge has started a tree nursery conservation program to reforest the Asese Peninsula with native trees” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Energy and climate | 15% | 3/4 · Several systems, such as on site renewables plus at least 80% LED lighting, natural ventilation and metered monitoring; the stay's own vehicles and boats count here | 11.25 / 15 points | Press coverage says the lodge runs on solar power with solar thermal hot water and no air conditioning, using natural ventilation. “The lodge operates off-grid using solar power and has installed community solar panels” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Water | 10% | 2/4 · One specific system, such as rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, or taps and showers at or under 8.5 litres a minute | 5 / 10 points | Wastewater is treated on the island and reused for garden irrigation, and a filtration system provides drinking water. No rain harvesting or measured use is published. “Jicaro’s wastewater treatment system enables water to be treated before safe reuse for garden irrigation” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Waste and plastic | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Food, farming and sourcing | 15% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as local or organic with no named source | 3.75 / 15 points | The lodge is described as using mainly local organic ingredients and buying lake fish from local fishermen, with no named farms or own garden share. “All meals are a la carte with a strong focus on local ingredients and Nicaraguan cuisine” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Buildings, heritage reuse and land use | 15% | 3/4 · Several practices, such as reuse of existing structures, local natural materials, passive design and a small footprint on the land | 11.25 / 15 points | The casitas use local materials, hardwoods salvaged after Hurricane Felix and a raised design that keeps large trees and boulders and avoids air conditioning. “Built using local materials, rough stone bricks and recycled materials including FSC / Rainforest Alliance-certified tropical hardwoods were salvaged from what Hurricane Felix left behind in 2007.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Measurement, transparency and certification | 5% | 2/4 · Specific practices, systems and named suppliers published | 2.5 / 5 points | Specific systems and a named school programme are published, but no current certificate or measured data per guest night. “Jicaro actively supports the Padre Nello School, located on the mainland, upgrading equipment, classroom and facilities.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Accommodation Eco Score weights: Nature, biodiversity and regeneration 30%, Energy and climate 15%, Water 10%, Waste and plastic 10%, Food, farming and sourcing 15%, Buildings, heritage reuse and land use 15%, Measurement, transparency and certification 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years. Guest travel is not scored; everyone gets there how they can.
Purity, what touches your body
2.2/5 Purity Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 30%
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water you drink and bathe in | 25% | 2/4 · Public supply filtered at the tap or a refill station, with no single use bottled water as the default | 12.5 / 25 points | The lodge draws lake water and filters it into safe drinking water without plastic bottles. The treatment method and any chlorine use are not described. “The lodge’s filtration system to provide safe drinking water also supports the school and the 600-strong community” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Food on your plate | 20% | 1/4 · Claim only, such as fresh or organic with no named source | 5 / 20 points | Press coverage calls the cooking organic and local without naming organic farms or an own garden share. “Watch the master chef sculpt his local organic creations in the open kitchen next to the restaurant” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Grounds and pest control | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Cleaning, laundry and fragrance | 15% | 2/4 · At least 75% of daily cleaning products named as ecolabelled or plant and mineral based | 7.5 / 15 points | Press coverage says all soaps, detergents and spa products are organically based and biodegradable, though no products are named. “all soaps, detergents and spa products are organically based and biodegradable and the hotel pool is kept clean using a chlorine-free system.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Linen, towels and mattresses | 10% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 10 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Air and quiet | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | Casitas rely on ceiling fans and cross ventilation. A smoke free policy is not stated. “along with ceiling fans and cross ventilation through the large doors and windows” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Pool and bathing water | 5% | 2/4 · Optimised chlorine dosing, saltwater chlorination or supplementary ozone or UV treatment | 2.5 / 5 points | The pool is described as natural and cleaned with a chlorine free system, but the method and test results are not published. “the hotel pool is kept clean using a chlorine-free system.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. Purity Score weights: Water you drink and bathe in 25%, Food on your plate 20%, Grounds and pest control 15%, Cleaning, laundry and fragrance 15%, Linen, towels and mattresses 10%, Air and quiet 10%, Pool and bathing water 5%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
People, ownership, work and community
2.4/5 People Score · Evidence coverage 100% · Evidenced performance 37.5%
Green flags
- Community benefit, level 3/4.
The lodge supports a mainland school, a milk nutrition programme, community solar, a sewing business and buys fish from local fishermen.
“Women’s Empowerment: The lodge has helped establish a sewing business, for economic opportunities and skills development.”
Source · 2026-11-03
| Pillar | Weight | Level and what it means | Contribution | Evidence, quote and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and control | 30% | 1/4 · Ownership stated without detail | 7.5 / 30 points | Press coverage names founder and owner Karen Emanuel but gives no detail on local share, and the lodge is managed by the Cayuga group. “From the outset, owner Karen was committed to building Jicaro Island Ecolodge as a local asset” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Local work and fair pay | 25% | 2/4 · A stated share of staff from the island or nearby communities | 12.5 / 25 points | Press coverage says all staff are local and staff can rise to manager roles. Pay levels are not stated. “All staff are local and all produce too.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Community benefit | 20% | 3/4 · Several programmes plus named local suppliers and makers | 15 / 20 points | The lodge supports a mainland school, a milk nutrition programme, community solar, a sewing business and buys fish from local fishermen. “Women’s Empowerment: The lodge has helped establish a sewing business, for economic opportunities and skills development.” Source · 2026-11-03 |
| Access to beach and land | 15% | 0/4 · Not disclosed on the stay's own pages | 0 / 15 points | Not disclosed on the stay's own pages, checked 2026-11-03. Page read · 2026-11-03 · Page read · Page read · Page read |
| Culture and heritage | 10% | 1/4 · Claim only | 2.5 / 10 points | Guests can join local fishermen and visit island communities, but no named makers are presented. “For a real local cultural experience, join them and try your luck catching with ancient techniques” Source · 2026-11-03 |
Throne Standard for stays 2.2. People Score weights: Ownership and control 30%, Local work and fair pay 25%, Community benefit 20%, Access to beach and land 15%, Culture and heritage 10%. Each pillar earns its weight times its level divided by four. The score is 1 plus 4 times the evidenced performance, shown to one decimal, so 0% is 1.0 and 100% is 5.0. A pillar the stay does not disclose, after we read its own pages, counts as 0 and is shown as Not disclosed, with every page we read linked, because silence is an answer too. Every finding quotes its source word for word. Below 85% coverage, below 70% performance, or with less than half the weight at level 2 or above, the score is held under the next whole number (3.4 or 2.4). A 5.0 band needs 90% coverage and performance, level 4 evidence on half the weight and the key pillar at level 3 or above. Green flags are pillars at level 3 or 4. Every level can be earned from public, dated evidence; no score requires a visit. Evidence must be rechecked within two years.
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