Ike Siu's Cabanas Vientos del Norte, Corn Island

My wife, friends, and I had originally planned to at another hotel but because of an Italian Reality TV show wh had to change our plans. This was Ike Siu of the “Cabanas Vientos del Norte”. This is not the most luxurious hotel on the island. I think everyone would agree that goes to Casa Canada, but as for hospitality “Ike’s Place” as it is commonly called is unsurpassed. He is happy to pick you up and drop you off at the airport (unless you arrive unexpectedly an hour early). And he tries to give everyone a personal tour of the island and he knows it and all the residents quite well. Ike’s Cabanas are simple sets of two story buildings with a two room apartment on each level. These rooms are sort of connected in pairs with two sets on each side of his office home. The entire area is surrounded by a security fence that Ike unlocks at 7:00AM and locks at 9:00PM but a key to the gate comes with each room for those who like the night life. The rooms are very small and plain but very clean and well kept. The plumbing all worked well with adequate water pressure and the infamous electric showers were newer all plastic and although we didn’t have blistering hot water it was warm and refreshing with out a single electrocution incident as I have had with some older electric showers. As anyone who has been reading blogs on Corn Island probably knows a few weeks ago a fire caused the loss one of the three generators for power on the island and I think some wind also knocked out some power lines but Ike has a backup generator that he was able to run as needed. He discussed this with us and the other people staying at the hotel and for our first two days until the power was back up it was lights out at 9:00PM. That was never a problem for us as we were more than ready for bed by then anyway after a day of sea and sun. We paid the extra for air conditioning however with the evening breeze off the bay it was pleasant and the air was not really necessary at least not while we were there. There is a breezeway patio between the rooms and the main-house set up with tables and chairs were we spent many hours reading, talking with friends or surfing the internet with the free WIFI. Although Ike's place does not have a restaurant Eva, Ike's assistant, housekeeper, and cook will prepare a delicious traditional breakfast with fruit, juice, coconut bread and either fish or Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) and eggs for a small fee. They also can make for you other meals if you give them advanced notice. We did have the “catch of the day” Kingfish one day for dinner. It was great but it was our only day without Lobster. The location of Cabanas Vientos del Norte, at least for me, was also a big plus. The location on the north west side of the island was on the main road and only a short walk to Nautilus dive center, as well as the commercial center of the island and many good restaurants. Several of the nicer hotels on the island don't have paved road access. If you plan to make daily trips into town this could be a little inconvenient, but if you like the quite isolation it is an option. Ike gave us his tour of the island, including the beautiful “Morgan house” on the bluffs with a gazebo with an incredible view of the southwest side of the island, around the bluffs to the “soul of the earth” sculpture, up along Picnic Center and Brig Bay pointing out many landmarks, hotels and restaurants on the way as we discussed the history and politics of the island. We were leaving on the early flight out on Saturday morning and although we had to leave before Eva arrived to prepare breakfast he had coffee and fresh bananas, from his farm, ready for us before he took us to the airport. Staying at the Cabanas Vientos del Norte not only did we find comfortable accommodations but we found a friend. We would highly recommend Ike's Place to anyone traveling to Big Corn Island.