Project Ometepe 2020: Painting a Restaurant (and a Raw Shell) in Nicaragua
When a promise made in paradise turns into a wild, unpredictable DIY project.
Back in 2019, I visited my long-time Nica friend, Erik, on the stunning volcanic island of Ometepe in Mérida, Nicaragua. I didn't arrive empty-handed; I brought along a custom car hood, intricately decorated with my own airbrush designs celebrating the spirit of Nicaragua. Inspired by that creative spark, Erik and I made a pact: I would return one year later to help him paint and transform his restaurant, Las Loanas.
Fast forward to 2020, and I was back to fulfill that promise. But as anyone who has traveled off the beaten path knows, projects in Central America always run on their own unique rules.
The adventure began in the bustling city of Rivas, where Erik met me to buy the paints. Getting all that heavy material across the water and onto the island was a team effort in itself. But the real surprise was waiting for me at the restaurant. Stepping into Las Loanas, I realized we weren’t just painting finished walls—we were essentially painting a raw, unplastered building shell! If I had known beforehand, I would have organized plastering materials, but out here, you learn to adapt. There was no turning back: it had to work exactly as it was.
Grab a drink, get comfortable, and read on to see how we turned a raw concrete canvas into a colorful island dream amidst the chaotic, beautiful reality of island life.
Conquering the Main Room (and the World's Most Painful Ladder)
The first big mission on our list was the main dining room. Before any artistic details could happen, we needed to get the base coats on those high, raw walls. And that is when we met our biggest nemesis: the ladder.
Forget the sleek, lightweight aluminum ladders you find at your local hardware store. In the spirit of true Nicaraguan resourcefulness, Erik produced a homemade wooden ladder. It was built from thick branches, and the rungs were made of completely round tree limbs. Let me tell you, spending hours barefoot or in thin shoes balancing on round tree branches is the ultimate foot torture! Every step was an exercise in balance, and by the end of the day, our feet were absolutely screaming.
But out here, you don't complain—you adapt. Despite the foot cramps and the uneven surface of the raw concrete absorbing paint like a giant sponge, we pushed through. Step by painful step, we managed to get the main room covered, transforming the gray shell into a bright canvas ready for the real magic to begin.
The first big mission on our list was the main dining room. Before any artistic details could happen, we needed to get the base coats on those high, raw walls. And that is when we met our biggest nemesis: the ladder.
Forget the sleek, lightweight aluminum ladders you find at your local hardware store. In the spirit of true Nicaraguan resourcefulness, Erik produced a homemade wooden ladder. It was built from thick branches, and the rungs were made of completely round tree limbs. Let me tell you, spending hours barefoot or in thin shoes balancing on round tree branches is the ultimate foot torture! Every step was an exercise in balance, and by the end of the day, our feet were absolutely screaming.
But out here, you don't complain—you adapt. Despite the foot cramps and the uneven surface of the raw concrete absorbing paint like a giant sponge, we pushed through. Step by painful step, we managed to get the main room covered, transforming the gray shell into a bright canvas ready for the real magic to begin.
Breathing Life into the Kitchen and Main Room
With the main room prepped, it was time to tackle the heartbeat of any restaurant: the kitchen. We gave the space a fresh, vibrant new color to completely change the vibe. But we didn’t stop at just solid walls. The kitchen became the birthplace of my first official artwork for the project—a custom painting of the iconic Ometepe volcanoes, rising proudly right there on the wall.
Once the kitchen was glowing, I moved back out to the main dining room to tackle one of the large side walls. Ometepe is famous for its rich, wild nature, so I wanted the art to reflect the paradise right outside the doors.
Using my brushes and paint, I began filling the wall with vibrant designs of local animals and lush tropical plants native to the island. Slowly but surely, the cold, gray building shell was disappearing, replaced by the colorful, wild soul of Nicaragua. Standing back and seeing those volcanoes and jungle motifs on the walls, it finally started to look and feel like a real tropical restaurant.
With the main room prepped, it was time to tackle the heartbeat of any restaurant: the kitchen. We gave the space a fresh, vibrant new color to completely change the vibe. But we didn’t stop at just solid walls. The kitchen became the birthplace of my first official artwork for the project—a custom painting of the iconic Ometepe volcanoes, rising proudly right there on the wall.
Once the kitchen was glowing, I moved back out to the main dining room to tackle one of the large side walls. Ometepe is famous for its rich, wild nature, so I wanted the art to reflect the paradise right outside the doors.
Using my brushes and paint, I began filling the wall with vibrant designs of local animals and lush tropical plants native to the island. Slowly but surely, the cold, gray building shell was disappearing, replaced by the colorful, wild soul of Nicaragua. Standing back and seeing those volcanoes and jungle motifs on the walls, it finally started to look and feel like a real tropical restaurant.
Mission Accomplished: A Raw Shell Transformed
And just like that, the heaviest part of the work was finally done! Looking around, it was hard to believe this was the same gray, unplastered building shell we had walked into just days before.
The transformation was absolute magic. The entire space was completely radiant, glowing with fresh, bright colors. The colorful, hand-painted motifs of island animals and jungle plants brought the main dining room to life, while my volcano mural gave the kitchen a soul of its own.
Every single cramp from that agonizing, round-rung wooden ladder, every drop of sweat, and the challenge of painting on raw concrete vanished the moment we stepped back to admire the final view. We didn't let the lack of plaster or the rustic tools stop us. Together with Erik, we turned a dream into reality, proving once again that with friendship, resourcefulness, and a bit of passion, you can build (and paint) a paradise anywhere.
And just like that, the heaviest part of the work was finally done! Looking around, it was hard to believe this was the same gray, unplastered building shell we had walked into just days before.
The transformation was absolute magic. The entire space was completely radiant, glowing with fresh, bright colors. The colorful, hand-painted motifs of island animals and jungle plants brought the main dining room to life, while my volcano mural gave the kitchen a soul of its own.
Every single cramp from that agonizing, round-rung wooden ladder, every drop of sweat, and the challenge of painting on raw concrete vanished the moment we stepped back to admire the final view. We didn't let the lack of plaster or the rustic tools stop us. Together with Erik, we turned a dream into reality, proving once again that with friendship, resourcefulness, and a bit of passion, you can build (and paint) a paradise anywhere.
Heading Outside: A World Map on the Streets of Mérida
With the interior glowing, it was time to take our project outdoors. We wanted the restaurant to catch the eye of anyone passing by, so we used the same vibrant color from the inside to paint the exterior wall facing the street. Instantly, Las Loanas started popping against the island landscape.
But the absolute highlight of the outdoor phase was a very special art collaboration. Erik’s daughter joined me at the wall, and together, we set out to create something magical: a massive hand-painted world map.
Working side-by-side with her was incredible. We sketched out the continents and filled them in, turning a plain street-facing wall into a colorful tribute to global travel—perfect for an island that welcomes backpackers and wanderers from all corners of the earth. Watching her add her own strokes to the wall and seeing the pride in her eyes made all the hard work worth it. It wasn't just about transforming a restaurant anymore; it was about leaving a shared memory on the walls of her home.
With the interior glowing, it was time to take our project outdoors. We wanted the restaurant to catch the eye of anyone passing by, so we used the same vibrant color from the inside to paint the exterior wall facing the street. Instantly, Las Loanas started popping against the island landscape.
But the absolute highlight of the outdoor phase was a very special art collaboration. Erik’s daughter joined me at the wall, and together, we set out to create something magical: a massive hand-painted world map.
Working side-by-side with her was incredible. We sketched out the continents and filled them in, turning a plain street-facing wall into a colorful tribute to global travel—perfect for an island that welcomes backpackers and wanderers from all corners of the earth. Watching her add her own strokes to the wall and seeing the pride in her eyes made all the hard work worth it. It wasn't just about transforming a restaurant anymore; it was about leaving a shared memory on the walls of her home.
The Grand Finale: A Piece of My Heart (and a Giant Light Bulb)
To wrap up the entire transformation, we saved the absolute crown jewel for last. We brought out the custom car hood featuring my personal Nicaraguan airbrush artwork from 2019 and proudly mounted it right in the main dining room. It instantly became the focal point of the whole restaurant.
Erik had to keep a seriously close eye on it, though—the local mayor loved the design so much he tried to convince us to let him have it for the city hall building! Not a chance, Mr. Mayor; this one stays at Las Loanas.
Just as we thought we were completely finished, a light went out. And out here, even changing a simple light bulb becomes a memorable adventure. When Erik brought out the replacement, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I asked him, "Don't they have normal light bulbs around here?!" Standing right next to a standard Victoria Clásica beer bottle, the new energy-saving spiral bulb was an absolute monster—almost as tall as the bottle itself!
To wrap up the entire transformation, we saved the absolute crown jewel for last. We brought out the custom car hood featuring my personal Nicaraguan airbrush artwork from 2019 and proudly mounted it right in the main dining room. It instantly became the focal point of the whole restaurant.
Erik had to keep a seriously close eye on it, though—the local mayor loved the design so much he tried to convince us to let him have it for the city hall building! Not a chance, Mr. Mayor; this one stays at Las Loanas.
Just as we thought we were completely finished, a light went out. And out here, even changing a simple light bulb becomes a memorable adventure. When Erik brought out the replacement, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I asked him, "Don't they have normal light bulbs around here?!" Standing right next to a standard Victoria Clásica beer bottle, the new energy-saving spiral bulb was an absolute monster—almost as tall as the bottle itself!
A Surprise Gig: Art Class in Paradise
Just when I thought my hands were full with the restaurant walls, island life threw another beautiful surprise my way. Word about the painting project had spread quickly through Mérida. During my stay, I was approached by Jen, an American teacher who lives on Ometepe and teaches the local kids. She had seen what I was doing and asked if I would be open to hosting a drawing class for the children.
I didn't hesitate for a second--said and done!
Before I knew it, I was stepping away from the scaffolding of Las Loanas to become a temporary art teacher. Sitting down with the local kids, sharing drawing techniques, and watching their faces light up as they brought their own imaginations to paper was incredibly rewarding. It became this beautiful side project where I wasn’t just leaving my art on the island walls, but hopefully inspiring the next generation of local artists to paint their own future.
Just when I thought my hands were full with the restaurant walls, island life threw another beautiful surprise my way. Word about the painting project had spread quickly through Mérida. During my stay, I was approached by Jen, an American teacher who lives on Ometepe and teaches the local kids. She had seen what I was doing and asked if I would be open to hosting a drawing class for the children.
I didn't hesitate for a second--said and done!
Before I knew it, I was stepping away from the scaffolding of Las Loanas to become a temporary art teacher. Sitting down with the local kids, sharing drawing techniques, and watching their faces light up as they brought their own imaginations to paper was incredibly rewarding. It became this beautiful side project where I wasn’t just leaving my art on the island walls, but hopefully inspiring the next generation of local artists to paint their own future.
The Ultimate Island Marble Run: Creativity Without Borders
Just as the paint on the walls was drying and we were getting ready to celebrate, Erik told me he had one last surprise. "You have to see this," he said, smiling. We hopped on the bikes and rode over to a backpacker hostel in the neighboring village.
I thought I’d seen everything, but what waited for us there was hands-down one of the coolest marble runs I have ever laid eyes on.
The picture only scratches the surface, showing the incredibly detailed starting ramp built on the porch. It was constructed entirely from upcycled materials—pins, scrap wood, and dozens of colorful plastic bottle caps forming obstacles. But the real mind-blowing part? The track didn't stop at the porch. It kept going, winding its way through the entire garden and wrapping all the way around the property! It was a massive, labyrinthine masterpiece built completely out of things they could find around the island. Watching a marble make that epic journey was the perfect reminder of what makes Ometepe so magical: if you have an idea and a bit of passion, you can build anything out of nothing.
Just as the paint on the walls was drying and we were getting ready to celebrate, Erik told me he had one last surprise. "You have to see this," he said, smiling. We hopped on the bikes and rode over to a backpacker hostel in the neighboring village.
I thought I’d seen everything, but what waited for us there was hands-down one of the coolest marble runs I have ever laid eyes on.
The picture only scratches the surface, showing the incredibly detailed starting ramp built on the porch. It was constructed entirely from upcycled materials—pins, scrap wood, and dozens of colorful plastic bottle caps forming obstacles. But the real mind-blowing part? The track didn't stop at the porch. It kept going, winding its way through the entire garden and wrapping all the way around the property! It was a massive, labyrinthine masterpiece built completely out of things they could find around the island. Watching a marble make that epic journey was the perfect reminder of what makes Ometepe so magical: if you have an idea and a bit of passion, you can build anything out of nothing.
