Ometepe is bigger than it looks — 276 square kilometres and a single ring road that hugs the coastline. Getting from Moyogalpa to the Maderas side takes well over an hour by any vehicle. Buses run a few times a day around the island but are slow and infrequent; for a short visit, hiring a scooter or a mountain bike is by far the most practical option.
Scooter rental is available in Moyogalpa for around $25 a day. The roads are paved between the main settlements but rough and dusty elsewhere; ride carefully and watch for animals and potholes. Bicycle hire is cheaper and reasonable for shorter distances — Moyogalpa to Punta Jesús María, for example, or a circuit around the western side. The isthmus and the Maderas side are hillier and harder on a bike.
Taxis can be hired by the hour or for fixed routes. Tuk-tuks operate in and around Moyogalpa. For volcano climbs, your guide will usually arrange transport to the trailhead as part of the tour.