Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Ometepe — meaning twin peaks — is the largest island in Lake Nicaragua. It was formed by its two active volcanoes, Maderas and Concepción in the Holocene epoch, roughly 12,000 years ago. The fertile island has been host to an abundance of wildlife ever since. The last eruption from Concepción occurred in 2010 and while it was incredibly violent, little damage was done to the island and no deaths were reported. There is evidence to support that the island may have been inhabited as long as 1500 years ago, though some question the validity of such evidence.
Ometepe is only reachable by way of ferry from the mainland of Nicaragua. The ride from San Juan de Rivas takes about an hour and is fairly cheap and only 50 cordobas, or $1.65. If you plan on bringing a vehicle, be prepared to pay a little more, but it won’t break the bank. Just be sure to have reservations in place, as the ferries to and from the island fill up very quickly, and space for vehicles is in short supply.
On Ometepe’s eastern shore, is a wonderful resort hotel called Finca San Juan de Isla. It looks out onto Lake Nicaragua, and features many small cottages hidden beneath the jungle canopy that make for a perfect getaway. For many Americans, this resort is quite cheap at less than 100 dollars per night and would be well worth it at five times the cost. In the morning, howler monkeys can be seen swinging from tree to tree right from the porch while enjoying a hot cup of local coffee. Meals and cocktails are provided at the resort restaurant, and breakfast is free for all guests.
The resort also offers several activities throughout the day and night so that tourists can get the most out of their island experience. Activities include nature classes, dive sessions, and horseback riding along the beach and through the jungle. These activities vary in price from 15 dollars for a one hour horseback ride, to up to 60 dollars for an all day nature class through the jungle, with the opportunity to see some of Ometepe’s most treasured sites.
For those with an insatiable lust for full immersion into nature, guided hikes up the volcanoes are offered seven days a week. The hike up Concepción takes about eight hours to reach the mile-high summit and is an arduous challenge. Guides are recommended, as the volcano has varied terrain, some of which can be quite steep and treacherous. People have been known to get lost and some have died trying to do it alone.
Maderas is slightly less physically demanding, reaching a height of just under 4,600 feet and it even features a lagoon in its crater. Whichever hike is taken, both can be done in a single day and the views from the top are nothing short of extraordinary, featuring panoramic views of the island and Lake Nicaragua.
Don’t let the heat of the mid-day sun fool you. While the temperature at sea level may be in the triple digits, the summit of the volcanos can be as cold as 45 degrees Fahrenheit at mid-day.
As with any other place in Nicaragua, the food on Ometepe Island is something to behold. Pick any one of a number of local restaurants and you are sure to be pleased. Most meals come with a side of Gallo Pinto, or rice and beans mixed together. In Nicaragua, red beans are the most common, but black beans are also used in this traditional dish. It goes well with eggs in the morning, fish at lunch, or steak for dinner. Gallo Pinto is a staple food.
Nicaragua has just about every type of ecosystem and bio region imaginable, from big cities and small Carribbean villages, to picturesque islands and even pine oak forests like those found throughout much of North America. Ometepe Island differs from many other places in Nicaragua, in that it offers a magnificent jungle experience. If there is one thing to be said about traveling to Nicaragua, it’s this: visit as many places as possible in the time you have, so as to experience all of what the country has to offer — which is an tremendous lot.
