Ometepe
Ometepe is an eco-tourism island with a lack of hotels, but many islanders are opening their homes to low paying guests. Ometepe‘s unique double-breasted shape was foretold in a vision to Nahuas and Chorotegas who came from Mexico and made it their sanctuary. Photo by: NicaRagans
The friendly Ometepinos are always willing to show you some fresh delight on the island. You can sample its phenomenal riches on an easy hike on Maderas, the extinct and smaller volcano. Its crater is slightly spooky cold lagoon, set in a thick tropical jungle which really is full of down to the Charco Verde Reserve, where you find the best beaches – and an ancient witch called Chico Largo, who may offer you a life of luxury in return of transmuting your soul into one of the island’s cows. Photo by: Jungle_Boy
Sunset at Punta Jesus Maria, the western tip, where a 5 m wide sandbar projects 1 km into the lake, with water splashing you from both sides. Troops of howler, white-faced and spider monkeys en route to swimming at the jungle San Ramon waterfall, along with hummingbirds and urraca (blue-tailed magpies). Staying quite still, looking at and listening to the living fairytale. Photo by: bhlogiston
When to go: Year-round, so come for the fiestas patronales like Moyogalpa’s Santa Ana in July, when the Baile de las Inditasdance celebrates both Spanish and indigenous culture; or Altagracia‘s all-dancing, all-drinking feast of San Diego in November. Ometepe hold more folk and religious festivals than anywhere else in Nicaragua. Population: 35,000. How to get there: By boat from San Jorge on the lake shore near Rivas; or the ferry from Granada – San Carlos, which stops to Ometepe and which you must book in advance. Photo by: Joerg Zwingli
Photo by: mrtraveller
