Top Things to do in Isla de Ometepe
Things to do in Isla de Ometepe, Rivas Department: The Best Nature & Parks
Discover the best top things to do in Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua including Volcan Concepcion, Volcan Maderas, Rio Istian, Isla Ometepe, Cascada de San Ramon, Parque Central, Punta Jesus Maria, Laguna Charco Verde, Sendero Pena Inculta.
Restaurants in Isla de Ometepe
1. Volcan Concepcion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 279 reviews
Reviewed By cbaldwin023 - New York City, United States
Great hike about 12 miles in total (19km). Started @7am and finished around 3pm with my guide Danilo Flores. I greatly enjoyed doing the hike with him as he offered much guidance and ensured we went the safest routes and made it to the crater of the volcano unlike other guides who would cheat their clients out of making it to the crater. On the hike you start out going through farmland and then progress into basically the jungle where you encounter howler and capuchin monkeys. Next up is a very loose rocky terrain that requires good footwear. To reach the summit of Concepción with a peak elevation of 5280ft (1600m) requires some great focus and maneuvering that Danilo assist with. When we reached the crater we were hit with very strong winds and low visibility but was well worth it. Going down was tricky, due to the loose rocks, but was was fun sliding down and planning each step looking for the most stable rock to land on. We stoped for lunch on the way down and had a great view of the Ometepe and the Lake. This hike was well worth it and I’d love to do it again. Danilo’s contact info is +50583647211 through WhatsApp and he is completely fluent in English and also offers scooter rentals for a great price to travel around the island on your own
2. Volcan Maderas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 331 reviews
The last eruption from this dormant volcano was 10,000 years ago.
Reviewed By lifeinthetopbunk - Philadelphia, United States
Volcan Maderas is covered in forest, which makes it a great place to hike if you burn easily! The top 300-400 meters are cloud forest; we couldn't see anything on the way up because it was too cloudy, but luckily on the way down, the clouds broke, and we got magnificent views of Concepción, the isthmus, and the lake. Like most hikes in tropical regions, this is tough. It involves getting very muddy and climbing, ducking, crawling, and rappelling to get to the crater. If you're the sort of person who enjoys those things, this is a fabulous hike. We hired a guide, which I think is necessary; while there is one main trail once you get onto it, there are lots of misleading paths on the way to that trail and no signs. Our guide was funny, considerate, and patient with our lackluster Spanish skills. I highly recommend him if you're in the Merida area! His name is Simeon, and his number is +505 (83) 26 36 61. The hike took us 8.5 hours (including a half hour lunch break), and we walked directly up a path from Merida, so no transportation was required. All in all, a challenging but fantastic experience.
3. Rio Istian
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By Sabrina1176 - Granada, Nicaragua
We did a kayak tour with Caballito's Mar Kayak Tour and had the best afternoon! So many bird sightings as well as Howler Monkeys, Caimans and a very knowledgeable guide! It was perfect!
4. Isla Ometepe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 813 reviews
Reviewed By EduardoGarciaBueno - Guatemala City, Guatemala
Sunsets, nature, animals, Balgue town, pizza, good food, good vibes, you can literally find everything you need in this beautiful island that has a home for all kinds of people. Loved it here and would definitely come back one day
5. Cascada de San Ramon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By 261alanak - Calgary, Canada
Drove past the exit 3 time's as the signage isn't great. Once we found it we were very happy we didn't hike the whole way. The first part of the hike looked long and boring. We rented a quad and then hiked the rest. The was wasn't difficult, but it also wasn't easy. Take good shoes with you, and water. We stopped lots along the way and took our time to hangout in nature. The waterfall was beautiful and a lot bigger than I thought. You can take a quick dip, which I recommend. Bring a towel and snacks and enjoy.
6. Parque Central
7. Punta Jesus Maria
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By Juanrobert808 - Toronto, Canada
This was a beautiful place to watch the sunset. It's a thin stretch of beach maybe 10 meters wide that extends out into the lake creating a division in the water. We stayed at La Punta Resort that is a five minute walk away. We only stayed one night but two nights would have been better in order to do more on the island.
8. Laguna Charco Verde
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By vintagepaper - Annapolis Royal, Canada
Charco Verde was one of the first places we visited on Ometepe. We took a local bus both ways from Moyogalpa, which was a lovely experience on it’s own if you like mixing with locals. There is a pretty walk around the Laguna but don’t count on swimming in it. There were howler monkeys with their babies all along the path. If you hear them before you see them they sound loud and fierce like a lion and you won’ be able to believe the sounds come from such small creatures. Our favourite part was the butterfly enclosure with the turtle pond inside. It was stunningly beautiful inside and the butterflies were abundant. We enjoyed watching the turtles too. It was super educational as there was English signage with tons of butterfly information. I learned a lot. Staff were friendly and the lane into it was a pretty walk from the main road. Shaded bus stop on the road made waiting pleasant as local cattle drawn carts and all manner of life passed by. Another good Ometepe experience.
