Visit Ometepe Island

Ometepe Island is in Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America, and also home to the Islets of Granada. The island has not one but two volcanos, both of which can be climbed. Maderas is the volcano in the south of Ometepe, and it is less active than the Concepcion volcano in the north. The hike to the summit of Maderas takes you to a beautiful crater lake. There is also an impressive waterfall at the base that cascades for almost 50 meters down a sheer rock wall. The island is also popular for horseback riding, mountain biking, or kayaking the Istian River that runs through it. You can also just laze on the white sands of Santo Domingo beach. Visit Ometepe Island is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua.

This extraordinary island is located on Lago de Nicaragua and is formed by two joined volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. Hiking, kayaking, cycling, and healthy food are the island’s main draws. Just keep in mind that hiking the volcanoes is as hard as it appears: you’ll need to start really early or the midday heat will slow you down significantly (I learned this lesson the hard way). The hikes take 8-10 hours and guides are mandatory. Expect to pay around $20 USD for a group hike. Just make sure you have solid footwear, a hat, and sunscreen. Nicaragua is freaking hot pretty much any time of year, so cool off with a lovely dip in this natural beauty. The perfectly conical and active Concepcion Volcano lies to the north on Ometepe Island and on the south of the island you’ll find the extinct Volcano Maderas. In addition, primarily used for agricultural purposes, nearly anything will grow in Ometepe’s rich volcanic soil, including coffee, bananas, and avocados.