Ometepe is an hour glass shaped island formed by two Volcanoes, Concepcion and Maderas, the former being still active.

The island is set within Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. Whilst a freshwater lake, it apparently has bull sharks and swordfish within it. Nevertheless it’s still popular for swimmers and kayakers.

Its takes around an hour on the ferry to get to the island with the two volcanoes dominating the views of the approaching island.

We spent four nights on the island and loved our time there. It’s like going back to a simpler time, a slower pace and a warm welcome is assured.

Horses and oxen pull carts, real life cowboys are everywhere and you never quite know what awaits you around the corner.

We hired an ATV to get around the island which was great fun, if a little challenging at times, its not the traffic but the wildlife and the often poorly marked and outsized speed bumps that are the greatest challenge.

Driving at night adds further challenges with no street lights, pedestrians and bicycles without lights and flying bugs hitting you!

The fertile volcanic soil on the island allows the production of plantain and tobacco, the shed below has tobacco leaves hanging out to dry.

Driving around the island is a great way to find interesting buildings. The church below resembles a smaller version of the cathedral in Granada.

We went to a place called El Ojo de Agua which is a natural spring pool filled with crystal clear water from an underground river that comes from volcano Maderas.

It’s a lovely refreshing swim under the canopy of the forest in the sparkling waters.

It’s hard to find a spot where you cannot see at least one of the Island’s volcanoes. Finding good spots for the sunset is a good sport too!

We looked at Punta Jesus Maria, a small spit of land that juts out into the lake is a nice spot where you can see both volcanoes. The sun sets in front of you yet still provides a nice glow on the volcanoes.

The view below is of Concepcion from where we were staying.

For me, the best spot for a sunset photo is from Playa Margos, which also has a fabulous bar and restaurant next to the lake.

Here you can capture the sunset and Volcano Concepcion across the lake.

However, I did manage to get photo bombed by this rather noisy and territorial goose wandering around at sunset!

Below I am trying to eat a fabulous Thai rice dish presented in a pineapple whilst dealing with a number of interested dogs. Of course i did share some, it was too hard not too with their ‘please feed me’ eyes!

The island is not known for its beaches but Playa Santa Cruz is not too bad with a 4km stretch of sand and some surf shops and restaurants along the roadside behind it.

There is also a small airport on the island and you get to drive across the end of the runway!

We also went to a place called the Charco Verde reserve. It’s a forest surrounding a lagoon near to a beach which has some local myths associated to it.

It is said that in earlier times sacrifices and supplications to the gods were made here. There is a story about a demonic figure called Chico Largo who dwells at the bottom of the green pond and sometimes materialises on land.
It is also said that on the bottom of the lagoon is a village called “El Encanto” which is populated by people who picked fruits and hunted in Charco Verde. For punishment they were turned into cows, pigs, crocodiles or turtles. Butchers in the area claim that they found calfs and cows who had gold teeth like humans.

The area has a nice butterfly enclosure that is worth a visit.

A walk around the lagoon is a treat, the views of the Concepcion volcano behind the lagoon are stunning.

There are howler monkeys in the forest which are easy to see. When one group starts howling, others around the lagoon start off too, its quiet spooky to hear!

Our last visit was to the museum El Ceibo. Apparently this is the most important collection of archeological artefacts in Nicaragua.

They have items from many different peoples from Central America that have been found on the island, proving that Ometepe was an important mixing pot of cultures through the ages.

Many of the pieces found were well preserved in the volcanic soil of the island.

Below are burial ‘pots’, the boot shaped ones for women, the round shaped for men and the wider ones for important people. Their bodies would be kept under the house and once they had rotted away their bones placed in these pots.

Below are some arrow heads, dating as old as 12,000 years ago!

So that’s it for Ometepe, a rather magical island, next we take the ferry to the mainland and onwards to Granada.