Ometepe is the largest island in Lake Cocibolca, the largest lake in Central America. Ometepe is formed by two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, linked by an isthmus (map here). Idyllic Ometepe is a vacation destination for Nicaraguans and foreigners, yet remains relatively undeveloped. The principal economic activity is plantain agriculture. Volcán Concepción remains active, spewing gases regularly and erupting several times each century. Maderas is inactive, with a lake filling the crater. The ferry ride from San Jorge to Moyogalpa, the principal port of the island, took 90 minutes heading into a fierce wind, with 6 to 8-foot waves. We had left Granada on the 6:30am bus to Rivas, and made good connections, so we arrived at the Hotel Finca Venezia by 10:30am.

• Approaching Moyogalpa; Volcan Concepcion in clouds Approaching Moyogalpa; Volcan Concepcion in clouds
• Hotel Finca Venezia Hotel Finca Venezia
• Beach at Hotel Venezia Beach at Hotel Venezia
• Beach at Hotel Venezia Beach at Hotel Venezia
• Hotel Venezia mascot Hotel Venezia mascot
• Don relaxing on our cabin porch, Hotel Venezia Don relaxing on our cabin porch, Hotel Venezia
• Walking along the beach toward Charco Verde Walking along the beach toward Charco Verde
• Washing clothes in Lago Cocibolca Washing clothes in Lago Cocibolca
• Lois and friends on the beach near Hotel Venezia Lois and friends on the beach near Hotel Venezia
• Beach bums Beach bums
• Hotel residents on horseback, Charco Verde Hotel residents on horseback, Charco Verde
• Charco Verde (green pond) Charco Verde (green pond)
• White-throated magpie jay (Urruaca) White-throated magpie jay (Urruaca)
• Punta Gorda, Reserva Charco Verde Punta Gorda, Reserva Charco Verde
• Punta Gorda, Reserva Charco Verde Punta Gorda, Reserva Charco Verde
• Punta Gorda, Reserva Charco Verde Punta Gorda, Reserva Charco Verde
• Playa Bancon beach, Reserva Charco Verde Playa Bancon beach, Reserva Charco Verde
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• Volcan Maderas and Isleta Quista from Playa Bancon Volcan Maderas and Isleta Quista from Playa Bancon
• Birds in the Charco Verde swamp Birds in the Charco Verde swamp
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We stayed there two nights, enjoying the magnificent Reserva Charco Verde, named for a very large pond (or small lake) within the island Ometepe. We hiked the trails of rhe reserve, taking in the great views and the intriguing birds and animals. We swam in the lake. We rented bikes from El Gordo on the highway, and rode up the hills for as long as we could stand. Then the next morning, we moved on to Santo Domingo Beach and Hotel Villa Paraiso, on the isthmus connecting the two volcanoes. After working hard to photograph the numerous Magpie Jays in the Charco Verde Reserve, we were amused to find the same birds boldly occupying tables in the outdoor restaurant of the Hotel Villa Paraiso.

• Ometepe fisherman Ometepe fisherman
• Volcan Concepcion Volcan Concepcion
• Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde
• Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde
• Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde
• Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde Howler monkey, Reserva Charco Verde
• Magpie Jay Magpie Jay
• Volcan Maderas from Playa Bancon Volcan Maderas from Playa Bancon
• Charco Verde Charco Verde
• Euphonia(?), Charco Verde Euphonia(?), Charco Verde
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• Renting bikes at Pulperia El Gordo Renting bikes at Pulperia El Gordo
• Lake Colcibolca sunset at Hotel Venezia Lake Colcibolca sunset at Hotel Venezia
• Howler monkey mother and babe Howler monkey mother and babe
• Howler monkey famila, papa howling! Howler monkey famila, papa howling!
• Howler monkey Howler monkey
• Parrots, Reserva Charco Verde Parrots, Reserva Charco Verde
• Magpie Jay, Reserva Charco Verde Magpie Jay, Reserva Charco Verde
• Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso
• Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso
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This beach is on the north side of the island, facing the prevailing winds, and it is windy! We enjoyed walking the beach, and walking to the nearby “Ojo de Agua”, a spring-fed swimming pool recreation spot. Lovely very clear water. On the fourth day of our Ometepe excursion, we rode the island “Chicken Bus” back to Moyogalpa and took the ferry back to San Jorge – a much easier and quicker ride, with the wind to our back. Still it took most of the day to get back home to Granada.

• Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso
• Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso Magpie Jay, Hotel Villa Paraiso
• Don on Santo Domingo Beach, Hotel Villa Paraisco Don on Santo Domingo Beach, Hotel Villa Paraisco
• Hotel Villa Paraiso Hotel Villa Paraiso
• Ojo del Agua Ojo del Agua
• Ojo del Agua Ojo del Agua
• Ojo del Agua Ojo del Agua
• Ojo del Agua Ojo del Agua
• Lois in plantain field near Ojo del Agua Lois in plantain field near Ojo del Agua
• Fruit eaten by monkeys and birds Fruit eaten by monkeys and birds
• Lois on Santo Domingo Beach Lois on Santo Domingo Beach
• Santo Domingo Beach Santo Domingo Beach
• Santo Domingo Beach Santo Domingo Beach
• Hotel Villa Paraiso Hotel Villa Paraiso
• Ometepe (both volcanoes) from San Jorge Ometepe (both volcanoes) from San Jorge
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