The Island Of Ometepe, A Beauty In A Sea Of ​​fresh Water

Nicaragua is a warm and tropical nation that stands out for its fiery volcanoes and two great lagoons: the Great Lake of Managua and the Great Lake of Nicaragua, popularly called Xolotlán and Cocibolca. In the latter is the beautiful island of Ometepe, with two impressive volcanoes joined by an isthmus. 

As a curiosity, it must be said that the immense lake in which the island of Omepete is found received the nickname of “fresh water sea” by the Spanish conquerors. And another striking fact, some species of sharks have acclimatized to this spectacular space and inhabit its waters accessing through the San Juan River.

Ometepe, a volcanic surface

This island also responds to the name of “Dos Cerros” in the Nahuati language. It has an area of ​​almost 300 square kilometers and is located on the surface of Cocibolca. In this atoll there are two imposing volcanoes that are part of the Pacific Ocean Belt.

Concepción, of enormous height, has an almost complete cone shape and is still active. Its last demonstration took place in 1957. During it all the inhabitants of these lands had to be evacuated.

For its part, Maderas is in an inactive state. Its greatest charm is provided by the small pond of frozen water that it houses at its summit. To this we must add the San Ramón waterfall, with a drop of about 50 meters on the south face of this mountain.

Cities of tourist and cultural interest

Moyagalpa, guarded by the Concepción volcano, is the first city that appears before the eyes of the tourist. It is one of the oldest regions in Nicaraguan territory. Formerly it was referred to as the place of mosquitoes.

Lots of curious travelers open to new and exciting experiences arrive at its port, whether by boat or ferry. It is the ideal location to start the journey through Ometepe and we can take advantage of it to learn a little better about the local history through its churches and museums.

Once everything is ready, we can satisfy our curiosity even more by taking excursions throughout the island. We can choose to carry them out on foot or rent a motorcycle, car or bicycle for this.

Another of the most popular cities in this district is Altagracia or Casa de Garzas. Once there, we can go through the Pre-Columbian Museum, one of its most important attractions. It also has a port area but, unfortunately, access to it is restricted.

Excursions that you cannot miss

La Laguna, stimulating natural space

A visit to the Charco Verde Nature Reserve, in San José del Sur, is a must. It is located about twelve kilometers from Moyogalpa. In it, the tourist will enjoy a huge natural expanse full of vegetation and color in which nothing goes unnoticed .

In addition to the beautiful beach of Charco Verde and the unique shore of the Bancón, without a doubt, what draws the most attention in this well-kept park is the Charco Verde lagoon. This space is surrounded by inhospitable mangroves, as well as trees that appear whose roots show through the water.

The ancient inhabitants of these lands referred to them as Xistleteot. When the level of this aquifer rises, it joins the Great Lake Nicaragua. During that time, those interested in sports can rent a boat or kayak to explore it.

Continuing with our excursion, the usual thing is to climb the west side of Mount Charco Verde. From its zenith a spectacular panoramic view of the region is obtained thanks to the viewpoint of the Devil, from which the entire island surface can be seen.

La Punta de Jesús María, taken from the sacred writings

Any self-respecting explorer cannot miss the marvel of Punta de Jesús María or Punta de la Paloma, just five kilometers from Moyogalpa. It is a long but narrow sandy path formed by the slag and the rest of the debris from the strong volcanic eruptions in Concepción.

Of course, the passage through it is open and it is possible to walk on these layers. In the rainy season, when the water rises, this path is practically unnoticeable, so it seems that we are walking on this liquid as the Holy Scriptures assure that Jesus Christ already did. To this is added the pleasant sensation produced by the contemplation of the arrival of the waves on both sides of the point.

Ometepe Island is a quiet and unique space, where you can enjoy nature, beautiful beaches and magnificent landscapes. What are you waiting for to get to know it?