Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

Lake Nicaragua is the largest fresh water lake in Central America. It is so large that it gives the feeling of an ocean, especially when on the little lancha (passenger boat) that we had to ride over the big waves in. Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes that were then joined together by an isthmus and when we stood on the connecting beach we could see both on the horizon.

We hiked the larger of the two volcanoes, Conception, which happens to be considered the most symmetrically formed volcano in all of Central America. To say this was a hard hike is true, but more than the strenuous scrambling on all fours, is the mental stress to not think about slipping down the loose rock incline as it became steeper and steeper towards the top.

We celebrated our victory against earth wind and fire with the local beer, and some fabulous sunsets over the lake.

On one evening when we returned home, the whole town was without electricity. Our local restaurant that we had planned to eat at was shut, so we wandered through little shops with candles and gathered up as many vegetables as we could. Our hostel only had one pot, so we had to be a little creative in what we would make in the dark. We basically ended up with veggie/lentil stew seasoned with salad sprinkles. This invention has since been our favorite quick meal to make even when the lights are on!

The island is small enough that it can be explored in just one day by dirt bike. We finally got to use our motor biking skills to weave in and out of cattle and over rocky dirt roads.

One of the local legends claims to make you younger after bathing in the mineral-rich water of Ojo de Agua. The water was cool and clear and if you look hard enough, we think you’ll see the shimmer of youth in our eyes!