Ometepe Island is one of the most incredible places in the world that you can visit.
Ometepe is without a doubt one of the main tourist attractions in Nicaragua, especially when it comes to nature and tranquility. It is an oasis of peace.

A must-see if you are in Nicaragua or even in any country in Central America. The name comes from the Nahuatl Ometepetl and means “Two Mountains”.

Located within Lake Cocibolca, it is the largest freshwater island in the world and is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It covers an area of ​​276 square kilometers and is made up of two enormous volcanoes that are joined by a narrow isthmus.

Tourism in Ometepe

Tourism on the island of Ometepe is very peaceful, generally it is about people who seek to connect with nature, so they tend to be very respectful of the environment and the surroundings.

Boat or Ferry to Ometepe Island:

To get to Ometepe Island you have two options, either by water or by air.

The most recommended option to get to Ometepe Island is by boat or ferry from the port of San Jorge, in Rivas.

Several times a day there are trips between both ports, both on the ferry and on one of the boats that make the route and the trip lasts around 60 minutes.

The approximate cost of the ticket is about 50 cordobas. If you come with your own vehicle, you can board it on the ferry if there is space available for it. If so, we recommend that you reserve the vehicle in advance. Boarding a vehicle costs approximately 420 cordobas.

How to get around Ometepe Island:

The road was recently restored and is the only way to get from one place to another. You can do it with the regular buses, with the minibuses, which also act as private taxis, or by renting a vehicle on the island in any of the different car rental agencies. Touring the island on your own on a motorbike, quad or bicycle is a highly recommended experience if you are doing tourism in Ometepe.

Tourist services and tours on the island of Ometepe:

On the island of Ometepe there is enough tourism offer in terms of hotels, you can find them of different categories and tastes. Likewise, there are restaurants and diners that offer you the best dishes at affordable prices. We recommend that you do not leave the island without trying the delicious fish cooked by the locals.

There are many places to visit, the island of Ometepe has to be taken slowly and visited little by little. Getting to know the island requires a minimum of 3 days, because between arriving and leaving the island it takes a bit longer and being less time hardly allows you to savour it. In any case, to explore it in depth and properly, you should stay for at least 5 days. We suggest places to discover for a route of between 6 and 8 days, but you can also do it in sections.

Ometepe Volcanoes

The Concepción Volcano (1610 m north of the island) and the Maderas Volcano (1394 m south of the island). Most of the population is concentrated around the Concepción Volcano, with Moyogalpa being the main city on the island.

The main road runs around the volcano and connects Moyogalpa with Altagracia, the second most important city on the island. The road was recently restored and is the only way to get from one place to another.

You can do it with the regular buses, with the minibuses, which also serve as private taxis, or by renting a vehicle on the island at any of the various car rental agencies. Touring the island on your own on a motorbike, quad or bicycle is a highly recommended experience.

The Capital of Ometepe Island:

Although the island of Ometepe Nicaragua belongs to the department of Rivas, Moyogalpa acts as the administrative capital of the island. The name comes from the Nahuatl language and means “town of mosquitoes.” It is where the port is located that receives the ships that come from the port of San Jorge in Rivas.

Pre-Columbian history in Ometepe

As a curious fact, it is said that Moyogalpa already had inhabitants in the year 10,000 BC. In addition, it was one of the first indigenous settlements in Central America. Also in times of the revolution, it was of great importance in the years prior to the final insurrection of July 19, 1979.

It is a small town, very quiet and safe, with an economy based on tourism and trade. It is the perfect place to establish a base and from where to visit the entire island.

In Moyogalpa there is the El Ceibo Museum, with exhibitions of pre-Columbian archaeological remains found on the island itself. Within the same facilities you can visit the Numismatic Museum.

Just 5 kilometers from the town of Moyogalpa, along the cobbled road that leads to Altagracia, is Punta Jesús María, a stretch of sand that extends into the lake and that in summer (non-rainy) can extend more than a kilometer into the lake.

Hotels on Ometepe Island

The island has numerous accommodations and hotels, as well as restaurants and bars, internet cafes for connecting to the Internet, tourist information points, car rental sites, tour operators, local guides, shops selling merchandise, clothing and pharmacies.

Typical food from Ometepe.
If you like good food, we recommend that you do not leave the island without trying the delicious fish cooked by the locals.

There are many places to visit

Ometepe has to be taken slowly and visited little by little. The entry city is Moyogalpa and the normal way to get to its port is from the port of San Jorge, in Rivas. Several times a day there are trips between both ports, both on the ferry and on one of the 3 boats that make the route. If you come with your own vehicle, you can take it on the ferry if there is space available for it. Although you can get there by boat from Granada to the city of Altagracia.

When you arrive at the port of Moyogalpa, you will find yourself at the beginning of the main street of the city. If you walk a little further, you will enter the heart of Moyogalpa. In itself, the city does not have much, it is a quiet place where you can relax, sleep, eat or have a beer while meeting people who are visiting the island in one of its bars. But it is the perfect place to establish a base and from where to visit the entire island.

Among the activities to do in Ometepe

excursions to the volcanoes are the most requested and sought after by tourists. Both to the Maderas Volcano and the Concepción Volcano. To do this, you will need to find a guide to accompany you during the tour, since it is prohibited to do the route on your own.

From Moyogalpa you can go to the Concepción Volcano, which always has a smoking cloud at its summit. While to go to the Maderas Volcano, you must do so from a point located further south on the island. Mérida is a good place from which to begin the expedition to Maderas.