Ometepe Island : NICARAGUA
The Island of Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. The volcanoes, Concepcion and Maderas, are joined by a low isthmus to form a single island, giving it the form of an hourglass. Ometepe has an area of 276 km². It is 31 km long and 5 to 10 km wide. From Lake Nicaragua, the same lake that the Spanish conquerors called the ‘fresh water sea’ because of its sheer size, rises the island Ometepe. The name Ometepe means ‘two hills’ in the native ‘náhuatl’ language. The island measures 276 square kilometers and it houses two majestic volcanoes connected through a small strip of land. Ometepe is currently one of the destinations admired by both local and international tourists for its nature, hospitality, beautiful landscapes, the two volcanoes, a rich archeological background, relaxing beaches and its numerous natural reserves and forests that enjoy a high biodiversity. For ages, the island has represented a paradisiacal destination. According to stories obtained by historians, indigenous tribes traveled from up north to find a paradise as foreseen in a vision by their prophets; a place formed by two hills which they found at Ometepe while traveling down south. The island consequently transformed into a sanctuary inhabited by a mix of different tribes and cultures – something that is revealed by the immense amount of petroglyphs, ceramics, and statues that can be found all throughout the island. The island is currently inhabited by friendly people who love their territory, dedicated to fishing and high quality agricultural production which is made possible by the fertile soil. More recently, the ometepinos (inhabitants of Ometepe) have started to attend tourists and nowadays the island houses numerous establishments offering lodging, food, tours, and other services that enable tourists from all over the world to visit and explore this paradise. In the next section we will explain the principal tourist destination of Ometepe.
The main port of the island is the port at the city of Moyogalpa (again a word obtained from the náhuatl language, meaning ‘place of mosquitoes’). Three boats and a ferry travel back and forth several times a day during the whole week to connect Moyogalpa to San Jorge, a small town in the department of Rivas. When arriving at the port of Moyogalpa, you will right away see the active, cone-shaped and most likely clouded Concepción volcano at the background. Moyogalpa is a small, calm town. However, it does offer useful services to tourists like comfortable hotels and hostels; restaurants where you can enjoy local and international food or drink a fresh tropical fruit juice; companies that rent cars, motorcycles, or bicycles; as well as specialized guides, bars with friendly atmospheres, pharmacies, internet cafes, and also a well-equipped health center. A recently paved road connects Moyogalpa with the city of Altagracia, located at the other side of the Concepción volcano. This road also connects other streets and unpaved roads that lead to other interesting areas. There is some quite good signage that makes it easy to find the destinations. By following this main road that start at Moyogalpa, you can visit Punta Jesús María, located five kilometers from the city. Punta Jesús María is a narrow tip located at the most western point of the island. It is about twenty meters wide and 200 meters long, and it enjoys a lot of shade from leafy trees that surround the area. This point ends with a sand bar that stretches into the lake for more than one kilometer during the dry season. Water from the lake washes ashore at both sides of this sand bar, which has a width of about five meters. From this point, you can watch a great sunset and there is also a possibility of camping here.
Ometepe Island is located inside Big Lake Nicaragua. The Indian word Ometepe means " two mounts " The name was given for the Indians because the island is formed by two volcanoes, "Concepción" and " Maderas ". The area of Ometepe is 276 kms. square and the population is 35,000 inhabitants approximately. The Concepción volcano has one of the "most perfect cone shape" of Central América. The original name given by the Indian was "Choncoteciguatepe", and later the Chorotegas Indians and the nicaraguas called it "Mestliltepe". Both words comes from the Nahuas tribes. The island is a gem in the middle of the lake, there are lots of touristic attractions and museums. If you are really interested in history, Ometepe is an open history book at hand. There are activities available for everybody. If you are in good conditions, you can participate in a tour that consist of climbing to the top of either of the volcanoes from where you can enjoy an incredible view of the lake and the island. It is excellent that here many names of the aboriginal toponimia are conserved: Chilaite, Ilcue, Culco, I cover, Chipá, Guyú, Angul, Tagüizapa, Calaisa, Balgüe, Pulman, Cuacuyú, Tichaná, The Guineo, Tibiche, Sinacapa, Sintiope, Sapabucha, Urbaite, Tilgüe, Astagalpa, Moyogalpa and Esquipulas, among others. These were the names with which they denominated to the different tribes of Ometepe. Most of the tribes that lived in the insular costs, lived calm, hunting, fishing, the sculptors working stone, the potters forging the clay, making ceremonies to their gods and cultivating, harvesting corn, potato and other tubers and gathering fruits.
The main port of the island is the port at the city of Moyogalpa (again a word obtained from the náhuatl language, meaning ‘place of mosquitoes’). Three boats and a ferry travel back and forth several times a day during the whole week to connect Moyogalpa to San Jorge, a small town in the department of Rivas. When arriving at the port of Moyogalpa, you will right away see the active, cone-shaped and most likely clouded Concepción volcano at the background. Moyogalpa is a small, calm town. However, it does offer useful services to tourists like comfortable hotels and hostels; restaurants where you can enjoy local and international food or drink a fresh tropical fruit juice; companies that rent cars, motorcycles, or bicycles; as well as specialized guides, bars with friendly atmospheres, pharmacies, internet cafes, and also a well-equipped health center. A recently paved road connects Moyogalpa with the city of Altagracia, located at the other side of the Concepción volcano. This road also connects other streets and unpaved roads that lead to other interesting areas. There is some quite good signage that makes it easy to find the destinations. By following this main road that start at Moyogalpa, you can visit Punta Jesús María, located five kilometers from the city. Punta Jesús María is a narrow tip located at the most western point of the island. It is about twenty meters wide and 200 meters long, and it enjoys a lot of shade from leafy trees that surround the area. This point ends with a sand bar that stretches into the lake for more than one kilometer during the dry season. Water from the lake washes ashore at both sides of this sand bar, which has a width of about five meters. From this point, you can watch a great sunset and there is also a possibility of camping here.
Ometepe Island is located inside Big Lake Nicaragua. The Indian word Ometepe means " two mounts " The name was given for the Indians because the island is formed by two volcanoes, "Concepción" and " Maderas ". The area of Ometepe is 276 kms. square and the population is 35,000 inhabitants approximately. The Concepción volcano has one of the "most perfect cone shape" of Central América. The original name given by the Indian was "Choncoteciguatepe", and later the Chorotegas Indians and the nicaraguas called it "Mestliltepe". Both words comes from the Nahuas tribes. The island is a gem in the middle of the lake, there are lots of touristic attractions and museums. If you are really interested in history, Ometepe is an open history book at hand. There are activities available for everybody. If you are in good conditions, you can participate in a tour that consist of climbing to the top of either of the volcanoes from where you can enjoy an incredible view of the lake and the island. It is excellent that here many names of the aboriginal toponimia are conserved: Chilaite, Ilcue, Culco, I cover, Chipá, Guyú, Angul, Tagüizapa, Calaisa, Balgüe, Pulman, Cuacuyú, Tichaná, The Guineo, Tibiche, Sinacapa, Sintiope, Sapabucha, Urbaite, Tilgüe, Astagalpa, Moyogalpa and Esquipulas, among others. These were the names with which they denominated to the different tribes of Ometepe. Most of the tribes that lived in the insular costs, lived calm, hunting, fishing, the sculptors working stone, the potters forging the clay, making ceremonies to their gods and cultivating, harvesting corn, potato and other tubers and gathering fruits.
