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Published: December 31st 2006
Stuck in the mud
Tash trying to make her way down to the water for a swim!Ometepe is a small island in a huge lake; Nicaragua’s biggest lake. It was formed when two neighbouring volcanoes erupted and joined themselves together. We had planned to go to stay and possibly work on a small organic farm on the smaller half of the island. The ferry docks on the larger island so we needed to catch a couple of buses to get across to where we wanted to be; we ended up spending the whole day waiting for the second bus playing cards and drinking beer with the locals and were just about to give up and get a hotel when it came round the corner.
Ometepe definitely wins hands down for worst roads still being used by buses! After our bumpy ride we arrived and found our way in the dark up to the farm and found a spot for our hammock. We were starving and so went and grabbed some food down at the one local restaurant before bed.
The farm we were staying at was called Zopilote and the site they had was fantastic and beautifully kept with fragrant lemon grass lining all the pathways and numerous fruit trees dotted around. There was also
a butterfly garden that attracted loads of hummingbirds and butterflies, some of which made a crackling sound when they flew and could be heard wherever you were.
We had planned to volunteer in exchange for food and accommodation as we had previously at another WWOOF member farm in Belize but for whatever reasons, which they never really gave fully, they expected volunteers to pay the same as paying guests. This didn’t really sit very well so after a day’s volunteering we decided we’d just stay as guests and enjoy the island!
Now unemployed, we hired a guide to go and climb our island’s volcano along with two Italians who were also staying at the farm. The climb started relatively easily crossing over some farm land climbing up to the base of the volcano where the forest started. From here the trail took very much the most direct route straight up the volcano; the trails were not as well developed so there were no nice easy switchbacks to take the edge off the incline.
Just before the trail started to get really steep we had a quick rest stop to admire the view out towards the neighbouring volcano
on the opposite island. The climb to the top took about 3 hours with our final goal being the small crater lake at the summit. Knackered at the summit we stopped for lunch and Tash attempted to swim in the crater lake but ended up sinking in the mud before she got to the waters edge! We sat and ate our lunch and watched the scenery appear and disappear as the clouds blew past the top of the volcano.
Once we had sufficiently recovered and eaten we made our way back down. Just before arriving back at the rest stop we stopped to watch some howler monkeys up in the trees above the trail. We had heard them howling whilst we were making our way up but they are normally pretty hard to spot so it was really cool to see them. I think they were just as curious about us and seemed to be watching us make our way back down the trail.
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Rachel Maiden
non-member comment
Happy New Year!
Hi guys, just a quick note to say Happy New Year to you both!! Hope you had a good one - I'm now back at work and wishing I wasn't!! Enjoyed reading another active journal entry - you're always hiking over, round or through something or another!!! Take care, Rachel xx