Ometepe is the island of two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua, a UNESCO biosphere reserve nominated in 2010 and reached by ferry from San Jorge, the lake port next to Rivas. Monkeys Travels & Tours is based in Rivas and runs private Ometepe day tours and Concepción hikes with ferry tickets included, so the day starts at your hotel in Rivas or San Juan del Sur.
The reserve covers 53,860 hectares of land and about 29,684 people live on the island (UNESCO). Concepción rises to 1,610 m and is listed as still active; Maderas reaches 1,394 m. Nicaragua ratified the reserve with Law 833 of 2013. Howler monkeys, spring-fed pools and a lagoon with its own legend fill a full day without rushing.
What to do on Ometepe
Swim at Ojo de Agua
Ojo de Agua is the set of natural pools fed by a spring on the island, on the road between Altagracia and Playa Santo Domingo. Recent reports put the entrance for foreigners at around US$10 with a consumption credit (seen November 3, 2026); older figures say US$3, so confirm at the gate. The stop is part of our Ometepe full day, from US$55 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$95 solo.
Walk the lower slopes of Concepción
The full day covers the lower slopes of Concepción with a private guide. For the top, the Concepción summit hike takes 8 to 10 hours, from US$75 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$130 solo. UNESCO lists the volcano as still active, and we only go up in conditions our guides accept. Dry season, November to April, is the better window.
Look for howler monkeys
Howler monkeys are part of the standard route of our full day. Your guide knows the stretches where the troops feed in the morning and stops the vehicle when they are close to the road.
Visit Charco Verde and hear the Chico Largo legend
Charco Verde is a lagoon in the community of San José del Sur, between Charco Verde beach and Bacón beach, with a view of the islet El Quiste; a sign at the entrance reads "Reserva Biosfera Charco Verde" (Raíces, UNAN-Managua, 2021). Local testimony collected by that journal says Francisco Rodríguez, called Chico Largo, son of the healer Úrsula known as Mama Bucha, turned into a deer to move through the forest, was wounded by hunters and was buried half human, half deer. People still say his spirit protects the lagoon. La Prensa Literaria (2007) adds the pact version: men who dealt with him became rich overnight, and the price was their soul. We tell the full story in Ometepe legends: Chico Largo and Charco Verde.
Stay longer
If one day is not enough, ask us to build Ometepe into the Nicaragua Highlights 3 Days, 3 days and 2 nights from US$145 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$280 solo, with guide, all transport, hotel, daily breakfast and entrance fees included.
How to get there from Rivas or San Juan del Sur
The ferry leaves from San Jorge, the lake port beside Rivas. The crossing to Moyogalpa is 17 km and takes about 60 minutes; the boat to San José del Sur covers 24 km in about 80 minutes. In the 2026 schedule published by Ometepe Nicaragua, the first departure from San Jorge is at 7:00 (El Che) and the last at 17:45 (Ferry III), with boats every 30 to 60 minutes; from Moyogalpa the boats run between 5:30 and 17:30. The schedule is the same on holidays, and the small lanchas do not run on Sundays. The fare is around C$50 per passenger (Sunset Viaje, September 2026, seen November 3, 2026); vehicles must be booked ahead. Check the board at the dock the day you travel.
From San Juan del Sur we drive the 12-mile Transit road to Rivas and continue to the San Jorge dock. From Managua airport our drivers usually count about 3 hours to San Jorge. Our island tours include transport to the port, ferry tickets, private guide and water; read the step by step in Ometepe in one day from San Juan del Sur and our Rivas page.
For comparison, as of November 3, 2026, shared day trips from San Juan del Sur list from US$89 for about 8 hours (Ticketbellas), US$81 per adult for 9 hours (Happy Tours on Expedia) and US$80 (Green Expeditions). Ours is private and starts from US$55 per person in groups of 4 to 6.
Best time to visit
The dry season runs from November to April; the rainy season from May to October, with September and October the wettest. Demand peaks from December to April (Lonely Planet). Hikes on Concepción and Maderas are better in the dry months. Remember that the small lanchas do not sail on Sundays and that in the first days of Semana Santa 2025 more than 1.3 million people traveled inside Nicaragua, so book the holiday week early.
What to bring
- Swimsuit and towel for Ojo de Agua.
- Closed shoes for the slopes; boots, long trousers and a change of clothes for the summit hike.
- Córdobas for the Ojo de Agua entrance (around US$10 per recent reports) and small purchases.
- Passport or a copy.
- A rain jacket between May and October; water is included in every tour.
