Nicaragua > To Isla de Ometepe

José drives me for the last time today. In about two hours, he takes me to the border with Nicaragua. I say goodbye to José with a firm hug. He has driven me excellently over the past eight days and has been very enthusiastic. On the other side of the border, another driver is supposed to be waiting. I go to Costa Rica’s immigration to get my exit stamp and then cross the border to Nicaragua’s immigration.

Nicaragua - The Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro cathedral of Rivas

The customs formalities are surprisingly quick. Within an hour, I’ve passed the border. Belisario is waiting with the bus to drive me further into Nicaragua. At first glance, Belisario seems less talkative than José, but he also appears to be a suitable driver. Around half past ten, I arrive in the town of Rivas—a typical Central American town. I get out at the central square in front of the cathedral. Unfortunately, the cathedral is closed due to renovations. At a bank, I withdraw some Nicaraguan currency. I order a drink at a café, buy some sandwiches, and pick up drinks at the supermarket for the coming days. It’s enjoyable to wander through the town. Life in Nicaragua is clearly different from Costa Rica. Everything is much more colorful, and people spend a lot of time outside. Compared to Costa Rica, Nicaragua is much poorer. Just before two o’clock, I arrive at the port of Rivas for the boat trip to Isla de Ometepe. The ferry is just arriving. Porters bring my luggage aboard—a convenient help. I board the ship and take a seat on the upper deck. From the deck, I have a view of Lake Nicaragua and see the island with its two volcanoes in the distance. It’s an impressive sight. I’m still considering climbing the highest volcano, Concepción, tomorrow.

Nicaragua - The ferry to Isla de Ometepe

The trek to the summit is said to be extremely difficult. Erik says that in his previous groups, only one person managed to reach the top. The last section is especially steep and covered with volcanic gravel, making the climb challenging. The other volcano, Maderas, is slightly lower, but the path is muddier. During the crossing to the island, the volcanoes grow larger and larger. I also see a gray veil hanging over the lake exactly where I am heading—it looks like it’s raining there. As I get closer, the rain shower becomes more apparent. I take my luggage and go one deck lower just before a heavy downpour hits. In the warm area, there are chairs, and people are watching television. Luckily, the shower passes quickly, and I can go back outside. When I arrive on Isla de Ometepe, Horacio, the local guide, shows me the bus. He will later provide all the information about the volcano climb. In about half an hour, he drives the group to Laguna Verde, a resort located between the two volcanoes. Just before the resort, the road is blocked by children. There is a dance performance in the middle of the road. Boys play music, and girls dance as majorettes. I can’t determine the exact reason, but it seems like different groups are challenging each other. The local population watches. At the resort, the cabins are near the lake—a fine spot, though for the next two days without hot water. The briefing about the volcano trek goes a bit differently than expected. Horacio has been bitten by a dog at the resort and had to go to the hospital. He has left the necessary information for Erik. The trek to Concepción volcano departs tomorrow at half past five. Exciting!