Lake Nicaragua is a gargantuan in the Western hemisphere. There's no bigger fresh water lake south of the Great Lakes in the US and north of Lake Titicaca in South America. In fact, it's among the top 25 largest lakes in the world. There are over three thousand square miles of Lake Nicaragua, and dozens of islands to explore and even stay overnight on. Some of the islands are close by boat, only fifteen minutes from Grenada, or under one hour from Managua. Some are inhabited, such as Ometepe, and some are so small they seem like dots on the surface of this vast body of water. There are several resorts and lots of excursions in and around Lake Nicaragua. Let's explore just a few of them and you can get started on planning your Nicaragua vacation right here!
Getting to Lake Nicaragua
There's hydrofoil service from Grenada to San Carlos, which leaves every morning except Tuesday, at 8 am. Return service is same days, at 2 pm from San Carlos. There are daily flights from Managua to San Carlos, at 6:45am and return flights every day at 8:50 am. San Carlos, located almost two hundred miles southeast of Managua, is found at the southwest corner of Lake Nicaragua, and is the mouth of the Rio San Juan. Rio San Juan is the natural border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and a tourist destination itself. Visitors can take river excursions and even plan a vacation that crosses from Nicaragua into Costa Rica or vice versa, for exploration of both countries. San Carlos is an international entry point for Nicaragua so travelers will find services here. Boats from San Carlos will ferry you to any of thirty six different islands in Lake Nicaragua. Rio San Juan flows all the way to the Caribbean Sea, and supports an amazing diversity of species. Sharks swim up the river from the Caribbean and can be found in Lake Nicaragua!
Ometepe
Ometepe is Lake Nicaragua's largest island, and hosts two towns and a total population of 35,000. You can get to Ometepe from Managua by going to the port of San Jorge and buying a ticket on the Diamante. The trip takes forty minutes. There are no longer hydrofoil services to Ometepe. Things to do on Ometepe include visiting one of two volcanoes and going to Santo Domingo Beach. There are also a lagoon, a waterfall, lots of agriculture, and miles and miles of trails to explore.
Isla Zapatera
Take a boat from Asese port to get to Isla Zapatera. It's the second largest island on Lake Nicaragua, at 52 square km. There's a great hike here, up Zapatera Hill. It takes about six hour so plan ahead with plenty of water and food. Also on Isla Zapatera are ancient stone statues in a National Park that represent very important archaeological discoveries. The museum is wonderful.
Solentiname
Solentiname are a group of islands found in the southeast corner of Lake Nicaragua. There are over thirty islands in the group, The islands are known as a haven for artists and spiritual types. To get to the islands, take a boat from San Carlos. Bird watchers and hikers will adore Solentiname for the biodiversity. Check out Museo Musas to, for Columbian artifacts and petroglyphs, among other bits from the ancient world.
