Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising out of Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain), meaning "two mountains". It is the largest island in Lake Nicaragua. The two volcanoes (known as Volcán Concepción and Volcán Maderas) are joined by a low isthmus to form one island in the shape of an hourglass, dumbbell or peanut. The island has an economy based on livestock, agriculture, and tourism. Plantains are the major crop. The island first became inhabited during the Dinarte phase (c. 2000 BC – 500 BC), although evidence is questionable. The first known inhabitants were speakers of Macro-Chibchan languages. Traces of this past can still be found in petroglyphs and stone idols on the northern slopes of the Maderas volcano. The oldest date from 300 BC. Several centuries later, Chorotega natives created statues on Ometepe carved from basalt rock. Today, Ometepe is developing tourism and ecotourism, with the archaeological past and the bounty of its nature sanctuary, the exotic vegetation, animal and bird life as drawcards. A new airport (IATA airport code MNLP) opened in 2014. With a population of approx 40,000 people, the tourists that visit this island can make a great impact on the local economy. Current estimates have about 60,000 visitors to the island every year. The majority arrive between mid-November and mid-May. The majority of the visitors arrive via ferry from San Jorge to Moyogalpa. There are many places to stay, places to eat, and outdoor activities to do. From black sand beaches to zip lines, from kayaking at sunrise to see caiman alligators to horseback rides at sunset on the beach. There is a large draw of people from Europe, Israel, and North America to explore this little island. There are also many organizations that offer volunteer programs that are located on the island to help improve the lives of the locals while protecting the environment and wildlife. There are many opportunities for people who visit Ometepe Island to help the local population through volunteer programs, mission projects, and in simple ways.