Ometepe Island is an adventure all on its own – and if you’re spending any real time in Nicaragua, you should absolutely carve out a few days here. Relaxing… yes. Adventurous? Definitely.

Because I was on a group trip, we took the exciting route to the island: a chicken bus. I’d let my imagination spiral beforehand – visions of live chickens flapping around the back of a farm truck, pooping on my suitcase. Reality was far less dramatic. It was basically the same kind of school bus I grew up riding. Vendors hopped on and off at stops, selling snacks and drinks through the windows. Honestly? Kinda fun.

From there, a short walk led us to a boat crossing Lake Nicaragua. For a lake, the waves were… aggressive. The boat was small. Both things were exactly as bad as they looked. I sat on the floor clutching my bags, taking deep breaths and negotiating with my inner ear. If you get seasick like I do, it’s not great—but it’s survivable.

Fun fact: there’s a single runway on and off the island. I have no evidence to support this, but in my head it’s obviously a drug-smuggling route. I’ve watched too many movies and I’m fine with that.

We stayed in a homestay – someone else’s actual house. Not my favorite setup, especially when I walked in and saw bug nets over the beds. Immediate no. That’s also where I learned my most important Spanish phrase of the trip: “mata la araña… por favor.” Every morning. Without fail. Three-inch spiders kept sneaking into the bathroom overnight. I did not shower. I did not use that bathroom. I regret nothing.

During the day, though, Ometepe really shines. Swimming in the lake, hanging out along the shore, and looking up to see the massive outline of Concepción Volcano, which I was definitely going to climb the next day. Guides tried to talk us out of it—“very, very difficult,” “expert level,” lots of ominous head shaking. We decided we’d go until we couldn’t anymore and turn back.

(Yes. That’s foreshadowing.)

Overall, Ometepe strikes a rare balance: part adventure, part slow island life. You can hike volcanoes, rent motorbikes or ATVs to explore, lounge in hammocks, sit on the beach, or do absolutely nothing at all. Plenty of options. Plenty of stories. And just enough chaos to keep things interesting.