Departamento de Rivas

Nicaragua is a bit off the tourist path compared to some of the other countries we have been. And the place we are staying on Omtepe is also off the beaten path too or more accurately well beyond where the paved road finishes. Things are a lot quieter and rustic here. The restaurant opens to serve you, we are the only westerners staying in the village.

We got here by taking a two hour bus then a one hour ferry then a 90 minute Tuktuk. Ometepe is an island on Lake Nicaragua the largest lake in Central America. It is primarily formed by two volcanoes - one only is active.

We have had a fairly relaxed few days walking around the village of Merida. Yesterday we went kayaking in a mangrove swamp with lots of birds, caiman and monkeys to see. Today we went horse riding.

Interesting to know that ocean based bull sharks are able to swim up the river from the Caribbean (takes about two weeks) and there is a population in the lake. They used to think they were a separate freshwater species until they tagged them and saw them coming and going.

Added a few birds to my list despite no binoculars including Nicaraguan Grackle, Southern Lapwing, Amazon Kingfisher and Banded Wren. But best of all was Orange-Chinned Parakeet my 1,000th life-bird.

Day after tomorrow we head back to Costa Rica where we will be back on the more beaten track.Read more