Ometepe is an island in Lake Nicaragua, formed by two volcanoes — Concepción and Maderas — joined by a low isthmus to create an hourglass-shaped landmass of 276 square kilometres. The name comes from the Nahuatl words for "two hills." It is one of the most striking islands in Central America: perfectly symmetrical Concepción rising to 1,610 m at the north end, the older, forested Maderas at 1,394 m in the south.
Concepción is still active and has erupted numerous times since 1880; climbing it requires a guide and a good level of fitness. Maderas is quieter, its crater holding a lagoon, and the ascent through cloud forest is a full-day affair. Both volcanoes can be climbed from the town of Altagracia (Concepción) or Balgüe (Maderas).
Beyond the volcanoes, the island offers kayaking on the Río Istián, swimming in Ojo de Agua — a natural spring-fed pool — petroglyphs scattered across the farmland, and a pace of life that makes the mainland feel very far away. The two main settlements are Moyogalpa, the ferry port on the western shore, and Altagracia, the larger town to the north-east. Ferries run from San Jorge on the mainland, taking about an hour.