Description
One of the best places to spot birds on Ometepe is at the Istián River, located right between the island of the Maderas Volcano and the one of the Concepción Volcano. The river is a sanctuary for resident as well as migratory birds, and the area furthermore provides great views and a pristine natural setting.
There are basically two ways to access the area of the Istián River. Over land, the watery area can be accessed from the road between Playa Santo Domingo and Balgüe, but there are no real trails which makes hiking a challenging task. The other option is to access the river from the point where it connects to Lake Nicaragua, at the southern side of the island.
The most frequently used way to access the river is to hire a kayak in Mérida and then paddle down from Mérida to the river, over the lake. It takes about one hour to reach the river from Mérida, and the views along the way are already impressive. The dormant but mighty Maderas Volcano can be perfectly seen from the lake, and the even taller, active Concepción Volcano also forms part of the picture.
After entering the river birds can be easily spotted. The bird-list includes egrets, herons, jacanas, stilts, and even predatory birds like hawks, among many other birds. The river itself is not wide and vegetation around the river is abundant. Quietly paddling down the beautiful waterways is definitely relaxing by itself.
On average, a kayak trip from Mérida and back takes about three hours. Be sure to (carefully) bring a camera and/or binoculars. Being on the water for several hours, sunscreen might also prove rather valuable. The lake is furthermore great for swimming, so swimming suits can be worn for a quick dip. Kayaks can be rented in the town of Mérida, for example at Hacienda Mérida or the Caballito's Mar restaurant.
Getting There
There are basically two ways to access the area of the Istián River. Over land, the watery area can be accessed from the road between Playa Santo Domingo and Balgüe, but there are no real trails which makes hiking a challenging task. The other option is to access the river from the point where it connects to Lake Nicaragua, at the southern side of the island.
Comments
tootles wrote on Feb 19, 2009:
the nicaragua is a beautiful place and you should take alot of your photos and put them on a tv show like wild life its a very good show!!! oh and the place you guys live in is preety and you should try to stop the sewig that runes into the sea!!!