Second Fair "Expo Ometepe"
Faustino Salcedo | Jul 27, 2012
There will be contests, cleanups and reforestation, as well as exhibitions on various attractions of the island.
On June 2nd 2010, the island of Ometepe was named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, reason that makes it an international heritage. On the second anniversary of that designation, the fair "Expo Ometepe" will be hold on Saturday 4th and Sunday August 5th, in Altagracia, Ometepe Island. The event will include exhibitions of different tourist services offered on the island and cultural presentations.
The event was first held in 2011 and it is organized by the “Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo -INTUR-” (Nicaraguan Tourism Board). It was born with the purpose of celebrating the distinction that the Ometepe Island won in 2010. This time there will be 100 exhibitors including artists, museums, nature reserves and tourist restaurant and hotels on the island, offering their services. There will also be cultural events and side activities during the event. The place: the municipal park of Altagracia.
The fair is open to all age groups from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday and from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. According to Julio Videa, marketing director of INTUR, they expect excellent results as well as promoting the tourist value of the island. Videa stated that they are publicly available, 500 tickets for passage on the ferry completely free, which includes round-trip ticket from San Jorge, plus an entry to the museums. To buy these tickets is due to register before the first of August, on a website developed by INTUR. Below you can see the link to the site.
Registration for ferry tickets: Expo Ometepe
Parallel activities:
According to Martin Rodriguez, delegate of INTUR in Rivas, environmental activities will be performed in order to promote the care of the island as well as keeping it as a biosphere reserve. On Saturday 5th a reforestation day called "The green tunnel" will be taking place, which consists of planting trees in a 2 km stretch of road beginning from the central park of Altagracia. Then there will be a competition in search of the fattest trees of the island, the ones found will be declared heritage of the municipality and the nation.
The same day a cleanup day at the Beach Paseo Real will be taking place, which is recommended to wear closed shoes, hat, comfortable pants and a jacket in case of rain. Participants will be offered transportation from and to the central park of Altagracia. There will also be a photo contest, in which the prize is US$500; this one will be given at night.
Sunday tours will be to the “Piedra Inculta” from 9:30 am, which is one of the most important forest areas on the island of Ometepe, because it functions as a biological corridor between the Concepción Volcano and Maderas volcano. Then a kayak competition will take out, it has a limited capacity for 30 people, the price for registration is C$30.
Cultural activities are as follows:
Saturday August 4th
- Entertainment, competitions and presentation of local groups: 11:00 am– 5:00 pm
- “América Vive” Group Concert: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
- Kathia Cardenal Concert: 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Sunday August 5th
- Entertainment, competitions and local performances: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Guachipilin Play-acting: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Otto de la Rocha: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Zompopo Dance: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Translated by Aída Pichardo