Just got back from a visit to our neighbor to the North, Nicaragua.  One of the highlights of my trip was an overnight visit to Isla Ometepe.  Ometepe is an island located in Lake Nicaragua in the Department of Rivas.  The island was formed by two volcanoes, Concepción (1,610 meters, or 5,300 feet) and Maderas (1,394 meters, or 4,573 feet), that are joined by a narrow land bridge making it one continuous island.  The first thing that is remarkable is the Lake itself.  With an area of 8,274 square kilometers, Lake Nicaragua (or Lago Cocibolca) is the largest lake in Central America, and the 20th largest lake in the world.  The water is fresh and warm and the lake is great for swimming and fishing.  Of the two volcanoes, only Concepción is active.  It is very similar and almost identical in altitude to the Arenal Volcano here in Costa Rica (but far less active).  Going to Ometepe to me is like taking a step back in time.  Life on the island is very primitive compared to the hustle and bustle of the mainland. There is a good road that circumnavigates the island, but automobiles are very few.  On the road you are frequently interrupted by livestock crossing from one pasture to another. The island is inhabited by some 35,000 locals.  I find the people of Ometepe to be pleasant and very welcoming.  This was my third visit to the island, but the first time I actually stayed overnight.  I sayed at Hotel Villas Paraiso, a beautiful resort where my company Package Costa Rica sends customers. I highly recommend the place.  The room was really cool and the breeze off the lake exquisite.  Food on the island is great and the resturant at the resort was no exception.  Make sure to try “Guapote Entero”, a whole fried fish that is popular on the island.  The resort is right on the lake shore and has a great beach for swimming.  There are many activities on the island.  You can take a trekking tour of either Concepción or Maderas.  Horseback riding along the shore of the lake is a great way to start the day.  We visited a really cool place on the road to the hotel called Ojos de Agua, which is a large natural spring that you can swim in.  I could go on and on, but suffice to say that Ometepe is a must-see for anyone who wants to visit Nicaragua.  For more information you can call us anytime at Package Costa Rica….1-866-424-6439.