Bikepacking Ometepe Island Figure 8, Nicaragua

location Central America, Latin America
We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. Moreflag On Chorotega & Nicarao/Nahoa Land

  • Distance

    75 Mi.

    (121 KM)

  • Days

    2

  • % Unpaved

    70%

  • % Singletrack

    0%

  • % Rideable (time)

    99%

  • Total Ascent

    4,959'

    (1,512 M)

  • High Point

    751'

    (229 M)

  • Difficulty (1-10)

    5?

  • 4
    Climbing Scale Fair66 FT/MI (13 M/KM)
  • -
    Technical Difficulty
  • -
    Physical Demand
  • -
    Resupply & Logistics
About Our Ratings

Contributed By

Logan Watts - Pedaling Nowhere

Logan Watts

Pedaling Nowhere
A must-ride ‘extra’ to the typical southward bound pan-american cycling route: a 75 mile figure-eight around the double-volcano island of Ometepe in the southern freshwater sea of Lago de Nicaragua.
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The island was formed by Volcan de Conception and Volcan Madera which are a part of the Cordillera Los Marrabios volcano range jutting straight out of the massive freshwater lake. From Granada we caught the four hour ferry to the island ready for a dirt-road adventure. Over three days on Ometepe we got a taste of some fantastic riding, a wealth of natural beauty, and vintage island charm.

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  • Highlights

    camera

  • Must Know

    alert

  • Camping

    home

  • Food/H2O

    drop

  • Nice dirt roads that get technical at times
  • Seeing howler monkeys on the roadside
  • Hostel Finca Magdelena
  • Eggs, beans, and tostones… the typical Nicaraguan meal.
  • Nicaragua’s dry season runs from November to April.
  • UPDATE: There is no longer a ferry running from/to Granada, so you must go via Rivas and San Jorge port. There are ferries that travel from Granada to Ometepe regularly.
  • There are also ferries that leave from Moyogalpa to Rivas.
  • There are a couple pay to camp places on the island.
  • Plenty of hostels and cheap hotels ($5-10/pp).
  • There are a few wild camping opportunities on the southeast part of the island.
  • There are a plenty of stores and places to eat on the island. One eatery that stands out is on the southern part of the south island (see map).

Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road closures. While riding, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route.

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Latin America

Central America

 nicaragua  

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