Nicaragua Ometepe Island

Starting at 6 o’clock in the morning we embarked on our journey up the volcano. That began with a steady but manageable incline, but gradually became both more steep and treacherous; as the air became damp and the dirt turned to slippery mud. After a grueling 3 hours that sometimes felt like a rock climb than a hike, we arrived at the outer rim of the crater, but could see nothing - due to the clouds. 
 

As we ended our descent into the crater, the lake was almost completely covered in mist, but within 20-30 minutes it cleared to reveal a cauldron of lush green trees surrounding an extremely muddy lake. It’s not necessarily advised to swim in it, as the mud is so thick and is around 1m high… but I thought it was worth it just to say I had!! 

And as for the trek down. The less said the better. It’s tough, really tough. So take care, take it slow and definitely, definitely take a shower at the end. 

El Pital is a fantastic hostel worth either staying at our visiting. I visited several times and enjoyed it more and more each time. 
 

The best part about El Pital was yoga with Ryan every weekday morning at 9am. His sessions are challenging but welcome anyone from beginner to advanced. He is not only a fantastic instructor but an even better person and although his sessions are free, tipping is optional.

El Pital is a perfect place to relax, the food and drinks are delicious, the views are spectacular and there are often activities and live music to indulge in.