Isla de Relaxacione

Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?
Our boat ride over to Isla de Ometepe made our butts soar and our stomachs moan. We actually were thrown out of our seats many times as we rocked across Lago Nicaragua. The Isle de Ometepe is made up of two volcanoes joined after an eruption created and isthmus of lava connecting the two. Our first stop on the island was on Playa Venecia where we swam in the lake at sunset until the thought of the world's only fresh water sharks swimming with us brought us to the shore. We travelled around the island from beach to beach watching monkeys hanging by their tails feeding in the trees right out the bus window at eye-level. We hiked 1km up the side of the smaller Volcano, Volcan Madera, where we stayed in a farm house on a working coffee plantation (Finca Magdalena). The Finca was surrounded by trails through pastures and gardens leading to petroglyphs from 300AD. Our first day we began an assent up the volcano and came accross a few Howlers passing overhead. We stopped to observe and noticed more were on their way. Nick decided to get a closer look and, like a monkey himself, climbed up a tree. As he looked up the Holwers began to crowd around the very tree that he was in. Several families, including 3 babies (so cute!), were all inspecting this new monkey while he in turn inspected them. All in all, about 15 Howlers and 1 homosapien hung out in one tree for a good hour. Our most incredible monkey encounter yet!

Our final stay on the island was at the family run, Hostel Monkey Island. We relaxed in hammocks, swam in the lake, and made a failed attempt at paddling in the family canoe (actually a small hollowed out log) across to Monkey Island. Instead we played with our new friend Kiko. This little 1 year old White-faced Capuchin was a bundle of fun. It cuddled, pick-pocketed and explored our bodies. A monkey actually picked Nick´s nose and ate it!! We then took the 2 1/2 hour bus ride back around the 30kms of rocky, muddy, potholed roads (more butt pain) back to the dock and headed off the island exhausted from so much relaxing.
Adios!

More Pics:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2115925591