📍Pink Beach, Komodo Islands 📍Pink Beach, Komodo Islands
🐕Unfortunately, there are over 3 million stray 🐕Unfortunately, there are over 3 million stray dogs in Sri Lanka. 

🇱🇰This is because owning a dog in Sri Lanka is not the norm thanks to economic issues 

🐶Pretty much all the dogs I encountered over there were sweet, calm and just after a bit of attention (and food). Although rabies in Sri Lanka is on the rise. 

😇Also from what I saw it seemed as though the strays were treated quite well (although I know this is not always the case). 

📖If your interested in learning more, or want to support the cause then give these following charities a follow @wecare_srilanka @animal_sos_srilanka @themightyroarproject

Are you a doggo lover?
Tattoo Story time📖 Basically this was my fault Tattoo Story time📖

Basically this was my fault as I had a little twitch and I moved ever so slightly which is when he said “oh no”. I asked my friend to film some tattoo videos and she caught this gem on camera 😂

The tattoo turned out absolutely fab though and I loveeee it 🐘❤️

Does anyone have any tattoo tales? 

PS when I moved my neck here the needle was very much off me 💉
👩🏽‍🦱Rarely post my TT content on here b 👩🏽‍🦱Rarely post my TT content on here but this video seemed to create some conversation so I thought I would share ✌🏽

Also just want to caveat that I personally don’t think this is unconventional at all, hence why in my voiceover I say “what some people might call” … to confirm some people is not me 😂
I had a couple of comments like this on some of my I had a couple of comments like this on some of my TikToks a few months back when I said I was going on a long trip without my BF. 

🧡One thing I’m super grateful for is my supportive boyfriend no matter how ludacris my ideas.

✈️He loves to travel and explore new places but it’s definitely not on the same scale as me! 

💻 He also doesn’t have a job that gives him the same freedoms as mine does 

🌎we were meant to be apart for 6 weeks but I told him I was extending by a week and it was absolutely fine 

❤️Despite the fact we miss each other he’ll always support my travels whether he can come with me or not.

🍉 If your partner doesn’t support or trust you are they really the one?
Nothing compares to being by the sea 🌊 📍@c Nothing compares to being by the sea 🌊 

📍@carrie.ahangama
🌊🐚Ultimate room views for just £22 a night 🌊🐚Ultimate room views for just £22 a night @pelicanbayahangama  above the @pickledpelican restaurant where you can get very decent burgers🍔

📍Ahangama, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
A little insta VS reality. Exploring days look v A little insta VS reality. 

Exploring days look very different from travel days. And you best believe I spend 99% of my days in my frizzy bun 😅

Anyone else like this?
📍Udawalawe National Park Can never have to muc 📍Udawalawe National Park

Can never have to much elephant content right? ✌🏽🍃🐘
Coming to terms with the fact I’ll never be a cu Coming to terms with the fact I’ll never be a cute insta girl 😂✌🏽

FYI the train was stationary in the second pic of me 😂

Also think I need to say that the first few pics are not mine… but I think that’s pretty obvious right? ©️
🏄🏽‍♀️Sri Lanka’s Surf Towns are call 🏄🏽‍♀️Sri Lanka’s Surf Towns are calling… are you going to answer? 🏄🏽‍♀️

🌊Whilst I didn’t get to surf in Sri Lanka due to a broken toe, I absolutely love watching surfers as a pastime. I think it’s such a cool and impressive sport.🌊

🏄🏼Here are the best places to surf (or surf watch👀)

South Coast (November to April) 

🏄🏽‍♀️Hiriketiya 
🏄🏽‍♀️Matara
🏄🏽‍♀️Ahangama 
🏄🏽‍♀️Midigama
🏄🏽‍♀️Thalpe
🏄🏽‍♀️Mirissa 
🏄🏽‍♀️Hikkadawa
🏄🏽‍♀️Unwatuna 

There are also some smaller beach towns in between the above 

East Coast (May-October) 

🏄🏽‍♀️Arugam Bay 
🏄🏽‍♀️Pottuvil Point 
🏄🏽‍♀️Panama 

Do you fancy trying the surf in Sri Lanka?
🚂The most beautiful train ride the in the world 🚂The most beautiful train ride the in the world 🚂🍃

🇱🇰🚂Tips for the Ella-Kandy/Kandy-Ella train ride in Sri Lanka 

🎟️First Class Ticket = 3000lkr (£7.90)
🎟️2nd Class Ticket = 900lkr (£2.40)

🚂You can buy your tickets from the station the night before but the pre book shuts at a certain time, however you don’t need to worry you can easily buy or tickets on the day just make sure to come at least 30 mins before departure 

🚂I would highly recommend booking 2nd class over 1st 

🚂In 1st the doors should open but all the windows will be shut 

🚂In 2nd the windows will be open and the doors will be shut HOWEVER all you need to do is politely ask the ticket collector and they should open these up for you. (We had such a nice guy on our train who was opening up all the doors for us). 

🚂2nd is WAYYY more fun you can hang your head out the window, everyone is super friendly and you end up getting chatting with all the other passengers on the train. I don’t think we sat down once on this train because of all the socialising 

📸PS A lot of my pics turned out blurry because of how much this train moves. I honestly don’t know how some people have the guts to hang right out of it whilst its moving
🔉Sound On 🔉 The only time is Brits can trus 🔉Sound On 🔉

The only time is Brits can trust the governments advice 😅😅
This was my last sunset in Sri Lanka before I head This was my last sunset in Sri Lanka before I headed to the airport and what a nice little goodbye it was 🧡🍑🍊🦁🌅🌇 @lighthouse_ahangama
🐘Sri Lankan Safari’s🐘🇱🇰 🍃Sri Lan 🐘Sri Lankan Safari’s🐘🇱🇰

🍃Sri Lanka has a number of national parks where you can go on a safari experience🍃

Some of these include

🐊Yala National Park (This is the most popular NP in Sri Lanka for Safari) 
🐊Udawalawe National Park
🐊Minneriya National Park
🐊Wilpattu National Park
🐊Wasgamuwa National Park
🐊Gal Oya National Park
🐊Kumana National Park
🐊Bundala National Park

🐆🧸On the Safari you can expect to see elephants, peacocks, water buffalos, crocodiles and if you are really lucky; leopards and sloth bears!🦚🐘

🚗🍃I have been to both Yala National Park (back in 2016) and Udawalawe (this year). I’d say I much preferred the Udawalawe Safari.

🐆WHY DID I PREFER UDAWALAWE?🐘

🐾It felt more natural 🍃

🟢In Yala the drivers would walkie-talkie each other then there would be a rush of all these jeeps trying to crowd around an animal. My experience in Udawalawe wasn’t like that at all. The only time the drivers would communicate is if they passed each other on a track. 

🧘🏽‍♀️It was a lot quieter in Udawalawe 🤫

 🟢This might have been to do with the time of day (we set off at 6 am) but most of it felt like we had the whole park to ourselves. At one point we were at a huge lake with water buffaloes, two elephants and crocodiles and we were the only jeep there. It was Magical. 

TIPS/RECOMMENDATIONS 💁🏽‍♀️

🦎I would really recommend booking a Stay at Lizard Safari Point in Udawalawe. The rooms are just £15 a night and we booked the tour directly through them and it was the best experience. 

🦎The tour cost about £35-£40 which included 4 hours of safari and entrance to the park. 

🌅Wherever you choose to do your safari make sure you go early morning! 

☔️Also, avoid booking on days when it’s going to rain as apparently the animals will hide!
The 20’s where for budgets and the 30’s are fo The 20’s where for budgets and the 30’s are for Boujee’s ✌🏽

I occasionally will try and share budget tips on here but just know I’m bad at it 😅 the important thing is trying though right?
🌊🏄🏽‍♀️Welcome To Hiriketiya 🏄🏽‍♀️🌊

🌴🇱🇰 Hiriketiya is a small beach town located in Southern Sri Lanka and I fell in love as soon as I stepped on the beach

🎥✌🏽(fun fact: I saw a reel about Hiriketiya on Instagram back in January and instantly knew I had to visit. Sometimes you have to take Insta with a pinch of salt but for some reason, I just knew this would be the place for me and I wasn’t wrong) 

☀️Best things to do in Hiriketya ☀️

Do 

🏄🏽‍♀️Surf Lessons 
🌊Have a chilled day @laplaya.hiriketiya
Swim with Turtles at Batheegama Beach (6 mins drive away)
🤫Visit Silent Beach (20 mins drive away) 
🏖️Visit Dickwella Beach (15 mins walk away) 
🧘🏽‍♀️Do some Yoga @saltypelican 

Eat & Drink 

🧄Garlic Cafe - For the best local food (I think we ate here 10 times in total 😂)
🌊@Mond.Hiriketiya - For good coffee with incredible views 
🇱🇰Dunni’s - To try traditional Sri Lankan Hoppers 
⚪️@Dotsbayhouse - Nice food and a social atmosphere 
🎶@laplaya.hiriketiya - For delish pizza, nice wine and amazing music
🐟Hiriketiya Seafood Restaurant - For a V cheap and nice rice and curry buffet 
🍣@Malupoke_SL - Build your own poke bowls and so so good 
☕️@bahia.srilanka - For good coffee and brunch food 
🚬@smoke.bitters -  Voted one of Sri Lanka’s best restaurants. The food is smoky and the cocktails are bitter… But the prices are very London

Play 

🎸@Dotsbayhouse on a Tuesday and Saturday night 
🕺🏽Zing Bar on a Friday night 

Co-work 
👩🏽‍💻@Verse_collective
🧑‍💻@clicscoliving
👨🏼‍💻@Dotsbayhouse

👩🏽‍🦱All great coworking spots - My personal fave was @clicscoliving just because it was super chilled and had no distractions 

✌🏽😎Hiriketiya is one of those super chilled places where you never want to leave We loved in so much we came back twice. Have I convinced you to visit Hiriketiya? 🌊🌴🏄🏽‍♀️
🌊🏄🏽‍♀️Welcome To Hiriketiya 🏄🏽‍♀️🌊

🌴🇱🇰 Hiriketiya is a small beach town located in Southern Sri Lanka and I fell in love as soon as I stepped on the beach

🎥✌🏽(fun fact: I saw a reel about Hiriketiya on Instagram back in January and instantly knew I had to visit. Sometimes you have to take Insta with a pinch of salt but for some reason, I just knew this would be the place for me and I wasn’t wrong) 

☀️Best things to do in Hiriketya ☀️

Do 

🏄🏽‍♀️Surf Lessons 
🌊Have a chilled day @laplaya.hiriketiya
Swim with Turtles at Batheegama Beach (6 mins drive away)
🤫Visit Silent Beach (20 mins drive away) 
🏖️Visit Dickwella Beach (15 mins walk away) 
🧘🏽‍♀️Do some Yoga @saltypelican 

Eat & Drink 

🧄Garlic Cafe - For the best local food (I think we ate here 10 times in total 😂)
🌊@Mond.Hiriketiya - For good coffee with incredible views 
🇱🇰Dunni’s - To try traditional Sri Lankan Hoppers 
⚪️@Dotsbayhouse - Nice food and a social atmosphere 
🎶@laplaya.hiriketiya - For delish pizza, nice wine and amazing music
🐟Hiriketiya Seafood Restaurant - For a V cheap and nice rice and curry buffet 
🍣@Malupoke_SL - Build your own poke bowls and so so good 
☕️@bahia.srilanka - For good coffee and brunch food 
🚬@smoke.bitters -  Voted one of Sri Lanka’s best restaurants. The food is smoky and the cocktails are bitter… But the prices are very London

Play 

🎸@Dotsbayhouse on a Tuesday and Saturday night 
🕺🏽Zing Bar on a Friday night 

Co-work 
👩🏽‍💻@Verse_collective
🧑‍💻@clicscoliving
👨🏼‍💻@Dotsbayhouse

👩🏽‍🦱All great coworking spots - My personal fave was @clicscoliving just because it was super chilled and had no distractions 

✌🏽😎Hiriketiya is one of those super chilled places where you never want to leave We loved in so much we came back twice. Have I convinced you to visit Hiriketiya? 🌊🌴🏄🏽‍♀️
Instagram post 17972116637147209 Instagram post 17972116637147209
🇱🇰 Postcards Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 7 years aft 🇱🇰 Postcards Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

7 years after my first visit and Sri Lanka still remains one of my favourite places. The beautiful landscapes, nature, wildlife and the people make it one magical Island 🇱🇰🌴

I can’t wait to share with you all my Sri Lanka recommendations but for today here are a collection of my favourite shots 📸
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Adventure around a 9-5

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Central America, Nicaragua · April 18, 2023

10 incredible things to do in Ometepe, Nicaragua

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Situated in the midst of the incredible Lake Nicaragua, lies the magnificent Ometepe Island. Ometepe Island is truly some of mother nature’s finest work, with two towering volcanoes – Concepción and Maderas – rising majestically out of the lake. 

Aside from its breathtaking landscape Ometepe is also popular for it’s abundance of wildlife and nature, its vibrant culture and totally chilled-out vibes. 

After an incredible 10 days in Nicaragua, Ometepe quickly became one of my favourite destinations for the whole trip! Whether you want to hike up volcanoes, kayak along the river, or chill-out out and watch the sunset, there are so many great things to do in Ometepe, that will cater to everyone’s needs. 

So, What are the best things to do in Ometepe? Read on below to find out!

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a verified purchase through the links in this post I will earn a small commission. This will be at no extra cost to you. Thank you 

Contents show
1 Rent a Scooter
2 Book a stay at Totoco Eco Lodge
3 Hike Volcan Concepcion and Maderas.
3.1 Volcan Concepcion
3.2 Volcan Maderas
4 Sunset at Playa Mangos
5 Hike the San Ramon Waterfalls
6 Charco Verde
7 Visit Ojo De Agua
8 Kayak through Rio Itsian
9 Sunset at Punta Jesus Maria
10 Chill at Playa Santo Domingo and Santa Cruz
11 Happy Exploring

Rent a Scooter 

One of the most popular things to do in Ometepe is to rent a scooter. Whilst Ometepe might look quite small on the map, it can actually take over an hour to get from point to point. There are local buses on Ometepe however buses are not on a frequent schedule, and not all routes will take you to where to want to go. Therefore renting a scooter is much more efficient and economical. 

You can rent a scooter for around $20 a day. 

As a warning, renting a scooter on Ometepe doesn’t come without its challenges. A lot of the roads on the island are still unpaved and quite difficult to drive down, plus there are also a lot of potholes along the main roads. If you do decide to rent a scooter, make sure you keep your wits about you and only drive down safe roads! 

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Book a stay at Totoco Eco Lodge 

One of the best places to stay in Ometepe is the stunning Totoco Eco Lodge. Totoco Eco Lodge is a sustainable hotel with unrivalled views of Volcan Concepcion. Not only that, they have a vibrant garden with an abundance of butterflies and an Incredible onsite restaurant with delicious food.  

I highly recommend staying here (even just for the night) so that you can experience this true gem of Ometepe.

Hike  Volcan Concepcion and Maderas.

Hiking the Volcanos around Ometepe is certainly not for the faint-hearted, and is one of the most challenging things to do in Ometepe. If you are set on hiking, I have listed below the comparison to help you narrow down your choice. 

Volcan Concepcion 
  • Active or Dormant? Active 
  • Height – 1600m above sea level 
  • Time – 8-10 Hours 
  • Experience Level – Advanced 
Volcan Maderas  
  • Active or Dormant? Dormant 
  • Height – 1600m above sea level 
  • Time – 8-10 Hours 
  • Experience Level – Intermediate 

As an FYI the weather towards the summits here can become more volatile, meaning potentially high winds and poor visibility , so try not to be too disheartened if you don’t get the views you were looking for. 

Please note that whatever volcano you decide to hike you’ll need to hire a guide. 

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Sunset at Playa Mangos 

A short journey down a bumpy, muddy track will lead you to the beautiful Playa Mangos, a dainty beach with jaw-dropping views of Volcan Conception. 

At Playa Mangos you will find, some sun loungers,  an onsite restaurant, kayaks to rent and a very Instagram-able rope swing dangling above the water.

If you want to experience the best of Playa Mangos, come here early evening just before sunset. The music is great, the cocktails are flowing and the atmosphere is vibrant. To top this all off, you’ll be able to see an absolutely perfect sunset.

Sunset at Playa Mangos is the perfect way to end a day of activities on the island and this was hands down my favourite thing to do in Ometepe, so do not miss this. 

Ometepe, Nicaragua
Ometepe, Nicaragua

Hike the San Ramon Waterfalls

Located on the slopes of Volcan Maderas lies the beautiful San Ramon Waterfalls. Sitting at approximately 70m high you can set your eyes upon a pretty impressive cascade of water amidst the thick, dense jungle.

The entrance to the waterfall can be found at the Ometepe Biological Field Station. The entrance Fee is 100 Cordobas which is around $3. Once you have paid your entrance fee there is another 2km to go until you reach the official start of the hike. 

If you have a 4×4 or quad bike, you’ll be able to drive here but if not, you’ll have to leave your cars/mopeds at the car park located close to the entrance and start your walk from this point.

The walk isn’t too tough, but I would recommend doing this at the start of the day before it gets too hot. Oh, and also remember to pack your hiking shoes as this really isnt one of those hikes you can complete in flip flops (I learnt that the hard way😅).

To see San Ramon in its full glory, it’s best to visit in the wet season between the months of May-October. 

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Charco Verde 

Charco Verde Lagoon is a picturesque reserve located on the south side of Volcan Concepcion. The lagoon is in a protected area and is home to  beautiful wildlife such as monkeys, iguanas and birds. 


Entrance to the lagoon is approximately $5 and you can enjoy strolling through the trails to hopefully catch a glimpse of some of the animals that call this place home. You will also be able to visit the amazing butterfly garden, a serene spot where you can admire the mini-flying rainbows as they flutter through the air. 

Ometepe, Nicaragua
Ometepe, Nicaragua

Visit Ojo De Agua 

Literally translated to “Eye of Water” Ojo De Agua is a stunning emerald-green oasis in the middle of Ometepe. This natural pool is filled with crystal clear water flowing from a river that originates from Volcan Maderas. It is the perfect place to cool off from the strong Nicaraguan heat. There is even a rope swing, for those who really want to plunge into the spring.

Entrance to Ojo De Agua is approximately $10 and there is a restaurant on site that serves up absolutely huge portions of delicious Latin American Food. To top that off there is also a very friendly local who sells fresh Coco Locos for about $2. 

Ometepe, Nicaragua
Ometepe, Nicaragua

Kayak through Rio Itsian 

Kayaking through Rio Itsian is one of the coolest things to do in Ometepe. Did you know that Ometepe is actually a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve? Making it one of the best places in Nicaragua to immerse yourself in nature and wildlife.

You can cruise through the waterways, with the opportunity to see monkeys, crocs, turtles, and if you’re really lucky (or unlucky), even Boa Constrictors.

If you are not interested in doing a guided tour, you can rent a Kayaks from Playa Mangos for approximately $20 where you can go at your own pace. 

Sunset at Punta Jesus Maria

Only visible during the dry season, the epic sandbar and Punta Jesus Maria is a great spot to enjoy the sunset in Ometepe. 

You will be required to pay an entrance fee of $1 and will be able to take your own little picnic of drinks and snacks to enjoy the sunset with. 

The sandbar is almost an optical illusion, as it looks like a trail leading you up to the volcano. This is also a great spot to take some cool pictures. 

Chill at Playa Santo Domingo and Santa Cruz

The 4 km black sand beach of Playa Santo Domingo is one of Ometepe’s most popular spots (probably partly because it’s the largest beach on the island). There are lots of hotels and restaurants in this area, as well as a vibrant Saturday morning/afternoon market in Santa Cruz.

Make sure to come here to chill out at the beach, or for a spot of lunch on a Saturday to soak up the atmosphere. 

Playa Santo Domingo can get quite windy, so the water can get quite choppy. But not to worry, its shallow and the temperature remains warm.

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Happy Exploring

I hope you have a wonderful time exploring what Ometepe offers. If you have any more questions about anything discussed in this blog post, please feel free to reach out!

Looking for more Nicaragua inspiration? Check out my other Nicaragua Guides. 

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I'm Christina a part-time traveller who is exploring the world around my 9-5. From canyons to coasts, I love all kinds of adventures. I've created this space to provide you with all the travel inspiration and my top tips for seeing more of the world in less time.

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📍Pink Beach, Komodo Islands 📍Pink Beach, Komodo Islands
🐕Unfortunately, there are over 3 million stray 🐕Unfortunately, there are over 3 million stray dogs in Sri Lanka. 

🇱🇰This is because owning a dog in Sri Lanka is not the norm thanks to economic issues 

🐶Pretty much all the dogs I encountered over there were sweet, calm and just after a bit of attention (and food). Although rabies in Sri Lanka is on the rise. 

😇Also from what I saw it seemed as though the strays were treated quite well (although I know this is not always the case). 

📖If your interested in learning more, or want to support the cause then give these following charities a follow @wecare_srilanka @animal_sos_srilanka @themightyroarproject

Are you a doggo lover?
Tattoo Story time📖 Basically this was my fault Tattoo Story time📖

Basically this was my fault as I had a little twitch and I moved ever so slightly which is when he said “oh no”. I asked my friend to film some tattoo videos and she caught this gem on camera 😂

The tattoo turned out absolutely fab though and I loveeee it 🐘❤️

Does anyone have any tattoo tales? 

PS when I moved my neck here the needle was very much off me 💉
👩🏽‍🦱Rarely post my TT content on here b 👩🏽‍🦱Rarely post my TT content on here but this video seemed to create some conversation so I thought I would share ✌🏽

Also just want to caveat that I personally don’t think this is unconventional at all, hence why in my voiceover I say “what some people might call” … to confirm some people is not me 😂
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