Ometepe, nicaragua

[Ed Monton]

I'm wondering if any of my fellow BOTL had visited the island of Ometepe on their trip to Nicaragua? I was there 10 years ago while on vacation with my girlfriend, now wife. It was before I was really into cigars and at the time I didn't even know they grew tobacco on the island. Its a really cool place to visit, a volcanic island on a lake. An amazing setting. Has anyone ever tried one of these Nestor Plasencia cigars rolled with Ometepe tobacco?

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Daily/CA_Weekly_Wrapper/0,2331,1062,00.html

 

[Kurtdesign1]

I've smoked cigars with Ometepe (sp?) but not specifically that one.

No. When in Nicaragua no one from my group ventured to the island. Don't know about the EO or Tat group though.

 

[srduggins]

Wasn't the Macanudo 1968 made with some Ometepe in it?

 

[AlohaStyle]

Yes I went to Ometepe Island 2 weeks ago... when our BOTL group went to the airport from Esteli, I continued on to the island and am very glad I did. There were volcano evacuation warnings just days prior to my visit and I considered canceling that portion of the trip but my hotel owner said it was no big deal so I went.

I rented a motorcycle to cruise the island and on my way back, I noticed some tobacco drying in a small shed right off the main road. I was very surprised to see this and would've turned around to check it out but I needed to get back to town to catch the ferry back. When I got to town, a small store was selling Ometepe Island cigars for $.25 so I bought a few to send to some BOTLs and to smoke one. After sitting in my backpack in a plastic baggie for a couple hours, the smell was so horrible I had to throw them out... frickin' nasty I tell ya!

I wish I would've known about that CA article before I went as I would've made a point to investigate further! Does anyone have that edition so I could read the entire article?


Ferry to Ometepe Island

On the Ferry

Dinner, fresh out of the lake

Awesome motorcycle ride cruising the entire island!

The Coffee Plantation, Finca Magdalena

Sulfur leaking out of the volcano

Not too settling seeing all the evacuation signs, especially as they point the opposite way of the ferry!?! LOL

Ometepe Cigars box

Nasty ass cigars!?!

 

[Ed Monton]

Great photos! We also toured the coffee plantation ( I can't remember if it was that one). Also, we hiked up the volcano (the dormant one). I would have also liked to hike up the other volcano but we sort of ran out of time and Danielle. wasn't interested. Was your hotel on the black sand beach?

 

[Soundwave13]

Awesome pics Ryan - glad to see the rest of your adventure!

 

[AlohaStyle]

Was your hotel on the black sand beach?

Nope, I stayed in Moyogalpa where the ferry lands. I only had a short amount of time so I just stayed in town and rented the motorcycle to get around. I'm sure the island is MUCH different from when you were there 10 years ago. I bet there are more hotels/hostels and a few more restaurants. It's definitely not overcrowded and still has the rural feel, but I know it's become more of a destination for tourists. My friend went there 7 years ago and from the stories he told me, I can tell it's changed a little.

 

[Ed Monton]

Yes, it was pretty basic back then. Still off the beaten track for most though, even now. For some reason I have a lot of memories of that place in particular. There was a little monkey at the hotel we stayed and when we checked in we locked our bags in our room only to find when we returned that the monkey had found a way into the room and was going through our stuff. Good times! :stretchgr Also, on the way back from the hike we ended up catching a ride on the back of a banana truck!

 

[AlohaStyle]

Good stories, it really is a special place!