Local Hiking Trails
There are many hiking options in the area, including easier, shorter or closer hikes if you’re looking for alternatives to the full-day volcano summits.
PeÑas Incultas Trail
1300 mt flat trails in Santa Domingo (Penas Incultas) boasting some beautiful, old trees and often white faced capuchin monkeys and rare parrots. Head out past the beach and stop across from ‘Farmacia Paraiso’. The entry to the trail is on the left-hand side if you’re driving away from Selvista. There’s a wooden sign with a parrot painted on it marking the entry to the trail. If the little cabin in manned you can pay your entry fee there. It’s less than $3.
Finca Magdalena
The trails around our own property here at the base of Maderas are surrounded by petroglyphs and the transition to rainforest. Follow the farming routes around the Magdalena Co-operative and to Las Cuchillas. You can follow the trails on our propert going up through Finca Bona Fide. We have signposted the way for you.
You can also follow drive up to the farm houses of Magdalena following the signposted roads from the center of Balgue.
Finca Magdalena used to be owned by a relative of the Samoza family before the revolution. In 1979 when wealthy landowners fled the 40+acre property was re-distributed among those working on the land. The cooperative now consists of around 40 families. The farm is still used for coffee production, cattle grazing, corn, bananas, and sesame. It is a historic site on Ometepe.
There is lots of evidence here of ancient civilisations; The trails have many petroglyphs for you to discover and decipher. These mysterious rock drawings can be visited on foot from Selvista. Contact us if you’d like to set up a guided tour with our bi-lingual guides.
Many pre-Columbian petroglyphs have been uncovered and preserved here on Isla Ometepe. Many feature animals, such as turtles and monkeys, anthropomorphic creatures, people, and volcanoes. People are represented with large ‘bowling-ball’ like heads.
The spiral is a common theme among the discovered rock carvings. It’s said to represent the volcanic energy and that is why the symbol of Ometepe is two spirals joined by the isthmus. Excavations of certain areas on Maderas Volcano in 1995 uncovered over 17,000 rocks with carvings. The OAP (Ometepe Archaeological Project) is continuously making new discoveries.
Charco Verde
The trails around Charco Verde, the lagoon wrapped in local legend, are easy-going and good for kids and those just looking to relax and enjoy the views. There’s also a cute butterfly sanctuary to visit at Charco Verde. There is a restaurant and pool there with lake views. Drive back towards Moyogalpa, the port town. There is an entry fee for foreigners of less than $5. It’s possible to also combine this trip with kayaking, leaving on a boat from Merida across the lake to avoid the drive! $65 for up to 12 people.
At Selvista, we understand that canceling a reservation can be frustrating, but we want to remind our guests of the importance of supporting local service providers. Cancelling last minute can have a significant impact on the income of our local partners who depend on the tourism industry to make a living.
By implementing a cancellation charge, we ensure that our partners receive a fair share of the income they depend on.
We firmly believe that responsible tourism should increase economic stability instead of exploiting economically struggling countries. Let us work together to create a sustainable and ethical tourism industry that benefits everyone involved.
