maderas volcano

We hiked on a non rainy day from Merida which is slightly harder but less muddy than Balgue hike. It was a tough hike where you had to grab on to tree branches and really spread your legs to get over some obstacles. Definitely need to be strong and fit.When we reached the top it was cloudy but we waited 30 minutes and got to see the lake as it cleared. It took us about 6 hours round trip.

We did the short hike to the look out point, only about a 4 hour climb at a slow pace. We didn't feel a struggle because it wasn't steep and we often stopped to look at the flowers and nature along the way. Not to be missed!

We climbed part of the volcano from Mérida with a guide, up to the view point, and it was awesome. We were still 3 hours from the summit and the lake but it was a well worth hike - don't be discouraged by people who say it's too hard to climb; of course climbing to the summit is really tough and difficult but one can stop at the view point and have a great hike (we are in the mid sixties and enjoyed it very much). We had folding hiking poles and they were very useful for our descent. Good shoes and a hat are essential, with lots of water, sun screen and insect repellent (although there were not that many mosquitoes). Most of the trail from Mérida is in the shade, so not as hot as the lower sectors where there are less trees.

Ah, Maderas. If hiking is your thing, you should definitley hike one of the 2 volcanoes. Though hiking is not my thing, nor am I in shape, I still wanted to say that "I did it"! The hike was relativley steep, almost a stairs of tree roots and rocks all the way till you hit the mud, then it's lot's and lot's of mud. Like everyone is saying, there is no view from the top because you're still in the forest (or in clouds for that matter), but it was 100% worth it. Being able to sail away from the islands and look at the island and volcanoe peaks, I knew that I was really glad to have completed the hike. I went with a guide, I do think it helped because we used a different trail going down to get a better view of Conception and he led us where monkeys often are, but I also met people who did it without guides. As a side note, it was a beautiful hike and we did see loads of monkeys, but I found myself so focused on the climb that I didn't notice the nature as much so would recommend spending time on the island to take it all in.

My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our treck on Manderas Volcano with our guide Hector. He is based in Santo Domingo, at the motorcycle rental shop. We started with a breakfast at Finca Magdalena (Coffee Plantation) and begin on the trail of the same name and came back by El Povenir Trail. 7 hours. Amazing!

This is a tough slog through the forest to a small crater lake. Not a classic volcano hike - more of a forest hike.I did it with a girl i met at the hostal and we took a guide. As hikes go it would be hard to get lost on this one though you should know that when you reach the highest point you still must continue and descend for 10 minutes to the lagoon. Plan to swim. We are in our forties and in shape. It took us 3 and a half hours up and 2 and 3/4 down. Saw howler monkeys. Our guide was great and spoke only spanish - great chance to practice. Note that finca magdalena arranges guides at $30. They keep half and the guide gets half. If you arrange a guide without doing so through finca magdalena the guide must pay a fee of $2 to finca Magdalena (through which the trail passes) and gets to keep the rest. If you have 4 people the guide fee is still $30. You can call our young and friendly guide Isaias at 88864518 or get your hostel to call him. He will arrange to meet you. The hike will be drier and clearer farther into the dry season.

We knew it would be strenuous, but we weren't counting on treacherous! 4 hours straight up into a cloud forest where the mud is up to the tops of your ankles- so plan on getting dirty. Bring lots of water, you'll need it. The views at the inside crater were not good- the cloud forest was in full effect, so we couldn't see anything. And yes, another long 4 hours back down. A hike that is very hard on your knees, ankles and feet. I would not hike this volcano again, but I can say that I did it!

If you've climbed other volcanoes before, don't do this one. Most of the time you'll walk through the forest so you don't see anything and on the top it's often very cloudy so it's a bit of a disappointment once you get there. The track is extremely muddy so be prepared to walk through the mud (ankle-deep) for a couple of hours. In total it took us 4 hours to get up, 1 hour there and 3,5 hours back. We used a guide, but they're very expensive ($30,- for 2 persons). It seems that no one wants to help tourists in Nicaragua and only want to earn quick money. So here's what you should do:- Don't climb all the way up to the top, but walk to the viewpoint, just before the forest starts. It is about 1 hour (2km) and in the afternoon you have wonderful views of the lake and Volcan Conception. After that you can walk through the forest for a while, which is pretty nice, but go back when the mud starts. There's not much more there actually.- If you want to go to all the way to the crater. Start a bit later, because the clouds at the crater disappear in the afternoon most of the days. You want to go back around 13.00 to be back before dark so leave at 8.30/9.00 in the morning. Don't use an expensive guide but just go up on your own. If you can't find the way, just wait till another group comes by and follow them. They won't like it but hey, these guides are "loco" to ask such shameful prices......

While I have a strong sense of accomplishment at having successfully summitted Maderas, it was the toughest hike I've ever done in my life. Even though it was theoretically the "dry season" in January, not on top of this volcano! The winds were strong, the weather foul and it rained for 3 hours -- turning the trail into a stream/waterfall and making it very treacherous, if not brutal. Because of the cloud cover, there were no views, not even of the crater lake, which was not visible until you got right up to it. I suggest climbing Maderas only when the dry season has truly taken hold and the trail is dry and not muddy and dangerous. What is typically a 7-8 hour hike took us 9 hours and every step we took was perilous due to the poor, muddy, slick conditions. Climb Maderas in March or April, not January!

Trekked up the volcano with my three 20-something daughters and husband. Beautiful and challenging. I think the best part of the hike up was climbing down to the crater with the ropes, etc. I was surprised at how tired I was on the way back down, making it all the more slippery. Fell several times in the mud because my legs were spaghetti. The others did just fine, so I guess I should have worked out more before this trip! Abel was our bilingual guide and he was just great. He is a local hired through the vacation home we were staying (Bella Beach House in Santa Cruz). One of the reasons we went to Ometepe was to conquer the volcano and we did it! The nominal entrance fee to the volcano site was waived for the females and we paid $10/person for the guide. The girls wore shorts and tops and stayed much more comfortable than I did wearing pants.

The volcano Concepcion is gorgeous because it's symmetrical and bigger. But Maderas is also nice. During our stay we could see it from different places across the island. We heard that the hike can be difficult, with steep inclines and muddy paths. You must hire a guide to climb to the top, because several tourists have gotten lost in the past.

We came to Ometepe with the goal of climbing the volcano (we picked the smaller one!). Our hotel recommended we go with a guide - we could have a cheaper Spanish speaking guide or a more expensive English guide who would also give a walking tour. We opted for the English guide and showed up the next morning to meet him. In total our group was 6 people including the guide. I agree with other posters, it was definitely muddy and tricky in a few spots due to slippery rocks and branches. I was the only girl in the group and felt our guide wanted to prove his strength so we got up that mountain in record time! Luckily my boyfriend was with me and didn't mind hanging back a little bit because I definitely needed breaks here and there. It was cloudy and foggy trekking up there, but it cleared up and the view was great. We stopped at the top for an hour or so to eat and rest and then again whipped down the mountain. I was sore as heck the next day! All in all I think it took us about 8 hours, we left around 7:30 am and were back into our hotel by about 3:30 pm. We had to pay $1 or $2 USD to a local to cut across his property and you needed to have that in cash (just as a heads up). I would recommend this hike, but I would warn you, you need to be in half decent shape or else you will be pretty miserable about an hour or two in. It starts off with a gentle enough incline but near the top you need hands and feet to do some climbing. Bring lots of water, I think my boyfriend and I went through 4 x 2 L bottles.

The smaller of the two conical volcanoes is still perfect. There used to be off road cycle 'paths' around Maderas Island but they are not maintained it is still a fabulous place to visit and so off the beaten track I loved the experience

Having read the reviews and discussed it with our guide we made the decision not to climb to the summit but just the viewpoint. This gives a great view of Concepion and is a hike that most reasonably fit people should manage. It took us 1.5 hours up through farmland and forest, and setting off early meant we missed the sun at its strongest. Our guide described the difference versus the summit as 5 floors versus 15 floors! In our 3 days the summit was never clear, and it is very muddy so for us was a no brainer. We then took an alternative route down through more forest and farmland making for a good 4 hour hike.

The hike up this volcano starts off innocent enough, wandering through farm land, gradually ascending into the jungle, and then BOOM! It gets real. No switchbacks here on the island, just straight up for 3 hours into a cloud where thick jungle and wildlife engulf you. We saw howler monkeys, snakes, and giant grass hoppers along the trail. This is a must do for hikers seeking a challenge. Please get a guide, do not try this without one, the fee for our guide was $25 for the day and we bought a bag lunch at our hotel. It took us about 4 hours to get to the top and 3 hours to get down. I went through 2 liters of water easy and should have brought more!