Zapatera Island

Name	Zapatera Island
Status	Extinct
Type	Volcanic cone complex
Coordinates	11.73°N, 85.82°W
Last Eruption	unknown
Elevation	629 m
Activities	Hiking, exploring
Difficulty

Zapatera Island is located inside Lake Nicaragua, just as Ometepe Island. The Zapatera Island, however, measures only about 70 km² and is inhabited by a very small group of people. The old volcano does not show any signs of eruption anymore, and the island it has left is nowadays densely forested. Zapatera Island was inhabited by indigenous tribes and it houses many archaeological sites. Ancient statues and artefacts have been found in great quantities on the island, and many are still buried there.

Concepción Volcano

Name	Concepción Volcano
Status	Active
Type	Stratovolcano
Coordinates	11.538°N, 85.623°W
Last Eruption	1986
Elevation	1,610 m
Activities	Climbing
Difficulty

A true giant among the Nicaraguan volcanoes. Only slightly lower than the San Cristóbal Volcano, the Concepción dominates the western side of Ometepe Island. Just like the Cristóbal and Momotombo, the Concepción is a cone-shaped stratovolcano. The most recent violent eruption occurred in 1986, which heavily affected people living on this side of the island. The volcano continues to emit ash and gases. As recent as August 2005 the Concepción threw out ash, and seismic activity around the island increased, prompting many to think the Concepción was about to erupt. Gradually the seismic activity decreased, however, and the expected eruption did not take place.

Climbing the Concepción is another great challenge, but definitely worth the effort. You can easily reach the foot of the volcano from where you rapidly ascend, walking through banana and coffee plantations. Stunning nature and spectacular views can be expected on the way up. It is not an easy climb though, and you will have to climb big rocks that somehow form the trail and lead to the crater. Along the way you will pass different types of vegetation, including a small forest and spectacular plants. Closer to the top the views are often limited by clouds, but if you are lucky enough to have a clear sky, you can enjoy superb views. Finally, watching the sulfur smoke come out of the crater on the top of this volcano is a truly magnificent experience. Going up and down will take between seven and ten hours, and it can be done in one day.

Maderas Volcano

Name	Maderas Volcano
Status	Dormant
Type	Stratovolcano
Coordinates	11.446°N, 85.515°W
Last Eruption	about 3,000 years ago
Elevation	1,394 m
Activities	Climbing
Difficulty

The southernmost volcano of Nicaragua, located on Ometepe Island together with the Concepción Volcano. The Maderas is a dormant volcano, sharing many characteristics with the Mombacho Volcano. Not only do these two volcanoes have about the same height, they also share an ecosystem rather uncommon in the Pacific area of Nicaragua: the wet tropical forest. Above a certain altitude, both the Mombacho and the Maderas Volcano have the same humid atmosphere. The Maderas is also covered in forest.

On the top of this volcano you can find a small but mystical crater lake. Unlike the Mombacho, there is no paved road to the crater. You will have to hike all the way up, making it much harder to reach the summit. The Maderas is less steep than the Concepción Volcano, but it still is a long trail. It will take about eight hours, and ascending this volcano is once again a truly magnificent experience, incomparable to any of the other volcanoes in Nicaragua.