A Solo Travellers Mind

The journey to Nicuragua started off a wee bit messy, with us walking to the wrong bus stop initially, but we soon located the correct place and jumped on our bus to cross the border. The border crossing was smooth sailing for me. However, carley did unfortunately get robbed by corroption when they claimed they had no change for the tourist tax. On arrival to nicuragua, we sorted out all the new country admins that were needed, including exchanging money, getting groceries, and a new sim card. In the eve, we grabbed a quick at a dinner ‘soda’ restaurant, known as a cheap takeaway, basically, before heading to our beds.

In the morning, we started to head to the bus station when a guy turned up on a bicycle taxi and offered to take us. I’ve been made hyper aware of some of the scams in this area, so we clarified the price 3 times and were on our way biking to Port (to get to ometepe). The guy did try to sting us by trying to get the bus in a taxi, but I just got mad at him and declared that it wasn’t gunna to happen. Another attempted scam awaited us at the port when a man attempted to make our ferry ticket very expensive. Again, this wasn’t gunna to happen on my watch, though! We hopped on the ferry, then on a bus, and arrived at our accommodation at a relatively fast speed. In the afternoon, we headed to some petroglyths. Some cool rock art from many moons ago. A cool little activity to fill the rest of our day!

My first full day on Ometepe Island started with a morning workout and reading my book. This is an old habit I wish to regain as it’s definitely something I’d been doing less in recent weeks, and I’d put my reduction in mood down to this. In the morning, we hired bikes and headed out to explore. We headed to the local market, where I purchased the most delightful brownie (the brownie addiction could be seen as a growing issue but whatevs). We continued our ride, arriving at a nice little beach restaurant where we had juices, and I read more of my book while looking out on the lake. The rest of the day was spent chilling in the shade, as I’d burnt a tiny wee bit! In the evening, we biked to mango beach to watch the sunset and take pretty siloette photos. Then it was time to bike home, which was very fun but also a big work out, it was also pitch black, so we had to cycle with our head touches on as headlights, lol!

The next day, we arose at 6 am in order to prep for our solo hike up Volcan Maderas! This was the slightly easier volcano to hike on the island, and it didn’t require a guide, which meant it was way cheaper (almost free tbh). The volcano hike was actually a lot of fun, easier in some parts but harder as you reached the top and it became a slip and slide! We opted not to hike down to the crater lake and instead had our lunch spot at a veiw point, watching clouds pass through the crater. We then hiked back down, stopping midway at the veiw point of the second volcano on the island, volcan conception. It was a spectacular veiw and the perfect place for a wilderness poo! The hike down was very long (as is every hike down a hill), but at last, we reached the bottom, grabbed a juice, and headed to what we thought was a free swimming hole. After being in the water for approx 2 minutes, a lady appeared attempting make us pay for the pool the depth of my knee… we left immediately without paying.
Our final full day on Ometepe began with a mini hike across the island, attempting to locate sunscreen! An hour later, some banana boat factor 50 was located for an appropriate price, and we jumped in a taxi to Oja de aqua. A local pool. The days plan? Swim, finish my book, and tan! The days plan was completed successfully, with the tan maybe too successful with some borderline burnage going on ek…


In order to leave Ometepe, the journey involved two bus rides to the ferry, a boat trip, and then a taxi back to Rivas town. On the bus we met another couple heading the same way, so we shared a taxi and avoided the famous Rivas taxi scam like a pro. (With me shaking, the drivers had to assert dominance, lol. At the bus station, we found another guy going to Granada too, so instead of putting ourselves through a very hot bus ride, we shared a taxi with him, and kinda got a good deal luckily! The evening was a very chilled one, with me heading to bed very early as I was absolutely done in!

The first day in Granada began with a morning workout on the roof top with the hostels’ free yoga mats! My dream!
We had a slow morning before heading out to wander around the town with some other people from the hostel. A spot of shopping was had, but unfortunately, it failed for me! The afternoon was spent in the pool, before a very tasty dinner was cooked and a few cards played.

The next day began with another roof top work out, an ideal start to the day and something I could get use too (but unfortunately will not be able to as this isnt my hostel forever 😦 ). We then headed on a volcano hike on Mombacho volcano. This hike has to be done guided, for no real reason. However, i didn’t mind as it gives money to the local community, which is nice. The trip begins with a 4×4 up to the volcano hike, and then the hike is actually around the active crator! Which is super cool. The hike was so pretty, through the jungle parts of the volcano, with views of the islettas on the way (some islands produced many years ago after the last eruption!). Then we headed to the active crator, seeing the smoke leave, another cool site! With the hiking finishing within the dead jungle area around the crator, where the plants and trees have died due to the acid rain produced by the crator and the atmosphere. It kinda looked like a zombie apocalypse. i will not lie. The evening involved a few more card games, with us becoming pros at uno flip (a new version of uno) and exploding kittens.

On friday we attended the very famous tree house party! In the afternoon, we headed for a food a very small, local “restaurant” to line the stomach, which was actually a local ladies’ home, where she cooks you a traditional nicuraguan meal. It was very tasty, very filling and super cheap! Then we headed to the tree house party. The party itself was kinda cool, with a super nice location, some hanging bridges, and a nice vibe. The DJs weren’t all awful, but some were a bit shit lol. We met lots of dutch people at this party, including some dutch pharmacists who we spent our night chit chatting to (and probably embarrassingly over sharing our funny life stories, lol). We also met the resident porcupine, which was very adorable! This was my first time boozing in some time, and I’d say it was a mostly successful run. However, I did have some what of a hangover the next day!

The next day, while hungover, we travelled to Laguna Apoyo, where we’d spend a few days relaxing at the lake, kayaking, swimming, etc. My first day was actually mainly spent indoors sleeping off my hangover, but I did manage to peal myself up to catch the sunset and make myself a very tasty Spanish omelette! An early night was called for in order to refresh for the days to follow!

Another day was spent at the Laguna. It was a super chilled day involving lots of relaxation and reading by the lake. We had some lunch and then spent some time in the water kayaking. It was very nice, and a super relaxing! Dinner was a jacket potato and tuna salad before we packed up our bags, ready for the journey to Leon!

Our journey to Leon was kinda hectic, but two buses and a mini van later, and we arrived in Leon unscaved… or so we thought, lol. At check-in, I discovered $540 was missing from my bag, then while checking my belongings, I noticed all my jewlery had been stolen too… this was a shitter. 3 hours at the local police station lead to no help at all. The hostel i was at previously did help slightly, also making their own report. But ultimately, I will most likely not get any insurance money to help replace the items lost :((. This day was a bad day.

Our second day in leon was kinda a nothing day, given that i was ofc in a bad mood. I filed my insurance claim in the morning. However, I wasn’t holding on to much hope… the rest of the day was spent wondering around Leon, we checked out the local church’s (there’s a lot considering it’s a very small town), and also hunted through the local thrift stores. I managed to bag a pair of adidas shorts and a black corset for £3… not bad (and very economically friendly given that I’d just lost over £600 worth of money and jewlery 😦

Our 3rd day in leon was a fun one. We headed to cerro Negro (a black volcano) to volcano board down! For me, the highlight was actually climbing up, because on the way down I did not enjoy it all that much. But it was an expereince! After this the tour became a party bus, with me and carley getting involved and taking shots hanging upside down lol. On return to the hostel, as the 3rd slowest contender I was given a chilie shot as punishment, it wasn’t too awful, but I wouldn’t advice it honestly. Posy chilie shot it was beer ping time, being pouched by a local nicuraguan guy to play on his team, we got to the quarter finals and then lost 😦 very sad times, but im not that good anyway haha.

My last 2 days in leon were spent doing not that much. I was still kinda down about all my jewlery being taken, and I think the stress of the situation had definitely taken its toll, as I had come down with an awful flu. So I spent my days in bed, tiger balmed up to my eyes balls, taking cough sweets like no tomorrow. One nice thing that occurred over these days was a lovely asado restaurant visit and a tasty BBQ beef steak!

Nicuragua was a very cool place to visit, and it’s a real shame that the time here is ultimately tainted by the loss of my things. Im still very sad about losing some of the things I’ve collected from the last 3 years of travel. I think I’m most angry because my jewellery is not worth anything, £20 rings, etc. Hopefully, I can find replacements over the next few countries 😦