An Insider's Guide to Exploring the San Ramon Waterfall, Nicaragua

Most visitors to Nicaragua make their way to Isla Ometepe, in the middle of Lake Cocibolca. One of the biggest attractions on the island is the San Ramon Waterfall, and here are all of the things you should know before you go.

An impressive 60-metre (197 foot) waterfall in the middle of the forest, which draws plenty of visitors.

Get there early in the day to avoid the crowds. Tour groups will take over the small pool at the base of the falls, and your photos will lose some of their quality when they’re full of people rather than the natural beauty of the landscape.

Make sure you have plenty of water because the hike can get hot and sweaty. Wear the best walking shoes that you have because the path gets a bit rocky. Aside from that, keep your stuff to a minimum. Sunblock, a hat, your camera and a few dollars in cash are all you really need on a dry day.

First of all you’ll have to get the ferry to the island from San Jorge. From the port at Moyogalpa, make your way to the village of San Ramon. Set off early on the 3 kilometre (1.86 mile) hike to the waterfalls, or take a horseback ride if you don’t want to walk. The path is easy to follow yourself, but there are local guides available if you want to learn more about the area.

You can hire bikes to cycle around the two volcanoes on Isla Ometepe, or relax on the various beaches. Playa Santo Domingo is one of the best known, but you can flop down wherever you see a patch of sand.