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.
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!
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!
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.
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......
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!
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.
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!
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.