Laguna Charco Verde, Rivas Department, Nicaragua
4.0 (238 reviews) Spent Ranking #6 in Isla de Ometepe Bodies of Water
Butterfly Beauty and Howler Monkeys
Charco Verde was one of the first places we visited on Ometepe. We took a local bus both ways from Moyogalpa, which was a lovely experience on it’s own if you like mixing with locals. There is a pretty walk around the Laguna but don’t count on swimming in it. There were howler monkeys with their babies all along the path. If you hear them before you see them they sound loud and fierce like a lion and you won’ be able to believe the sounds come from such small creatures. Our favourite part was the butterfly enclosure with the turtle pond inside. It was stunningly beautiful inside and the butterflies were abundant. We enjoyed watching the turtles too. It was super educational as there was English signage with tons of butterfly information. I learned a lot. Staff were friendly and the lane into it was a pretty walk from the main road. Shaded bus stop on the road made waiting pleasant as local cattle drawn carts and all manner of life passed by. Another good Ometepe experience.
Address
, Nicaragua.
Website
http://ometepeislandinfo.com/Charco-Verde
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 12, 2024, 5:02
User Ratings
4.0 based on (238 reviews)
Reviews
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3Quakeup 5:00 PM Jan 11, 2023
Best place to see howler monkeys on Ometepe
From the main road, Charco Verde is a short walk or drive down a pastoral lane. Beyond the zip line kiosk, you arrive at the grassy parking lot and the entrance where you pay 175 cordobas/ $5 USD per person. The first stop after the gate is the small butterfly garden with an equally small variety of butterflies. Lovely flowering plants, water features and soft ethereal background music add some charm to the place. A couple of trails lead into the centre of the reserve. One spur takes you to a high point that used to be a viewpoint, but this mirador is now obscured by trees. The other trail circumnavigates the small lake, which is the main feature of the park. The high water level of Lake Cocibulca has flooded this trail. To help visitors avoid water and mud, stepping stones have been laid out along parts of the path, while other sections remain underwater and footwear needs to be removed. A fallen tree has also blocked one section of the path, requiring visitors to cut through the bush or retreat the way they came. Muddy plastic bottles and other fresh litter needed to picked up along the trail. Staff at the entrance advised not to swim in the laguna due to swimmer’s itch (plus, it looks totally uninviting). However, a small beach enables access to Lake Cocibulca for taking a dip. A doorless change room nearby has seen better days. The highlight for us were the howler monkeys. In three areas of the park, we were treated to howler families in various forms of activity and repose. This park could use additional maintenance of its trails. More enthusiastic and informed staff (and interpretive signs) to explain the park’s flora and fauna are obvious improvements to be considered. The area is a valuable attraction to help immerse visitors in Ometepe’s rich natural history. In its current condition, I would not recommend that it’s worth the price of admission.
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4Utepil 5:00 PM Nov 28, 2020
A good option
Butterfly garden is beautiful, also turtles. Not big but ok. Later a walk around Charco Verde and swimming on beach Bacon. Some monkeys and birds and many butterflies also outside the garden. The walk with swimming took one hour.
