It's time to say goodbye to Granada and head for our next location - Ometepe Island. We run into our first case of bad luck at the ferry dock - they have no reservation or ticket for us. I show them our voucher that we pre-booked, but the look that the ferry attendant gives me oozes nonchalance. I tell a few untruths about who we are and why we're visiting and 15 minutes later, we're on the ferry we were supposed to be on. We meet some nice people on the ferry that ask to split a taxi with us to the far side of the island. We are both staying about a 30 minute drive from the ferry terminal. We tell them that we have a car and offer them a ride. Suddenly, we have new friends! Steve and Jennifer end up being from Seattle (where I'm from) and we get them to come up to our hotel for dinner. We stay at the most amazing hotel, La Omaja. It's located at the top of a hill overlooking Lake Nicaragua. They recently put in an infinity pool and I still can't describe the sunsets. They were the best of my life ... until a few days later when we were in San Juan del Sur (see photos). It's been a long day of driving and figuring out how the heck to get here. We share a few beers with the other lodge inhabitants and kick back.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.