The two volcanoes are called Concepción and Maderas. Concepción is the taller and still active one — it sometimes sends a puff of smoke into the sky. Maderas is quieter and its crater at the top holds a small, misty lagoon. Howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and sloths all live in the forests on the slopes.
To get to Ometepe you have to take a ferry across Lake Nicaragua. The crossing takes about an hour and the sight of the two volcanic peaks getting bigger as you approach is unforgettable. On the island there are no traffic jams — the roads are mostly quiet dirt tracks, and you can get around by bicycle or horse.
People have been drawing on the rocks of Ometepe for thousands of years. There are hundreds of ancient petroglyphs — pictures carved into stone — showing animals, human faces, and patterns that nobody fully understands yet. Some are still found in the middle of farmers' fields, right next to banana plants and mango trees.
Farmers on Ometepe grow plantains, cacao, honey, and organic coffee. The island was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means it is protected as a special place for nature. Children here go to school, play football on grass fields between the volcanoes, and swim in the lake just like children anywhere.