By the southern hills of the Maderas volcano, 4.5 kilometers deep into the jungle, you’ll encounter Cascada de San Ramón. This is the island of Ometepe’s only waterfall, with a drop of 40 meters. The thing about this waterfall is not only the waterfall itself but the hike there. You’ll encounter beautiful nature with tropical plants, flowing rivers and rocks to climb. You’ll actually be hiking partly up a volcano to reach San Ramón. Prepare yourself for a small adventure! Hiking to San Ramón waterfall is a can’t-miss activity when in Ometepe. This blog post covers everything you need to know and what to expect.

What to expect out of hiking to the San Ramón waterfall

The San Ramón waterfall is Ometepe’s only waterfall and located on the slopes of the Maderas volcano. Maderas volcano is a non-active volcano covered in rainforests and cloudforests. Hiking to the San Ramón waterfall is not only about seing the actual fall, but also the hike there. The first half of the hike is not in the forest but more with open fields and views of Lake Nicaragua. After about halfways you’ll enter the jungle, where the nature is so green and lush. I enjoyed this part of the hike a lot. Even if it’s a sunny day, the deeper into the jungle you get, the more of a mist cover you’ll encounter. This makes the whole scenery so much more dramatic and beautiful. Closer to the waterfall, the temperature is also a bit cooler. I wouldn’t say you need a sweather though, it’s still quite humid and it feels warm. The San Ramón waterfall is made up by two waterfalls, one bigger and one thinner. The drop is 30 meters and there is a small pool by the bottom of the cascade where you can go for a tropical waterfall shower.

How to get to the trail

The trail to get to San Ramón waterfall starts by Ometepe Biological Field Station. This is located on the southwestern part of the island, about a 20-minute drive away from the town of Mérida. The start of the trail is most easily reached with scooter, motobike or ATV. You should be prepared that the roads to get there are quite rough at some parts. All the way to Mérida the road conditions are really good with paved roads. After passing that town, it turns into gravel and dust, sometimes even big rocks and some hills. If you are uncomfortable driving a scooter on these conditions, ATV is definitely for you.

When you arrive to the Biological Field Station, there is a parking lot right by the entrance where you can leave your vehicle. With ATV’s you can even head partly up the trail. This will cut down your hiking with almost half the time. Although, you’ll miss out on the full hiking experience, so I would say you should do it all the way from the bottom.

How tough is the hike and how long does it take?

I was actually surprised when I realized that the waterfall is located about 1 000 meters above sea level. It is quite an altitude, so don’t expect the hike to be mellow. It is upwards and you will be climbing a volcano. From my experience, I felt like the first half of the hike was more tough cardio wise. The trails are a little bit more steep and because of good trail conditions it was just walking, walking, walking. When you start getting into the actual jungle, about halfway there, it’s more of an adventure, climbing on rocks and going over small rivers. I felt this was easier for the cardio, but it’s definitely more challenging with rocks being slippery and more uneven grounds. The hike to the waterfall takes about 1.5 hours in total, and the way back takes around the same time. I would say the way back is a little bit faster, more close to 1 hour. But expect the hike to take up to 3 hours – 3.5 hours depending on your pace and how much time you spend by the waterfall.

When is the best time to visit San Ramón waterfall?

Time of day

The best time to visit San Ramón waterfall is in the morning. There will be less people on the trail and by the waterfall. Plus it is not as hot. The first half of the trail is not in the rainforest and on sunny days you will feel the sweat no matter what time you go. But it will definitely be more hot if you go mid-day, and the sun will burn.

Season

The best season to visit San Ramón waterfall is during rainy season or the beginning of the dry season. This is because of the density of the waterfall. The rainy season stretches from May through October. I went in November, which is the shift between wet and dry season, and the waterfall was beautiful and had plenty of water. I have heard some people visiting at peak dry season, around February, and that there is not much water at all in the waterfall. No matter when you go there is still gonna be a beautiful hike though, but if you expect more of a waterfall you might be a bit disappointed if going during dry season.

What to bring for the San Ramón waterfall hike

Let’s go through some important things to bring for the San Ramón hike. Proper walking shoes is a must, you can’t do this hike in flipflops or slippers. I even brought actual hiking boots. You will be ascending a volcano. The entrance fee for the trail is 3 USD, so bring some cash. When reaching the waterfall, it is possible to take a shower in the cascading water. The pool below the waterfall is shallow so it’s not really swimmable, but for a waterfall shower – bring swimwear. It is also appropriate to bring a drybag. The area around the waterfall is really humid and the water from the waterfall spreads in the air. My backpack was wet when I came back from the hike, so luckily I had my electronics in a drybag inside the backpack. Since the hike takes about 3 hours, it can be nice to bring some snacks or lunch, depending on the time you’re hiking. Also – never forget the sunscreen to protect your skin.