I am convinced that every person could write a book about their life. A human life is full of beginnings, endings and so much in between. With the stories I’ve experienced in Nicaragua over the last few months alone, I would have enough material for a book. A book. Yes, maybe one day I will fill one with my story. For now, I’m happy to share my experiences in my blog posts. I’d love to tell you everything that has happened since my last blog post.

In February 2023, I set foot on Nicaraguan soil for the first time. Little did I know that this would not be the last time. The “land of lakes and volcanoes” promised diverse nature, a wealth of flora and fauna and a unique culture. Traveling in an international tour group, I spent almost a week in this Central American country. On the island of Ometepe, I took the opportunity to climb the Concepcion volcano. A steep, windy hike up to an altitude of around 1,600 meters. I fell in love with the island of Ometepe that day. As I left on the ferry the next day, an inner voice told me that I would return one day.

At the beginning of December 2023, I actually traveled to the island of Ometepe again. For me, it felt a bit like coming home, exciting and familiar all at once. I used the time to get to know the island and its inhabitants better. With my travel buddy Christine, I spent a month going on excursions, hiking on the local volcanoes, visiting the Pacific coast and the city of Granada. In addition to all the activities, we also found enough time for online work, personal projects and relaxation.

And it wasn’t just Christine who accompanied me on my discoveries. I also spent time with my partner Enoc. We had met on my first volcano hike. Despite the distance, we stayed in touch and over time we developed a shared vision. Today we live together on Ometepe and are in the process of realizing this vision: to make a nature hiking trail with viewpoints accessible to the public. The small mountain behind our house – affectionately known as “Little Concepcion” – is perfect for short hikes, wildlife spotting and spectacular views of the Concepcion and Maderas volcanoes and Lake Nicaragua.

Together, Enoc and I founded the company Volcancito – Culture & Adventure and offer various guided tours in Nicaragua in addition to the aforementioned nature trail. We share a passion for nature and outdoor activities and we both have a thirst for knowledge. We are currently learning how to set up our own tourism business. If you would like to find out more about us and our project, visit our Website or here on the beautiful island of Ometepe. I look forward to welcoming you!

And so my life has taken a new turn and I have found a second home on the island of Ometepe. Of course, my spirit of travel remains open and I still want to travel to so many places in Nicaragua and the world, and climb a volcano or two. At the same time, life here still feels like a journey. I experience surprising and unplanned things almost every day. This island gives me unadulterated insights into Nicaraguan culture. It teaches me a lot about life – about similarities and differences, but also about my personal strengths and limitations. As the saying goes: Life happens, while making plans. Sounds like the title of a book, for a story full of twists and turns. A story that life itself writes.