How to hike San Ramon Waterfall in Ometepe
Ometepe is primarily known for the two iconic volcanoes which make up the island. I mean, they are pretty mind-boggling!
However, most people aren’t aware of the towering San Ramon Waterfall tucked away in the jungle. Those people are missing out! The hike to San Ramon Waterfall was one of the highlights of my visit to Ometepe Island.
This waterfall hike is perfect if you want to explore nature but don’t want to take one of the mammoth 8+ hour hikes up Concepcion or Maderas volcano. Plus you’ll be rewarded with an epic waterfall shower at the top!
This guide will cover how to get to San Ramon waterfall, tips for the hike, what to pack and more. So without further ado, let’s go chasing waterfalls!
About the San Ramon Waterfall
Also known as Cascada de San Ramon, the San Ramon Waterfall is Ometepe’s most impressive waterfall, standing at over 40m tall. Located on the south side of Maderas Volcano, its waters tumble down the sheer, mossy cliff face into a small pool where visitors bathe and admire the falls. It’s accessed via a challenging hiking trail leading up from Ometepe’s Biological Field Station.
San Ramon Waterfall Hike Summary
Walk type: Out and back
Distance: 7.2km (total), 3km (from car park)
Maximum Elevation: 627m (2057 feet)
Minimum Elevation: 40m (at field Station), 300m (at car park)
Walk time: 2-4 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Highlights: San Ramon Waterfall
Guide Required: No (but available)
Entrance Fee: 100 NIO per person + 50 NIO for vehicles (4 USD total)
San Ramon Waterfall Hike Map
This map shows the full route from the field station at the bottom to the waterfall. However, you can start the walk from further up.
How to get to San Ramon Waterfall
Firstly you’ll need to get to Ometepe. You can do this via ferry from San Jorge which costs 50 NIO.
Once you’re on the island, you’ll realise that getting around Ometepe isn’t the easiest without your own method of transport.
I recommend renting a moped or ATV to drive there yourself. Follow directions to the Ometepe Biological Field Station which marks the base of the trail to San Ramon Waterfall. You will need to take the NN-226 which isn’t fully tarmac beyond a certain point (they were resurfacing the road in 2023, so hopefully this will be complete soon). From here you can drive up the off-road track to the car park or begin walking. It’s a technical drive so be careful.
Alternatively, the cheaper yet slower option is getting a public bus. These are usually a couple of dollars however they are unpredictable and slow. Give yourself over an hour if you’re travelling from Moyogalpa in the west. Or get a taxi to drop you at Ometepe Biological Field Station – this can be expensive ($20+) so I only suggest this if you can split the cost with others!
Whichever route you take, you will need to hike the rest of the way to San Ramon Waterfall. Unless you book a horse tour.
What to expect at the San Ramon Waterfall
Hike to San Ramon Waterfall
I decided to visit the San Ramon Waterfall in Ometepe on a day touring the island on mopeds. We rocked up at the gates at the bottom, paid the $100 entrance fee (+ $50 for ATVs or bikes) and continued driving up.
After a short distance, the road morphs into a thin, bumpy track. You can only navigate this trail if you have an ATV or are very skilled on a moped. If not (like myself), you might park slightly lower down and begin your hike from there.
There is a so-called car park at the end of the road. Though if I’m honest, it’s more just a clearing of trees. Whatever you decide it is, it marks the start of the official waterfall hike.
From the car park, it’s an obvious dirt path through the forest. The route is just over 1.5km, covering over 300m of elevation. This took us around 40 minutes to reach the waterfall – it’s a short hike but no mean feat!
Starting as a gentle uphill meandering through the trees, the trail gradually gets steeper. You will follow the river most of the way – during the dry season is mostly dried out but I imagine there’s more water in the rainy season! You will see pipes running down the river bed, which the locals use to irrigate their plantations.
The final stretch of the hike is the toughest as it requires some scrambling followed by a couple of sketchy paths with a drop. The giant waterfall will come into view at this point, which helps spur you on!
Overall, the hike is pretty sweaty, but at least there’s a natural shower to cool down in!
Unfortunately, you can’t continue the hike up Maderas Volcano from here since it’s a cliff face.
San Ramon Waterfall
I visited during the dry season, so there was minimal water coming down. That being said, it was still very impressive!
You can bathe in the pool at the bottom and sit directly underneath the falls. Falling from such height, even small amounts of water pack quite some force!
We spent around an hour here enjoying the sun and cooling off from the hike (which was longer than most). While we were there there were probably around 15-20 others who came and went after realising how cold the water was! 😆
The rocks can be slippery (or downright painful) underfoot, so I recommend having some shoes handy.
There’s no privacy near the waterfall where you can get changed, so a towel is useful. Or walk in your swimming gear if it’s comfortable.
Wildlife
Throughout the hike, you have the opportunity to see wildlife. We heard some howler monkeys (sadly, we didn’t see any) and saw several bird, butterfly and insect species. Much to our surprise, we even saw horses on the way up!
If you visit in the early morning before other people, you have more chance of spotting wildlife.
What to pack for San Ramon Waterfall
For hiking to the San Ramon Waterfall, you should wear your usual, comfortable hiking clothes. This includes shorts (or hiking trousers if preferred), a sweat-wicking top, walking socks, and hiking shoes. Trainers are fine if you don’t have hiking boots.
Look at the weather forecast in advance and dress accordingly. If you visit during the rainy season it could be muddier and more treacherous underfoot.
In addition to the clothes you are wearing, you should also bring:
- Water: Always stay hydrated during your hike.
- Snacks: Gotta keep your energy levels up! Plus, who doesn’t like a scenic snack?
- Sun cream: Though the majority of the hike is under tree cover, the waterfall gets a few rays! If possible, put it on before you hike so you don’t have to carry it.
- Camera (optional): You will probably want to take a few snaps of the waterfall. A waterproof camera like a GoPro is also a good shout.
For the waterfall itself, I recommend a swimming costume (unless you’re happy to go in wearing your hiking clothes which was tempting) and a towel. I also had some flip-flops in my bag which were helpful.
Given the small amount of belongings needed, I only carried a small, string bag that could fit in the hold of my moped. Having such a small bag also helped keep me cool during the hike!
When to visit the San Ramon Waterfall
If you want to see San Ramon Waterfall in all its flowing glory, you should visit during the wet season. During this time it’s more impressive. That being said, try to pick a sunny day so can enjoy the hike and avoid the mud!
In terms of the best time of day to visit, I recommend going early in the morning. Not necessarily because of fewer crowds, but more so to avoid the heat. The hike uphill can be very sweaty so doing it in cooler temperatures is helpful. Plus this leaves more time to explore Ometepe in the afternoon!
NOTE: I’ve also heard staff won’t allow you in after 14:00.
Once off the mopeds, the whole experience took us nearly 3 hours including a one-hour stop at the waterfall. We hiked relatively quickly and began from (almost) the car park. This meant we could enjoy a snack by the waterfall and then grab lunch overlooking Lake Nicaragua afterward!
If I’m honest, I thought I could visit San Ramon Waterfall and a bunch of other places around Ometepe in one day. However, with transport, hiking, chilling and eating this activity takes up a large portion of your day and energy! Check out my Ometepe itinerary to see how I recommend fitting in the San Ramon waterfall.
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on how to hike to San Ramon Waterfall on Ometepe Island. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy hiking!
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