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Charco Verde Nature Trail, On Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

The Sign On The Drive In
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The classic sign on the side of the road that indicated this was the entrance to Charco Verde, a Hotel, Restaurant and Nature Trail.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:23:26 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1905
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Entrance To Nature Trail Just Off Parking Lot
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The entrance to the nature trail was just off the parking lot. Here the trail appeared paved, but was really smoothly packed dirt.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:27:37 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1907
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Paving Bricks Piled Alongside The Trail
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One had to pass through the hotel grounds on the way to the nature tail proper. Alongside the trail near the hotel were piles of construction materials. Highways in Nicaragua were almost all constructed of specially shaped, interlocking, paving bricks as shown here.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:28:30 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1911
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Crops Grew Alongside The Trail
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Crops grew alongside the trail. We didn't know why such small areas were cultivated until we saw the upcoming sign which described the hotel's sustainablity plan.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:31:37 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1920
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A Sustainable Plan Near Green Lagoon
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Having arrived at the nature trail proper, one of the first things seen as we neared Green Lagoon (in the background) was this sign. It described the sustainable plan used by the hotel. In brief, biodegradable waste was sorted, classified and composted. The resulting fertilizer was used to raise crops which the hotel used for food. Uneaten food then became biodegradable waste.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:38:37 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1927
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Trees Alongside The Trail Were Labeled
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Trees alongside the trail were labeled with signs that gave the local name, and below that the scientific name. Among the trees found there were: the Wild Fig (Ficus tonduzii) internal link tree; Bombacopsis Quinatum internal link tree; and the Guazuma Ulmifolia internal link tree.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:39:22 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1930
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Coconuts In A Coconut Palm
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Some of the trees were still bearing fruit in November. Here was a coconut palm with coconuts still on it.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:41:37 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #TC1_0670
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Green Lagoon's Edge Was A Swamp
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Green Lagoon was here at the end of the rainy season and so was extra full. Because trees were partially submerged at its edge, it had become part swamp. The water itself was murky and did suggest a greenish color.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:49:06 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1946
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A Rest Area With Benches
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The nature trail was supposed to go all around the lagoon. But because the trail was submerged in places we had to walk to the submerged part and back. Had the trail been open, this was one of a few rest areas found alongside its shore. Cool but hard concrete benches with a view of Green Lagoon.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:57:47 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1979
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The Guide And Madeleine Lemire Gaze At The Lagoon
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We paused to rest at the rest stop alongside Green Lagoon. Here, our guide sat on shore and gazed at the view. Madeleine Lemire wandered toward the tree line to try to spot birds.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:58:07 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_1980
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A Rowboat On Green Lagoon
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A rowboat was spotted on the far shore of Green Lagoon. It appeared to be staff surveying the submerged shoreline.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 11:59:50 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #TC1_0674
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The Trail Through Real Jungle
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The nature trail continued inland but still along the shore of Green Lagoon. Here the foliage was beginning to look more jungle-like. Not much further along this trail we encountered a family of howler monkeys, but that is a story for another day.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 12:21:29 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_2007
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Used To Be A Trail Through Here
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We, at last, arrived at the end of the trail because it was submerged.


Charco Verde external link Hotel, Restaurant, Nature Trail, and Green Lagoon   •  Ometepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua   •  (Photo posted Sunday 12 February 2012)   •  (Photo taken 12:23:41 Saturday 19 November 2011)   •  © 2012 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B12_2008
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