The Archipelago Solentiname

This archipelago, formed by 36 islands of volcanic origin is located in the southern part of Lago de Nicaragua, also called Lago Cocibolca. There is a long tradition of habitation in the region and today about 750 people are spread over the four main islands, Isla Mancarron, Isla Elvis Chavarria, Isla Donald Guevara and Isla Mancarroncito. Of those only the first and second mentioned have tourist services. Even though the soil is fertile due to its composure of volcanic ash, the ground is rocky which makes it hard to farm. The main crop is beans and not long ago some farmers begun with avocado plantation. Another important source of income for the islanders is fishing and the people are as well famous for their jicarocarving (a method of carve and paint the fruit of jicaro) and bright paintings of the landscape in the region.

The diversity of the islands vegetation and wildlife was recently discovered by the rest of the world and those idyllic islands attract nowadays biologists and artists from all over the world.