Ometepe Island hosts parrot pilgrimage from 11 December
Published on 11/14/2026 at 13:21 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSParrot conservation and island setting
- One Earth Conservation schedules the Parrot Pilgrimage for 11 to 15 December 2026 around Ometepe Island.
- The walk visits six conservation communities and includes parrot counts along dirt roads and uneven paths.
- UNESCO nominated the Ometepe Island Biosphere Reserve in 2010, with Maderas and Concepcion defining its landscape.
Ometepe Island (Ometepe) in Nicaragua will host the 2026 Parrot Pilgrimage from 11 to 15 December, bringing a conservation walk to the volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua. One Earth Conservation says participants will walk around the island and count parrots at six conservation communities.
Parrot Pilgrimage covers Ometepe Island from 11 December
The programme begins on 11 December 2026 and ends on 15 December 2026. The organiser describes it as a 20-mile walk around Ometepe Island, equivalent to 32 km, with stops in communities involved in parrot conservation.
The route follows dirt roads, gentle hills and sections that may be rocky or muddy. One Earth Conservation works with local partners on the island to protect the critically endangered yellow-naped Amazon parrot, including through nest monitoring, educational events and nest boxes. The 2026 pilgrimage dates and route are listed by the organiser.
Ometepe Island links the walk to a protected volcanic landscape
The event takes place across an island shaped by two volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcion. UNESCO records Maderas at 1,394 metres and Concepcion at 1,610 metres; Concepcion remains active, while an isthmus separates the two peaks.
The walk’s focus on parrot counts connects its route with the reserve’s natural setting. UNESCO identifies Maderas Volcano National Park as habitat for the yellow-naped parrot, while the Ometepe Island Biosphere Reserve was nominated in 2010. The reserve is surrounded by Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America, according to the UNESCO reserve profile.
Visiting Ometepe Island: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Parrot Pilgrimage takes place from 11 to 15 December 2026 around Ometepe Island, with six conservation communities included in the route.
- The walk uses dirt roads, gentle hills and some rocky or muddy paths, so the event involves outdoor walking rather than a fixed indoor venue.
- Ometepe Island lies in Lake Nicaragua, and its main municipalities are Altagracia and Moyogalpa.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Ometepe Island
When does the Parrot Pilgrimage take place at Ometepe Island?
The 2026 Parrot Pilgrimage runs from 11 to 15 December 2026 around the island.
What is Ometepe Island?
It is a Nicaraguan island in Lake Nicaragua formed by the volcanoes Maderas and Concepcion, and it belongs to a biosphere reserve nominated in 2010.
Where is Ometepe Island and how do you get there?
The island is in south-western Nicaragua, with Altagracia and Moyogalpa as its main municipalities. It is surrounded by Lake Nicaragua.
