Las Isletas de Granada
Monkey around in Nicaragua
No visit to Granada, Nicaragua’s former colonial capital would be complete without a boat ride on Lake Nicaragua, or Cocibolca Lake,
as it is also called. At 8,200 square kilometers, it is one of the largest lakes in the world.
Fortunately, however, the Granada Islands are close. A 365-isand
archipelago of private residences and public parks, even old forts that protected the city from invasion, are just three kilometers offshore.
It is believed that this archipelago was formed when nearby Volcano Mombacho erupted around 20,000 years ago. And smack in the middle of this aquatic labyrinth sits one of the more interesting sites to visit – Monkey Island, perhaps the most unique place for photos.
As the name implies, the small island is only home to one thing – monkeys. And while you can’t set foot on the island your panga boat will get you close enough to shore to hand off a banana and even have a monkey jump in the boat.
This up-close encounter allows for great wildlife shots even without a large zoom lens. The lighting is also generally perfect for shooting at F4 and 200, providing for great shadows.
It is not exactly clear how the monkeys got there or how many live there, but the prevailing theory is that they were abandoned. The monkeys survive mainly by eating anything from fruit and nuts, to spiders and bird eggs. Those living near water are fond of eating shellfish and crabs, using stones to crack their shells and, of course, bananas from tourists and locals.
The majority of the island’s inhabitants are capuchin monkeys who get their name from their distinctive coloring, which is said to resemble the cowls worn by the Catholic friars known as Franciscan Capuchin.
From the small panga port in Granada this portion of a day trip takes
about an hour and provides views of the city from the lake and much more in the way of wildlife, including birds and bats.
Bananas for the monkeys can be bought at the port.
Given the proximity to the colonial city a trip to Monkey Island allows for plenty of time to explore the city’s cathedrals, wide avenues and shops.
Weekdays trips are recommended since more is open, including the cathedrals.
