PUNTA JESÚS MARÍA

The long, sandy peninsula of Punta Jesús María is lovely for swimming and absorbing a bit of island tranquility. At the end of the sandy spit, a small recreational center complete with run-down playground and coolers of cold beer await you. This is a good place to catch a sunset or kill an afternoon relaxing and soaking your bones. Talk with the owner, Joaquín Salazar, about setting up your tent on the beach and spending the night with the crickets and the lapping of the lake washing up on the sandy shore. He’s usually agreeable about camping if you’ve been buying beer from him. Otherwise, make friends and hitch a ride. Taxis from Moyogalpa charge about $7 each way.