Today’s story is about a unique opportunity to look into the crater of Masaya volcano.
We have already written about the city of Granada in Nicaragua and its attractions. Today we extend this post it with one of the main attractions near the city – Masaya volcano.
How to get there
Masaya Volcano is located on the territory of Masaya National Park, which is 20 kilometers from the city of Managua. The distance from Granada is still the same 20-25 kilometers. Therefore, in order to get there, you have to take the Granada – Managua (or Managua – Granada) bus and ask the driver to stop near the turn to the National Park.
The park entrance and ticket office are just few minutes walk. The ticket price for non-residents is $10. However, things are not so simple as they can feel. One of the tourist guides we had read before the trip stated that there should be free buses following particular schedule. At the entrance, it turned out that they were not available, whether free or not. Moreover, for safety reasons, walking in the park was prohibited. Now, there is information on the Internet that the locals provide a ride around the part for 100 cordobas per person.
Fortunately, while we were thinking what we should do, someone behind us asked: “Do you want us to give you a ride?” As it turned out, these were a director of the local tourist company Vive Travels Byron, and his companion and friend from the Cayman Islands Cliff. Therefore, as an extra bonus, we got a professional and free guide tour around the museum, which is on the way to the volcano.
Museum
In the museum, you read information typical for such places about the type of volcanoes, their location on the planet and in this region, as well as the myths and stories.
Masaya volcano consists of several calderas and craters. At different times, lava fields covered entire villages, and the eruptions themselves were perceived as a will of God. The Indians called the volcano “fiery mountain”, believed there is a creature living at the bottom of the crater, and even sacrificed maidens and children for it (according to the museum).
Later, the Spaniards baptized this place as the “throat of the devil” and in 1529 established a cross on the edge of it.
The volcano is still active and its last eruption occurred in 2008. The most famous eruption occurred in 1792: then, for several days, a lava flow descended into the lagoon, and local residents tried to prevent the catastrophe using a religious procession.
Masaya Volcano
Then we went up to the volcano. The staff warned us that we cannot spend more than 5 minutes there because of the danger of geothermal activity.
For the first time, we saw lava, even though the crater was a bit hiden by smoke or fog. This volcano is even more accessible than Poas in Costa Rica, the only trouble is getting there from the part entrance. Another interesting fact: here, inside the crater, parrots live.
After visiting the volcano, our new friends offered to drop us by the village of Catarina. We planned to go there to enjoy the Laguna de Apoyo anyway. Therefore, we were lucky to continue with our plans. We think, we were rewarded for our bad luck on the island of Ometepe.
Laguna de Apoyo formed in the crater of a volcano that had erupted thousands of years ago. Now you can fish, dive and windsurf here. From the observation point you can see Granada and the Mombacha volcano.
Then we went to Masaya, where we ate bao goat dish at the market, talking about different stuff and laughing on how the representatives of the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica and Belarus had met in Nicaragua.
Since we managed to see so many things in one day, we decided not to stay for another night in Granada. We rushed to Lyon, where new volcanoes and unusual adventures were waiting for us: volcano (lava) boarding.
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