Masaya Volcano

Name	Masaya Volcano
Status	Active
Type	Shield volcano
Coordinates	11.984°N, 86.161°W
Last Eruption	2003
Elevation	635 m
Activities	Hiking, museum visit
Difficulty

The Masaya Volcano National Park is located half an hour from Nicaragua's capital, and it is very accessible. The smoking crater can already be seen from the road. A national park has been set up around the volcano, and within the park there is a paved road that leads to the crater. This enables visitors to drive in car up the Santiago crater. The park includes in total two volcanoes, the Masaya Volcano and the Nindirí Volcano, and five craters. The Santiago crater was formed in 1852 and is the most active crater of the park.

Gas is continuously emitted by this crater, and the white plume can be seen from far. This process is called passive degassing, and it takes place in cycles at the Masaya Volcano. This last cycle started in 1993 and still continues. These gases have a significant impact on the surroundings. A constant wind carries the sulfur dioxide westward, where the prolonged exposure affects the environment. The gases are estimated to affect an area of around 1,250 km². Within this area plant life and human living conditions are affected. The affected area stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean and includes the municipality of El Crucero. When visiting the volcano, you can also smell the sulfur gases. Short term exposure to these gases does not pose a threat to visitors of the park. Surprisingly, a colony of green parakeets is living inside the crater, apparently unaffected by the toxic gases.

In addition to visiting this impressive crater you can find some other spectacular sightings at the park. You can hike up to another dormant crater which also provides a fantastic view of the Santiago crater and the area. There is also a trail that leads to a cave inhabited by bats. Other trails bring you to panoramic viewpoints. Hiking through the reserve will also allow you to observe the spectacular landscape created by past eruptions.

The Masaya Volcano is the most accessible volcano in Nicaragua, and even people physically limited can get up to the crater and enjoy this beautiful volcano. There is also a visitor center with a little museum, providing interesting information about the park.

Laguna de Apoyo (Apoyo Lagoon)

Name	Laguna de Apoyo
Status	Dormant
Type	Crater Lake
Coordinates	11.92°N, 86.03°W
Last Eruption	about 23,000 years ago
Elevation	468 m
Activities	Swimming, hiking
Difficulty

When the old Apoyo Volcano erupted, about 23,000 years ago, it left a huge 7 km-wide crater that gradually filled with water. This lake, located between Masaya and Granada, is surrounded by the old crater wall. This spectacular lagoon can be easily reached by car, and it is a great spot for swimming and relaxing. There is still an active fumarole at the western shore of the lagoon, so the volcano is not yet dormant. There are also myths that still surround this pristine lagoon.

Mombacho Volcano

Name	Mombacho Volcano
Status	Dormant
Type	Stratovolcano
Coordinates	11.826°N, 85.967°W
Last Eruption	unknown
Elevation	1,345 m
Activities	Hiking
Difficulty

The Mombacho Volcano is a huge stratovolcano bordering Lake Nicaragua, close to Granada. The islets in the lake, called Las Isletas, are thought to be the result of an eruption of the Mombacho Volcano, thousands of years ago. Nowadays, the Mombacho Volcano is quiet and dense forest dominates the slopes. Nature and panoramic views characterize this volcano.

After the Masaya Volcano, the Mombacho is probably the best accessible volcano in the country. From the main road you can get to the entrance of the volcano. A truck drives up and down from the base to the top of the volcano. This journey is impressive by itself already. You will pass several types of ecosystems while ascending this steep volcano. From tropical dry forest you will move into a semideciduous tropical forest and around the summit there grows a highly productive wet tropical forest, also called cloud forest. On the highest peaks you can also observe a dwarf forest where trees never grow tall because of constant strong winds.

These different types of vegetation make the area rich in biodiversity. There are also several animals and plant species endemic to the volcano. This beautiful nature can be observed by walking around one of the four craters. Very decent trails have been set up, offering varying possibilities for hiking this volcano. In addition to amazing nature you can also find spectacular viewpoints along the trails.