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Masaya

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Nicaragua's most folkloric department abounding with art, crafts, and culture. Masaya is also home to Nicaragua's most accessible volcano.

Population: approx. 317,000 people
Location: Pacific side of Nicaragua, strategically located between Managua and Granada
Attractions: folklore, culture, arts and crafts, Masaya Volcano, lagoons

The department of Masaya is made up out of several picturesque municipalities, and it is inhabited by very tranquil but hard working people. Every single municipality has a certain characteristic or specific activity that makes it different from the rest. The main city of the department is Masaya, and some of the most interesting other sites include Catarina, San Juan de Oriente, Niquinohomo, and Masatepe.

Masaya: crib of national folklore

The strength, conservation, and expression of cultural traditions have made people consider Masaya the ‘crib of national folklore’. The city was declared the ‘Cultural Legacy of the Nation’ in 1989 and ‘Capital of National Folklore’ in 2000.

Masaya and its historical neighborhood Monimbó were the center of the most important indigenous tribe, the Dirianes. During the colonization, the Spanish founded a small village on these fertile lands. This village became more and more important as time went by and in 1839 it received the status of City of Masaya. The differences between the two cultures resulted in a colored and friendly city, where there are still strong expressions of traditions.

About five kilometers from Masaya, in the direction of Managua, lies the Masaya Volcano National Park. This volcano is one of the most attractive visits in the region. It is a big, rocky area where two hills harbor three craters; one crater is active and spitting fumes and the other two are basically big holes covered with trees. A road leads up to the active crater, which makes the volcano very accessible. In addition to this amazing, active crater you can also enjoy superb views of the surroundings. Hiking trails allow further exploration of the park, and there is also a small museum providing a lot of information about the volcano. Read more about the Masaya Volcano National Park in our Activity Guide.

One of the most interesting attractions in the city of Masaya itself is the old cultural market. This market houses a variety of little shops where artisans, furniture, shoes, hammocks, clothes, musical instruments, and many other types of products are sold. This is a perfect place to get some Nicaraguan souvenirs. There are also cultural events organized here every Thursday, called ‘La Verbena de Masaya’. More about the Masaya market can be found in the activity guide.

A lagoon, called the Masaya Lagoon or Laguna de Masaya, borders the city. This lagoon is beautiful to see but unfortunately contaminated which makes swimming not possible. There is a small boulevard in the westernmost part of the city from where you have a superb view of the lagoon.

In this same neighborhood, close to the stadium and the old hospital, there is a large number of hammock producers. This area is probably the most important hammock-producing area in the country. Many of the hammocks are sold within Nicaragua, but there are also a couple producers that export their products. Most of the shops are small and employ only a couple people. It is often a family-run business, and the hammocks are in general created inside or in front of the house of the family. A visit to this neighborhood can be very interesting, as these people often welcome visitors to take a look at the production process. If you head from the central park to the old hospital (San Antonio) or to the stadium, you can easily find some shops on the way. This area is also a great place to buy your hammock, directly from the producer.

A historical fortress, called El Coyotepe, is located close to the city. This fortress was built in 1893 by president Zelaya, and it was used as a prison during the dictatorial regime of the Somoza family. Dungeons were built to house the prisoners, and you can nowadays get a tour by the Boy Scouts and explore both the fortress and the dungeons. This historical site is also a great visit for the superb views. Read more about visiting the Coyotepe Fortress in our Activity Guide.

 

Located close to Masaya are the white villages (Pueblos Blancos), or the bewitched villages (Pueblos brujos). The first name comes from the white color that dominates on most adobe houses. The second name is used because there are people who inherited practicing (and still do practice) supernatural medication, black magic, foretelling the future. These villages and their main attractions are described below.

Catarina: flower-city with a great view

One of the main destinations is Catarina, where you will find many nurseries where a great variety of precious ornamental plants is sold. There is such a large variety of plants offered that even people living outside the department of Masaya visit Catarina to buy their plants. All of these plants are set up in little shops next to the roads. This not only makes it easy for the buyers to walk around and compare the plants, it also gives Catarina a green, flowery image.

Catarina is not only visited for its plants, however. The greatest attraction of the town is the viewpoint (Mirador de Catarina), which offers a superb view of the Apoyo Lagoon. You can also see the city of Granada, as well as Lake Nicaragua and the impressive Mombacho Volcano. This great viewpoint is popular not only among foreign tourists, but also among local Nicaraguans who love to come together during the weekend at this viewpoint to chat, relax, and enjoy the great view. To read more about the Catarina viewpoint, go to our Activity Guide.

San Juan de Oriente: the pottery capital

San Juan de Oriente is a small town housing a little over 4,000 people, located only one kilometer south of Catarina. Despite its small size, this village is the most important producer of pottery in the country. Many people are specialized in creating a wide range of beautiful pottery.

Small shops where the families sell their pottery are set up next to the road. If you enter the village you can find more pottery and also some workshops, often located right behind the shop itself. At these workshops you can find people shaping the pottery or baking the clay. The production process is interesting to see although not all producers welcome visitors into their workshop. Many of them, however, will be glad to show you around and by buying some of their pottery in return you can ensure these people will continue to be able to create these beautiful handicrafts in their own backyards.

Niquinohomo: Sandino’s birthplace

The city of Niquinohomo is located a couple kilometers west of San Juan de Oriente. Niquinohomo was declared Legacy of the Nation in the year 2000. It was also the birthplace of the national hero Augusto C. Sandino and it houses a church from the 17th century.

There are no major attractions in the town, but there is a small, friendly central park which is a nice place to relax and see the old church. Close to the central park you can find a museum of Augusto C. Sandino.

Masatepe: soup and furniture

Masetepe is another Pueblo Blanco known for the production and sale of wooden furniture, as well as for the delicious mondongo soup. This soup is a traditional Nicaraguan dish, and it can be found in one of the small restaurants in and around Masatepe. You can read more about this soup and other traditional Nicaraguan food in our Special Archive.

Along the road to Masatepe, you can find many small furniture shops. There is a wide variety, but rocking chairs are probably the most popular pieces of furniture.

Apoyo Lagoon

The Apoyo Lagoon is an ancient and now extinct crater lake, bordering both the department of Masaya and the department of Granada. This lagoon is one of Nicaragua’s finest, providing a great place for a multitude of activities. You can swim in the crystal-clear water, or hike through the tropical dry forest that grows on the slopes surrounding the lagoon. Other activities like kayaking and even diving can also be undertaken from one of the small restaurants or hotels that are located at the border of the lagoon.

To read more about the activities at the Apoyo Lagoon, visit our Activity Guide. More information about this lagoon can also be found in our Volcano Special, due to its volcanic origin.

Other Sites

In addition to the destinations described above, there are a couple other sites in the department of Masaya that might be interesting for a visit.

Between Managua and Masaya, right before entering the city of Masaya, you can find the town called Nindirí. Nindirí houses a museum about Pre-Colombian times and a historical parish church (built almost three hundred years ago).

In the northeast corner of the department there is a lagoon called Laguna de Tisma (Tisma Lagoon). This is a natural reserve encompassing beautiful wetlands that are a haven for migratory birds. Although there is not much tourism-infrastructure around, it can be an interesting place to visit.

Other towns in the area include Nandasmo and La Concepción, both located in the southern part of the department. Small-scale production and a tranquil atmosphere can also be found at these villages.

Getting there and getting around

You can get to Masaya by taking a bus from Managua. Local microbuses can be taken in front of the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) or close to the Metrocentro shopping mall. The bigger intercity buses leave from the Roberto Huembes market. It takes about half an hour in bus.

From the bus terminal in Masaya you can take buses to the Pueblos Blancos. In Managua you can find a direct connection to Masatepe and Niquinohomo at the same Roberto Huembes market. To get to Catarina or San Juan de Oriente you can take a bus to Masetepe as it will stop at those towns before entering Masetepe.

If you have an own car, you can just take the highway to Masaya (Carretera Masaya). This is one straight road from Managua and you can be in Masaya in less than half an hour. There are signs pointing to the Pueblos Blancos.

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