Masaya Volcano

Masaya Volcano, an easy drive from Granada and Managua, offers one of the most extraordinary and accessible volcanic spectacles on earth. A road climbs right to the rim of the active Santiago crater, which for years has held a rare, permanent lake of bubbling, glowing molten lava far below. By day the crater smokes dramatically; after dark, on timed visits, the churning orange lava glows hypnotically against the night, a mesmerising, primal sight witnessed from a viewing platform on the very edge.

History

Known by its old Nawat name Popogatepe, Masaya is a nested set of calderas and craters, and only two lava flows have erupted since the 16th century: in 1670 an overflow from the Nindiri crater, which then held a lava lake a kilometre wide, and in 1772 from a fissure on the flank of the Masaya cone. It is Nicaragua's first and largest national park, and on 23 April 2001 an explosion opened a new vent in the bottom of the crater (Wikipedia, Masaya Volcano).

Highlights

• The lava lake - the rare permanent lake of bubbling molten lava.
• The crater rim - the viewing platform on the smoking edge.
• The night visit - the glowing lava seen after dark.
• The museum and bat caves - the visitor centre and nearby caves.

When to go

The evening, timed night visits are the most spectacular, when the glowing lava shows most dramatically against the dark; the dry season from November to April brings the clearest conditions. Visits are strictly timed and limited for safety, so book or arrive early, especially for the popular night slots.

Things to know

It is an active volcano, so access to the rim and the visibility of the lava lake can change or close entirely with volcanic activity, gas levels or weather, and visits are tightly timed and limited, so it is not guaranteed; check current conditions. The sulphurous fumes can be strong. When it is glowing and accessible, though, gazing down at a live lava lake is a rare, unforgettable spectacle.

Nearby

The craft town of Masaya, Granada and Managua are close by.

Key facts