Masaya, Nicaragua

By kpvega

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Old Market

Laguna de Masaya

Masaya is the birthplace of the national folklore and is located between Managua, the capital, and Granada.

Masaya Volcano
A major attractionin Masaya is the Volcano National Park: a large area of volcanic rock around two cones hosting three craters, one active and two others covered by forests in its interior. Located about five miles from Masaya, going to Managua. In this volcano are the most attractive views in the region. A road leads up the crater, making it quite accessible for peopl; there are many roads that allow a general exploration of the park. There is also a museum that provides information on the volcano.

Old Market
Within the city, one of the most interesting attractions is the cultural center of Handicrafts Old Market, known as the Old Market. The center hosts a variety of stores where they sell crafts, furniture, shoes, hammocks, clothing, musical instruments, among many other products. This is a good place to buy souvenirs of Nicaragua. Each week, at sunset, in this location are held Thursday of Verbena "a display of dance, music and national art.

Laguna de Masaya
The 'Laguna de Masaya' is at one edge of the city. This lagoon is beautiful, but unfortunately it is poluted. On the eastern side of the pier there a place whre you can have an amazing view of the lagoon and the Masaya volcano.

The Coyotepe
A history fortress, called 'The Coyotepe' is located on the outside of the city. This fortress was built in 1893 by President Zelaya and was used as a prison during the regime of the Somoza family. Currently the Boy Scouts can get a tour of all the fortress from which they can see the city.

Other attractions
In the same area, near the stadium and the old hospital, a large number of producers of hammocks. This area is probably the most important throughout the country in the production of hammocks. Many of the sunbeds produced here are sold in Nicaragua, but some producers are exporting. These are often family businesses and the hammocks are made in or in front of the home. A visit to this neighborhood can be very interesting because these people often invite visitors to take a look at the production process. If you go to the hospital to the old Central Park (San Antonio) or to the stadium, you can easily see some workshops on the way there.

A few minutes from Masaya are the Pueblos Blancos or the Pueblos Brujos (white towns or witch towns), called the first form by the predominance of that color in adobe houses, and the second way because some people still practice, as a cultural heritage, natural medicine, the divination and witchcraft.


Masaya is like 27 kms. from Managua and you can take a bus from the Mercado huembes and it will take in aout 20 minutes for less than an American dollar.

It's really easy to get there on your own car, you just have to take the panamerican high way, but don't take it on rush hour, because it will take you almost an hour to get there, because it's one of the bussiest street in the country.




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