Visit to the National Park of Volcano Masaya

Volcan Masaya

We took a Ruta Ordinaria bus for the 35 minute ride to Masaya, arriving at 8am. From there we took a taxi to the entrance to the Volcan Masaya National Park, arriving at 8:30 AM, 30 minutes before the park opens. Later we realized we could have taken a Managua bus and just gotten off right at the same entrance - saving the taxi fare. After waiting for the park to open, we paid our entry fee plus an extra $2.50 to ride a bus to the top. Along the way we stopped at the visitor's center to buy tickets for a guided tour to the bat cave. The view at the top around the Plaza Oviedo is quite spectacular, and we enjoyed taking photos of the steaming Santiago crater. Our guide David was personable and seems knowledgeable, and spoke to us in Spanish, which was a relief. We got hard hats and flash lights to traverse the cave, which was pitch black. We did see some bats, and a couple of different kinds of lava, but the most interesting thing was the enormous tree roots which had made their way into the cave to suck up the moisture, bat guano, and nutrients from the lava. We walked into the largest part of the cave-el templo de los dioses-and then turned around. After we parted from our guide we walked up hill to take a look at the San Fernando crater that is dormant and full of vegetation. As we walked down the road, we saw lots of pretty flowers - a park guard identified the Sacuanjoche for us - Nicaragua's national flower, as well as the Poroporo, a gorgeous large yellow flower - the bark of the plant is used to aid in childbirth. Then we walked downhill to the visitors' center (55 minutes) and were impressed with how well done the exhibits are there. The only quibble we had was that the very lovely paintings of plants and birds were not labeled. We then walked to the entrance to catch a bus direct to Granada.

• Unknown butterfly Unknown butterfly
• Lois in the Plaza Oviedo overlooking the active Santiago crater Lois in the Plaza Oviedo overlooking the active Santiago crater
• Bobadilla Cross on crater rim Bobadilla Cross on crater rim
• Gases pouring out of Santiago Crater Gases pouring out of Santiago Crater
• Santiago Crater Santiago Crater
• Looking down on Plaza Oviedo with Bobadilla Cross in background Looking down on Plaza Oviedo with Bobadilla Cross in background
• Santiago Crater Santiago Crater
• Santiago Crater Santiago Crater
• Don and our guide, David, helmeted for bat cave Don and our guide, David, helmeted for bat cave
• One of the entrances to the bat cave, Tzinaconostoc One of the entrances to the bat cave, Tzinaconostoc
• Lois and guide David entering bat cave Lois and guide David entering bat cave
• Don and Lois emerging from bat cave Don and Lois emerging from bat cave
• Santiago Crater Santiago Crater
• Lois and Santiago Crater Lois and Santiago Crater
• Don and Santiago Crater Don and Santiago Crater
• Santiago Crater from rim of San Fernando crater Santiago Crater from rim of San Fernando crater
• Santiago Crater and Lookout of the Winds Santiago Crater and Lookout of the Winds
• Sacuanjoche, Nicaragua's national flower Sacuanjoche, Nicaragua's national flower
• Poroporo flower and fruit Poroporo flower and fruit
• Unknown flower #243 Unknown flower #243
• Unknown flower #244 Unknown flower #244
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