Only 16km’s northwest of Granada, Masaya is the gateway to the Masaya Volcano National Park, one of the most popular attractions in the Pacific region of Nicaragua.
This small and quite unremarkable town is also famous for the crystalline crater lake Laguna de Masaya, and it’s artisan market, Mercado de Artesanías de Masaya.
The Spanish described Masaya Volcano as “The Gates of Hell”. Masaya is the most accessible active volcano in the country. This in itself is a good reason for a day trip from Granada.
Catarina is a popular spot for locals to spend Sunday afternoon picnicking or having lunch at one of the many restaurants sitting high above the spectacular lake.
Not far from Catarina is the pre-Columbianan town of San Juan de Oriente renown for its ceramics. There is a school dedicated to keeping the traditional art alive.