National Park Volcano Masaya

This National Park was founded in 1979, the oldest in Nicaragua and visited as a daytrip from Managua, Granada or Masaya. The park includes the volcanoes Masaya, at an altitude of only 632 meters, Nindiri and the Santiago crater and stretches over an area of 54 square kilometers. There is a visitor center, a nature museum and trails at a total length of 20 kilometers.

Volcan Masaya was by the indigenous people called "Popogatepe" which means mountain that burns and the eruptions were thought of as a sign for anger. The Spanish that arrived during the 16 th century were looking for gold inside the crater but they were rather unsuccessful.

Masaya had its last eruption in 1772 and the neighboring Nindiri were throwing ashes the last time in 1670. The Santiago crater, formed between the two in 1852, has been more active and erupted several times during the 20 th century. Santiago is inhabited by a rare specie of parakeets or "Chocoyos" that have adapted to the sulfurous gas that is found inside the crater.