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Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos

Why Go? ...... 67 ’s meseta central (central plateau) offers a pic- Parque Nacional . turesque patchwork of lagoons, steamy volcanic peaks and V olcán Masaya...... 73 sleepy colonial villages. Not many people stay here for more than a short day-trip from nearby Granada, leaving plenty Nindirí...... 74 of room for exploration and singular encounters with the R eserva Natural . region’s remarkable natural, cultural and artistic imprint. Laguna de Apoyo...... 75 While trawling Masaya’s well-stocked artisan market is Lso Pueblos Blancos.... 76 obligatory, real fans of the craftsmanship on display should Catarina...... 76 get out to the Pueblos Blancos. The Laguna de Apoyo is an- ...... 77 other must-see: its clear turquoise waters and laid-back water- Diriá & Diriomo...... 78 front lodges offer a splendid natural respite. Towering over all of this is mighty Volcán Masaya, where ...... 78 hiking trails take you to lava-filled craters and bat-infested ...... 78 caves. ...... 78 Sloping down from the meseta are the Carazo towns – San Marcos...... 79 pleasant stopovers on the way to a wild and remote stretch Carazo...... 80 of coast.

Best Places to When to Go Thursday evenings rock in Masaya with the Jueves de Ver- Stay bena. Stay the evening to sample local food, watch folk- ¨¨San Simian (p75) loric dances, and stroll through the large crafts market ¨¨Centro Ecoturístico Flor de and museum. Pochote (p79) December through August is the dry season. Coming around this time makes hiking around Volcán Masaya or ¨¨La Mariposa Spanish School & Eco Hotel (p79) skinny dipping in Laguna de Apoyo all the better. Come early in the season for green everywhere. Sunday is the traditional market day throughout the re- gion. It adds a brimming energy you won’t feel other days Best Festivals of the week. There’s also a good chance you’ll find yourself ¨¨San Juan Bautista (p77) smack dab in the middle of a religious or cultural festival. ¨¨Santa Ana (p77) ¨¨Virgen de la Candelaria (p77) Tepalón 12º15'N 11º30'N Parque Isla Zapatera Nacional Malacatoya Zapatera Archipiélago Laguna Ñocarime Boaco Aires Buenos Las Santa Isletas Isabela 10 km 11º45'N 12º00'N Lago de 1 Las Banderas La Nicaragua 5 miles Asese Puerto Volcán Volcán Ochomogo Casares Casares Río Manares waves Volcán 7 Reserva Natural (1345m) Mombacho 86º00'W 86º00'W virgin Reserva Natural GRANADA Volcán Mombacho (p73) (p82) and tempestuous Granada 0 0 86º00'W Pioneer Diriá Rivas Laguna San Benito de Apoyo (p82) gassy, Masaya like towns beach in lost Boquita 6 Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo 1 Los Ángeles Empalme El Guanacaste Diriomo

Masaya San Juan Nandaime Masaya Fortaleza De Coyotepe 1 de Oriente whole (p76) Laguna Zambrano Laguna de Masaya La Paz de Carazo Catarina the be to said hell,’ of ‘gates Nindirí Aguas Claras Estelí (85km); Santa Teresa El Rosario Volcán Catarina Masaya Niquinohomo (p75), (p78) El Rama (240km); El Rama in the water Matagalpa (95km); Matagalpa Hot Springs (30km) Hot Springs Nandasmo Parque Volcán JINOTEPE Masaya Masatepe 1 Nacional Diriá a dip in the Take that gorgeous into Peer the to Drive

Ticuantepe Hertylandia San Antonio Viento Chacocente Silvestre Rio Cerro de Refugio de vida country 4 the spectacular from lagoon at lookouts and 5 up a full-moon hike then take 3 Apoyo de cleanest Esquipulas Lago de Dolores Airport Managua El Caimito Augusto Privada Reserva 86º15'W San Juan de International

Montibelli 86º15'W César Sandino César El Aguacate la Concepción San Marcos (p77) El Brujo (p67), Chocoyera- Diriamba Tupilapa the Las Nubes 86º15'W itself repeat Reserva Natural workshops El Tamagás at drop you Huehuete Carazo Reserva Ecológica Playa La Maquina

Tabor El Tamarindo Huehuete MANAGUA Monte Casares history Watch El Crucero Shop till

San Juan de Oriente San Laguna Península de Xiloá de Chiltepe production ceramics of craft in the as potters of the centuries-old continue in Masaya 2 market, handicraft Artesanías Mercado 1 famous most the country’s Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos Highlights Reserva Natural

Managua

O C E A N

La Trinidad

P A C I F I C

Apoyeque Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos & Los Pueblos Bl ancos Highlights

Masaya & Los Pueb Laguna de Laguna

(46km) León

La Boquita 12º00'N

11º45'N 66 Mateare Los (51km) edros limar Cayetino chomil ort (389m) chapa Momotombo Carmen 86º30'W N