©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos Why Go? Masaya......................... 67 Nicaragua’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- San.Juan.de.oriente......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 Niquinohomo............... 78 hiking trails take you to lava-filled craters and bat-infested Nandasmo.................... 78 caves. Masatepe...................... 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) 86º30'W 86º15'W 86º00'W Momotombo (389m) San Antonio Las 7 Banderas Boaco San Benito (51km) Reserva Natural Península 1 de Chiltepe El Tamagás 12º15'N Laguna de Managua Apoyeque Mateare Lago de Laguna Managua de Xiloá 66 Malacatoya MANAGUA 86º15'W Zambrano 86º00'W Augusto César Sandino 0 10 km International El Rama (240km); 0 5 miles Managua Airport Matagalpa (95km); Tepalón Estelí (85km); Aguas Claras Esquipulas Hot Springs (30km) León Tisma Los (46km) Monte Tabor Montibelli Masaya edros Reserva Privada 1 Las Nubes Ticuantepe Parque Nacional 12º00'N Reserva Natural Nindirí Fortaleza De Coyotepe 12º00'N El Crucero Chocoyera- Volcán MasayaMasaya && LosLos PuebPueb El Brujo Masaya Masaya Carmen Volcán Masaya Laguna de Masaya Reserva Natural Lago de San Juan de Laguna de Apoyo la Concepción Nicaragua 1 Laguna Las Nandasmo Isletas Catarina de Apoyo GRANADA San Marcos Masatepe Cayetino Puerto Niquinohomo San Juan Diriá Asese Hertylandia de Oriente L L Diriamba Dolores osos Diriomo Reserva Natural JINOTEPE Empalme El Volcán Mombacho BlBl Santa El Rosario Guanacaste Volcán Isabela ancosancos El Aguacate La Paz Mombacho limar de Carazo Reserva Cerro de (1345m) ort Viento Ecológica Santa La Maquina Teresa Granada chapa & . & chomil L L o o Nandaime 11º45'Nss 11º45'N P P Reserva Natural La Trinidad Isla uebueb Río Manares Los Ángeles Zapatera Carazo El Caimito lolo Parque Lass Boquita Nacional BlBl Archipiélago ancanc Zapatera Ochomogo o o Casares ss El Tamarindo HigHig Huehuete 1 H H Tupilapa liglig Playa Laguna Huehuete Ñocarime htshts Rivas P A C I F I C Refugio de vida O C E A N Silvestre Rio 86º15'W Chacocente 86º00'W Buenos Aires N Masaya & Los Pueblos Blancos Highlights 11º30'N 1.Shop.till.you.drop.at. 3.Take.a.dip.in.the.Laguna gassy,.tempestuous.Volcán the.country’s.most.famous. de Apoyo (p75),.said.to.be.the. Masaya (p73) handicraft.market,.the. cleanest.water.in.the.whole. 6.Pioneer.virgin.waves. Mercado Artesanías.(p67),. country in.lost.beach.towns.like.La in.Masaya 4.Peer.into.that.gorgeous. Boquita.(p82).and.Casares 2.Watch.history.repeat.itself. lagoon.from.the.spectacular. (p82).. as.potters.in.the.workshops. lookouts.at.Catarina.(p76). of.San Juan de Oriente.(p77). and.Diriá (p78) continue.the.centuries-old. 5.Drive.to.the.‘gates.of.hell,’. craft.of.ceramics.production then.take.a.full-moon.hike.up..