Masaya Volcano

The Masaya Volcano - just over 12 miles from Managua - is one of the most accessible on earth. In fact, while you can plan hiking day trips on the volcano, you can even drive right up to the volcano’s crater to take a peek inside. The Masaya Volcano National Park that surrounds the volcano was Nicaragua’s first national park.

There is a nearly-constant flow of steam, ash and gases coming from the Masaya Volcano, but that shouldn’t stop people from making the trip. Join a day tour from Managua and you’ll be treated to glimpses of a rare type of parakeet that can withstand the toxic gases near the crater. You may even be lucky enough to see some of the glowing magma that the volcano occasionally spits up.