MASAYA

It is the smallest department in size but the most populated in the country. Masaya, with its Department Capital sharing the same name, is located 29 kms from Managua. The department has the following towns: Masaya, Nindiri, Tisma, Catarina, San Juan de Oriente or San Juan de Los Platos, Niquinohomo, Nandasmo, Masatepe and San Juan de La Concepción or La Concha

The first people to settle in Masaya were the Chorotega Indians, tribes traveling from Mexico with Mayan influence. The Dirianes was the name given to the Chorotegas that settled in the highest part of the department. They were farmers, great artisans, they organized in clans, tribes, the families lived on farms, and the elders governed as heads of the families. They believed in arranged marriages, constituted as the base of the family. Its main indigenous centers were: Nindiri, Ticuantepe, Masaya, Monimbo and Niquinohomo.

The first historic data available of Masaya, dates back to around April 10, 1525, from colonial comments concerning the existence of a volcano in the province of Masaya, “From where comes out a very big mouth of Fire, that never ceases”. In 1529, it is visited by the Spanish historian Fernandez de Oviedo, guided to the site by Chief Nacatime of Nindiri.

Crafts

The artisans worked leather, wood, mud, and fabrics. San Juan de Oriente is the birthplace of pre-Columbian art and artifacts; they work primarily with mud, producing all types of artifacts of all sizes and themes of different colors.

Among the rustic products you find mud pots, plant holders, decorative plates, and bamboo baskets. The ceramic of San Juan de Oriente is of great cultural value and is considered part of our cultural patrimony.

La Fortaleza de El Coyotepe (Coyotepe Fortress).

“Coyote Hill” (Cerro de Coyotes) was built during the government of General Zelaya, it is an old fortress of the Feudal European castle era and it was built to watch over the city of Masaya.

El Malecon de Masaya (Masaya’s Pier).

With a surrounding area of 400 mts, its construction started in 1926 and ended in 1944. The pier has 4 walkways named San Juan, San Jeronimo, La Bomba, and Monimbo.

Gastronomy to Taste.

Corn (white and pujagüa), beans (white, black and red), rice, yuca, plaintains, small type plantains, rabbit, guatusas, fish-guapotes, guabinas, tamal pizque, tamal relleno, nacatamal, pinol de iguana, masa de cazuela, indio viejo, arroz con gaspar, pinol, tiste, pinolillo, coffee, tibio, local chocolate drink, chicha de yuca, chicha de coyol, chicha de piña, etc.

Los Pueblos Blancos (The White Towns)

With large coffee plantations, fruit trees, traditions, legends, crafts, they are of Chorotega and Mangue Origin. They are connected by the Highway to Masaya, Carazo, and Granada, as follows: Catarina, San Juan de Oriente or San Juan de los Platos, Niquinohomo, Nandasmo, Masatepe, Diria, and Diriomo, (the last two belong to Granada).

Catarina.

Catarina or Catalina in honor of Santa Catalina Patron, as it was initially known, only had 4 streets. A legislative law, authorized by President Jose Maria Moncada, and the Government’s Minister, Mr. Benjamin Abaunza, the town of Catarina was granted the title of Villa.
A colonial baroque style church can be found, locally decorated by the townspeople with impressive gardens, and next to it are stalls selling many ornamental plants, local ceramic crafts, and decorative items.

San Juan de Oriente or San Juan de los Platos.

The birthplace of pre-Columbian ceramic, with artisans that have worked the local ceramic since ancestral times.

Nandasmo.

Its inhabitants migrated looking for security from the eruptions of the Santiago Volcano. Nandasmo in Chorotega language means “Next to small rivers”; in Nahualt it means “Sandy Place”. It was declared a town in 1976. Its festivities are “El Dulce Nombre de Jesus de la Buena Muerte” and “El Divino Pastor".

Masatepe.

Formed by the Mazalt peoples: Deer, Tepelt; Hill or place, it means a place where there are deer.

In this town they produce furniture and accessories made of rattan, wood, petate, and leather shoes. The old train station works as a place for Expo-Sale. The local typical dish of the town is Mondongo (tripe).

Diria and Diriomo.

Although these two towns belong to the Department of Granada, they still form part of the White Towns.

What scenic places to visit?

• Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya: Craters, Caverns and Lava Fields.
• Masaya and Apoyo Lagoons
• El Mirador de Catarina (Outpoint- it overlooks the Apoyo Lagoon)
• The local road from the La Concepcion to San Marcos
• La Ruta de Las Artesanias (Crafts Route)

What Eco-touristic places to visit?

• Flora and Fauna of Volcan Masaya
• Semi-humid forest of Piemonte.
• Cañadas de la Meseta de los Pueblos
• Humedales del Charco de Tisma; next to the wetlands of Genízaro and La Playuela
• Fish Watch in the Apoyo Lagoon

El Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya (National Park of the Masaya Volcano).
This area was formed by forests and solidified lava originally from the eruptions and magna emissions of the Masaya and Nindiri Volcano. At the summit of the Masaya Volcano you can see the Santiago Crater 500 meters wide and 200 meters deep, spewing out gases and active fumes flirting with the clouds surrounding it.

Laguna de Apoyo or Mirador de Catarina (The Apoyo Lagoon).

Gigantic crater of volcanic origin with a circumference of 6 Kilometers and depth of 200 meters. It provides its visitors with an amazingly beautiful view. You can also fish, sail, kayak, snorkel, and scuba dive.

Laguna de Masaya (The Masaya Lagoon).

Of Volcanic origin, known as the Laguna de Nindiri, it is 9 Kilometers long and approximately 4 Kilometers wide.

La Laguna de Tisma (The Tisma Lagoon).

Wild life refuge where you can find the nests of migrant birds as well a great variety of fish.

El templo de San Jerónimo (The Temple of San Jeronimo).

This temple houses the miraculous image of the Patron Saint of Masaya, San Jeronimo. The church is simple but with elegant architecture, hosting a tower at the front facade crowned by a dome. The temple was partially damaged by the earthquake of 2000, but has already been totally repaired.

La Cruz de Bobadilla (The Cross of Bobadilla).

In the high hills, next to the crater of the Masaya Volcano, stands a cross in the same place where a similar one was once placed by the monk Francisco de Bobadilla in 1528, for the purpose of exorcizing the devil. Bobadilla baptized the volcano as “Hell’s Mouth”.