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Day trips
 CATARINA
GETTING THERE
Take
bus to Masaya (catch bus in front of the fire station) and when you get to the
station in Masaya change buses for Catarina.
WHAT TO DO
Catarina is a one of the “pueblos blancos”, a pretty little village which is
full of beautiful nurseries which you are more than welcome to walk around. Most
of these are on the main road and once you leave the main road you are walking
through the town itself. You will see signs to the Mirador (viewpoint) or ask
anybody. Once there, you will be standing on the edge of a vast volcanic crater
looking across the spectacular Laguna de Apoyo to Lake Nicaragua, the Isletas
and Mombacho Volcano to the south – truly breathtaking.
San Juan de
Oriente, just a few hundred meters further on from Catarina is a centre
for
ceramics.
LAS ISLETAS
GETTING THERE
Walk
down to the lake and turn right when you get there. Follow lakefront through the
tourist area and continue walking straight until you arrive at a cul-de-sac
where there is a store from where you can hire boats. You will be approached,
don’t worry.
Alternatively
take a taxi for C$10 each, tell the driver you want to go to cabañas amarillas.
COST
They will take you on a tour of the isletas (365 volcanic islands, many
privately owned) for approximately $10 per hour. The price is per boat and not
per person so the more people you have the cheaper it is.
WHAT
TO EXPECT
A relaxing trip with great views, lots of varied birdlife and some
impressive homes. You can ask to be dropped off for a swim and a drink if you
want. Trips can last anywhere from 1-3 hours.
MASAYA VOLCANO
GETTING THERE
Take chicken bus to
Managua
and ask to be let off at Volcan de Masaya. It is 7km from the entrance to the
park to the volcanic crater. This is a paved road and so you can either walk,
hitch-hike or take a taxi.
Take a bus to Masaya and then take a taxi to the volcano.
It is usually easy to catch a ride back to the bottom.
COST
Entrance to the park costs $4
WHAT TO
EXPECT
If you are walking up to the top it is hot and steep. Do not let this put
you off what is quite an interesting walk which takes you through the park, lava
fields and right up to the crater. The crater itself is still active, last
erupting in 2001. After checking it out you can walk to the top of a higher
volcano only a few hundred meters away. Though dormant, you can walk all the way
around this crater (sometimes perilously close to the edge) and the views and
bird life make it very worthwhile.
TIMETABLE
The park is open from 9-4:30 everyday.
MOMBACHO VOLCANO
GETTING THERE
Take
the Nandaime / Rivas bus from the Shell station just past the market and ask to
get off at the entrance to the volcano. It is an easy 2km walk to the car park
(stay to the left where the road splits).
ENTRANCE FEE
C$115 per person which includes transport by 4x4 up to the volcano.
C$50 for kids.
DURATION
20
mins. by bus to park entrance and 30 min walk to car park. Transport to volcano 30
mins. 1-2 hrs to explore at the top and 20 mins to come back down to car park
(ask to be taken back to main road).
TIMETABLE
Jeeps leave for the top of the volcano at 8.30 am, 10.00 am, 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm
Thursday - Sunday.
The park is
closed on Mondays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays the park is open, but transport to
the top is by appointment only.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION CALLl: 0522-5858
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