Masaya

Places of Interest - Nicaragua

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introduction

The city of Masaya is of course known for its souvenir market that has no equal throughout the country. You can buy everything here in the field of souvenirs, but for fruit and vegetables you will have to go to the new market a little further up. The city is made up of different neighborhoods and one is the best known of the country: Monimbo.

It is called the cradle of Nicaraguan culture and folklore but became famous when they rose against the regime of dictator Samozo and took over for about a week with all the bad consequences that followed. Just outside the city is the most active volcano of Nicaragua with the same name. In Western countries it would be probably forbidden to visit it. It is recommended to stay only 20 minutes at the edge of the crater.

There are hiking trails throughout the park and this is highly recommended.

highlights

Downtown Masaya (Mercado and Monimbo):

Visiting Masaya without seeing the market would be almost a mortal sin even if you hate every form of "shopping". The exterior of this immense complex, which has the size of a block of houses, looks like a colonial fortress with watchtowers and wooden gates.

It was only built in 1888 and it was used as a market from the beginning until 1978. Then Samozo's troops razed the whole complex to the ground, after which it was abandoned. It was not until 1994 that the renovations started and honestly spoken they did a very good job. In the market itself you can find many "hippie" things such as hammocks, bags, lots of woodwork and clothing. There are also some nice food cafes inside.

The Monimbo district is just south of the center and has a pretty rough past. It once started as the most important traditional village of the country where the name cradle of folklore originated. The people who live here, descended from an Indian people, have resisted the Spaniards from the start and then against every new threat. Currently, two churches form the face of the neighborhood. This district deserves a visit.

Vulcan Masaya:

The Spaniards called it the gate of hell and today it is still the most active volcano in Nicaragua. From the entrance of the national park you have to walk a kilometer along the motorway until you reach the interesting museum where you can learn all about volcanoes and the earth's surfaces.

From the museum it is still a 3 km walk and then it goes 1.5 km quite steep up. You can also use one of the 20k m long paths. It gives you more satisfaction when you arrive by walking at the plateau where nowadays the tourist buses are gathered and where you can drink a delicious fresh coconut.

There is always smoke coming from the crater and from a plateau you can look very deep into the crater. Unfortunately, you can no longer walk to the cross, which a Spanish father has already put there during colonial times. You can only be here for 20 minutes because it is and remains an active volcano and it spewed fire and stones about 10 years ago with a lot of eye damage as a result.

Other attractions:

Fort Coyotepe (2 km outside the city).

history

Far before the Spaniards arrived, the region where Masaya is now the capital of, was already a center of labor and industry. The market of Masaya also has a long tradition and it is known that the Spaniards often bought their goods such as hammocks there. But the region is also known as rebellious and has given many occupied hands full of work and problems.

First it was the Spaniards, then it was William Walker in 1856 and later the American Marines in 1912. The last incident was of course the revolt in the Masai district "Monimbo" when the district with homemade weapons rebelled against the regime of dictator Somoza and held the district for a week. It caused other parts of the country to revolt too.

Then they had to give up and the "jefe" made sure that the neighborhood was rolled up and leveled to the ground. After another heavy earthquake struck in 2000, it is not surprising that you still see rubble in parts of what lies in the famous and notorious district with many Indians descendants. Masaya was also one of the first cities where Somoza and his National Guard left first when the regime fell.

Masaya-Nicaragua-Valle-de-Roca-Volcano-Lava

tips & advice (2013)

The bus station is a large empty dusty gravel field with stalls, buses, jeeps and minibuses that are parked crisscrossed

and in which I could not find any regularity or overview.

Bus to Vulcan Masaya: take any bus towards Managua and say immediately (it is only 7 km) that you want to get out at the entrance of the park. The journey takes about 15 minutes and costs 8 C $.

Bus Masaya to Granada: just ask around at the chaotic bus station and then people will help you in the Granada bus. It is only about 16 km and does not last longer than half an hour, even though the bus stops regularly. I paid 18 C $, too much to my knowledge (it must be 9 to my knowledge). M.a.w. the bus drivers in Masaya are disposers.

I ate an evening "Chinese" at Yuang Lin in the same street where my hostel (see below) was located. The food was simple but delicious and I got half a liter of Pepsi to wash it away.

It is a big joint and very popular. When I asked the bill, I thought he was joking. Food and drink: 72 C $. Worth it for an evening

Name: Hotel Regis

Address: Av Zelaya (3.5 cuadra North from Parque Central)

Price: 120 C $ (excluding toilet and shower)

Phone nr. : 25222300

Email: cmolinapalma@hotmail.com

Content:

It is quite a search this hostel (there is only a rusty old sign outside which you’re going to miss if you don’t really pay attention) but then you also have something. After a somewhat dull dark lobby area you enter an open patio with tables and chairs in the middle and rooms on both sides.

The rooms are different in price and shape but are all clean and each one gets clean sheets and a clean towel every day. There are three toilet showers and the owner (and his family) are very friendly and helpful. There is free WIFI. Only downside is that in some rooms it is somewhat noisy as the top is open. It is very central to the market and to the central square.