The Masaya Volcano National Park is located half an hour from Nicaragua’s capital, and it is very accessible. The smoking crater can already be seen from the road. A national park has been set up around the volcano, and within the park there is a paved road that leads to the crater. This enables visitors to drive in car up the Santiago crater. The park includes in total two volcanoes, the Masaya Volcano and the Nindirí Volcano, and five craters. The Santiago crater was formed in 1852 and is the most active crater of the park.

Gas is continuously emitted by this crater, and the white plume can be seen from far. This process is called passive degassing, and it takes place in cycles at the Masaya Volcano. This last cycle started in 1993 and still continues. These gases have a significant impact on the surroundings. A constant wind carries the sulfur dioxide westward, where the prolonged exposure affects the environment. The gases are estimated to affect an area of around 1,250 km². Within this area plant life and human living conditions are affected. The affected area stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean and includes the municipality of El Crucero. When visiting the volcano, you can also smell the sulfur gases. Short term exposure to these gases does not pose a threat to visitors of the park. Surprisingly, a colony of green parakeets is living inside the crater, apparently unaffected by the toxic gases.

In addition to visiting this impressive crater you can find some other spectacular sightings at the park. You can hike up to another dormant crater which also provides a fantastic view of the Santiago crater and the area. There is also a trail that leads to a cave inhabited by bats. Other trails bring you to panoramic viewpoints. Hiking through the reserve will also allow you to observe the spectacular landscape created by past eruptions.

The Masaya Volcano is the most accessible volcano in Nicaragua, and even people physically limited can get up to the crater and enjoy this beautiful volcano. There is also a visitor center with a little museum, providing interesting information about the park. You can read more about visiting the Masaya Volcano in our Activity Guide.