The department of Masaya is one of Nicaragua’s most charming regions. Traditionally, homes here were built with whitewashed walls and thatched roofs. Hence the nickname Los Pueblos Blancos, the white villages.From the vantage point of the village of Catarina, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Laguna de Apoyo, a freshwater lake in a volcano crater, before going for a swim.
The village of Catarina and her watchtower
As in the rest of the department, Catarina’s population originally comes from families descended from the Dirianes, andits customs and traditions are very important. The town celebrates two main saints: Santa Catalina, the town’s patron saint, on November 25, and San Silvestre on December 31, during which colorful and musical processions take place in the town’s main streets.Catarina is a neighboring village to Masaya (the town, not the volcano!), located on the highest hill neighbouring Apoyo. It’s famous for its unobstructed ridge overlooking the Laguna de Apoyo.
Its mirador offers a superb view of this ancient volcano crater filled with freshwater, as well as the Mombacho volcano, the roofs of Granada and Lake Nicaragua in the distance when the sky is clear.
On the way to the viewpoint, you’ll pass through the village and its many craft, antique, nursery and florist stores. Indeed, it’s in this quiet, cool, small town that you’ll find the largest number of nurseries in the country. What a pleasure to stroll around!
San Juan de Oriente
San Juan de Oriente lies to the south of Catarina, not far from the Las Fores roundabout on the Masaya road, 40 kilometers from Managua and only a stone’s throw from the Laguna de Apoyo nature reserve.San Juan de Oriente has a reputation in the region for its fine, brilliant potters. Also known as San Juan de los Platos, you’ll find artisan stores and workshops on every street in this village, producing beautiful pieces and objects, both decorative and utilitarian, in ceramics and other dried earth materials. Nicaraguan craftsmanship is refined and often colorful. Fans will find a few pieces to slip into their suitcases.
Itinerary in Nicargua to visit the Pueblos Blancos
Laguna de Apoyo
Close to the Pacific, in the middle of the chain of volcanoes that crosses the country from north to south, between the Mombacho volcano and the Masaya volcano, lies a large crater, an inverted cone filled with freshwater – the Laguna de Apoyo! The crater dates back over 20,000 years to an explosion that left behind a hole six kilometers in diameter. Groundwater and rain did the work, leaving the water in the lagoon. The water in the lagoon is clear, clean and deep enough to maintain a temperature of around 28ºC all year round.
The beauty of the site lies above all in its setting, a natural beauty, an incredible abundance of flora and fauna, a « wooded » ring that covers the crest of the old volcano transformed into a lake. The climate is special, wet and green!
The Apoyo forests are home to many species of plants and trees typical of the dry tropics, such as Pochote, Ñambar, Mahogany, Zapote and Guacuco, as well as a diversity of mammals (possums, anteaters, howler and white-faced monkeys), reptiles (iguanas, boas) and birds (peregrine falcons, migratory birds, oropendolas, butterflies).
The existing tourist infrastructure offers a variety of activities in or on the waters of the lagoon, but also in the wooded surroundings. For a day out, you can relax and swimon the hotels’ private sand and pebble beaches.
In the increasingly deep, clear waters, you can snorkel or dive. The underwater life here is not spectacular, but you can still see groups of small fish. If you prefer to stay on the surface, many hotels provide kayaks, stand-up paddleboards or pedalos. For nature lovers, you can go hiking in the Apoyo forests on the slopes of the crater, accompanied by a local guide, and observe the surrounding flora and fauna. The site was declared a Nature Reserve in 1991 and thus protected. The area is well preserved, with limited construction, access to the countryside and plenty of opportunities to jump into the water!
How to get to Laguna de Apoyo?
About 30 minutes by car from the city of Granada, you can easily reach Laguna de Apoyo nature reserve via one of the two main entrances, one on the Masaya-Granada road and the other on the Masaya-Catarina road.
Plan your next trip to Nicaragua!
Cultural journey in the heart of Nicaragua
Great Nicaragua Crossing
