“Living on the slopes of an active volcano keeps life interesting!”

The Masaya Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. Explore the volcano's smoking craters and learn about the traditions and lore surrounding the volcano.

Visit Masaya Volcano, the most active volcano in Nicaragua. 

Explore Catarina, a serene town of clay craft and plants. Observe the works made in ceramics, carpentry, hammocks, jewelry, and leather. 

Discover the smoking craters of the Masaya Volcano and visit the Park Museum.

The Spanish conquerors of Central America called it La Boca del Infierno (the Gates of Hell) and, after standing briefly above its gaseous portal, I can see why. Seven places in the world have acquired the name “the gates of Hell”. 

The Masaya Volcano National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Pacific region of Nicaragua. Located 20 kilometers south of the capital Managua, it is one of Nicaragua's most unusual and active volcanoes. It lies within the huge Pleistocene Las Sierras caldera and is itself a 6 x 11 km wide basalt caldera with steep walls up to 300 m high. It is one of the 7 active volcanoes in the country. Its crater "Santiago" has an altitude of 635 meters above sea level and continuously emits large amounts of sulfur dioxide gas; it also maintains an incandescence inside due to a persistent lava lake that the Spanish conquistador mistakenly took for gold. The Masaya volcano is shrouded in myths and tales of the devil, sacrifices, and a wicked witch. Today’s journey will take us there where we will discover one of the seven gates to hell. 

English-speaking tour guide

Entrance Fees

Bottled water

Walking shoes

Sun screen

$  40 per person