Masaya and the Volcano

Masaya, located about 40 min from Granada, is known for its markets. Its also known for its active volcano, Volcan Masaya. In the same day we made two separate trips to Masaya to see both of its attractions.

We started in the morning by catching the same bus we took on our last adventure, we even got the same bus driver. After some confusion in Masaya (and a popsicle to cool down) we found the second of the two markets in town, which is nicer, cleaner and made for tourists. The market was nice and quiet, but a little too expensive for those of us on a budget. We admired the beautiful hammocks (something which Nicaragua is known for) and oil paintings of Nicaragua, which we decided that we'd have to purchase closer to the end of our trip.I bought a new purse (ok, large bag) and we sat down for what might have been the longest lunch I've ever experienced.

After lunch we headed back to the less touristy market to make a few small purchases (from the stall below) and then hoped on the return bus to Granada.

Back at our hotel we had time for a quick shower before heading off to see Volcan Masaya, at night! We'd booked the tour the day before with Tierra Tour and were joined by two other Canadians and a couple from Seattle. Our evening tour would include viewing the crater before the sun went down, a trip into a lava tube and a chance to view the lava at night. Our air conditioned mini-bus took off only slightly later than promised and we once again drove the highway towards Masaya.

The volcano, which is the most active in the region, is easily assessable by car. You can drive up through an old lava field, walk 50 m to the low wall and stare into the crater. For your safety, a sign explains, you should only spend 20 minutes in the crater area. The crater billows gases and steam, which apparently protects a colony of green parrots, who nest inside the crater. Although dusk is supposed to be the best time of the day to see them, only a dozen or so were spotted.

On the night tour, our guide explained, we would get the chance to visit parts of the park not usually assessable to day tours. This included a trip up a set of stairs (under construction) to see the cross planted by a Spanish priest, who thought this was the gate to hell. The view from the top was nice, and you could see across the fields of old lava to the edge of the original crater.

We did a few more hikes, to see an extinct crater and a view of the lake (only using paths marked with "do not enter" signs) before driving to the trail that would lead to the lava tunnels. Always safety conscious, we donned hard hats (with chin straps) and were issued flashlights. Then we followed our guide down the path to the entrace.

The lava tunnel was large and dark and home to hundreds of bats, all who weren't too thrilled with our entrance into their home. We followed the tunnel 150 m into the ground, listening to the sounds of bats and trying to catch them in our flashlight beams.

Andrew got nicked by a bat, creating the joke (funny at the same): "What sound does a bat hitting Andrew make?" Answer: *sound of Andrew screaming like a girl*. (ok, so Andrew didn't really scream like a girl, but its funnier that way).

We exited the lava tunnel, returned our hard hats and flashlights and got back in our van for our last stop of the night. We were issued gas masks, which our guide assured us were really not needed tonight. Then, by the light of his flashlight, he lead us through the dark to the edge of the crater, and, warning us not to get to close, let us all lean over the edge and view the glowing lava below.

After getting our fill of the glowing lave we again got into the airconditioned van and drove back to Granada.