Catarina

Catarina is a town close to Masaya, 35 kms from Managua; overlooking the Apoyo Lagoon. Catarina is famous for this magnificent observation point of the lagoon, as well as for its nurseries full of beautiful tropical flowers and trees.

The viewpoint of Catarina is superb. You can see the whole lagoon as well as Lake Nicaragua behind it. Prominently present is the Mombacho Volcano which borders Lake Nicaragua.

During weekends the viewpoint is a popular place among Nicaraguans, where families and friends gather to enjoy the view. Grab a bite in one of the restaurants, or have a look through the telescopes. These visitors attract salesmen and singers who wander around trying to sell their products or songs. The atmosphere though, still is quite relaxing during weekend. If you really prefer to be here when there are only few people around you can simply go there during weekdays.

There are also some souvenir shops around the viewpoint where you can buy some locally produced handcrafts.

There is a small entrance fee to the sight.

Tiscapa Canopy Tour and Tiscapa Historical National Park

The Canopy Tour above the Tiscapa Lagoon is an exciting activity in a unique setting, situated in the heart of Managua. Tiscapa Canopy Tours is located in the Tiscapa National Historical Park, on top of a hill overlooking the lagoon. From there you can start you canopy tour.

The canopy sport originally consisted of gliding on a steel cable from one platform to another, high up in the trees of a forest. The Tiscapa Canopy Tour is unique (in whole Central America!) in the fact that it is a canopy tour complete above a lagoon. Strapped into a harness you will be attached to the cables, and you will be able to glide at a height of 70 meters above the lagoon, from the hilltop down to the shore.

In addition to the canopy tour, the Tiscapa Historical National Park has more to offer. The site has an interesting history. The lagoon itself has a surface of almost 15 hectares and was formed about 10,000 years ago as a crater lake of a currently extinct volcano. Before the Spanish conquest there were several legends among the indigenous people inspired by the lagoon. Pre-Columbian remains have also been found around the lake.

More recently, the hilltop housed the presidential palace of the Somoza family for more than four decades, including prisons rooms for the political prisoners of the time.

Nowadays, the park is maintained by the city of Managua and protected as a historical and cultural monument. You can walk around on the hilltop and see the ruins of the palace. There are also some historical objects to see (a tank sent by Benito Mussolini to Anastasio Somoza). Furthermore, you can get a superb view of Managua. The stadium, the lake, the cathedral, and other significant buildings are easily visible as well as the landscape that surrounds Managua. Even if you don’t plan to do the canopy the Tiscapa Historical National Park is definitely worth a visit!

Managua's historical center

Almost half a century ago an earthquake destroyed the capital city's former downtown with it`s houses made of adobe and old structures. Building codes were revised and enforced, and a new, safe Managua began to emerge. New Shopping centers and office buildings, hotels and entertainment places were built nearby existing residential areas.

We were lucky to keep some beatiful architectural jewels in the old Managua such as the Cathedral de Santiago. Meanwhile it's restoration continues, we can walk around and still appreciate its internal and external beauty.

Next to the old cathedral you will find a modern, sparkling building. This is the new presidential house. Opposite to the presidential house lays an even more impressing building: the National Palace, functioning nowadays partially as a museum.

Masaya Volcano National Park

It is located between Managua and Masaya. You may visit the Santiago Crater, about 570 meters in diameter. From the top you can observe a impressive lava park with beautiful desert flowers during blooming times. A variety of green parrots and parakeets live in the crater, and have adapted to the sulfurous gases emanated by the crater.

Besides visiting the museum, you can also hire a guide. Take nature walks and visit its caves.

El Chocoyero - El Brujo Natural Reserve

It has an extension of 184 hectares and it is located in the Managua Sierras, between Ticuantepe and La Concepción Municipalities, only 28 kms from Managua.

El Chocoyero houses a diversity of flora and fauna, being parakeets its main attraction, as well as white-faced and hollering monkeys, birds, reptiles and others. The area has camping facilities and there are night tours available.

The crafts market in Masaya

Is a nice place to get your Nicaraguan souvenirs. A friendly setting and lots of small stands with souvenirs that are not very different but that do offer enough variety to find something for everybody back home.

It's best to first take a look around and get informed before buying something. Being well-informed will also strengthen your bargaining position. Although the products are friendly priced it is surely possible to get some discount if you buy more than one item from the same vendor.

You can grab a bite in the small dining corner inside the market or step outside for some more options. There is even a DHL office inside the market to send your souvenirs home right away.

Among the products sold are wooden dishes, tiny rum bottles (Flor de Caña), Nicaraguan t-shirts, leather products, local paintings, and more artisans.

The market is open every day from 9 AM until 6 PM. Every Thursday-night, the Jueves de Verbena (dancing or poetry festival) is celebrated in the market.