While on a day trip in Nicaragua, my husband and I got to see and do many really awesome things. We climbed to the bell tower of an old Cathedral. We navigated an artisanal market. We took a boat onto Lake Nicaragua and fed some monkeys.
But one SUPER cool thing we did was visit Masaya Volcano National Park, where we actually peered into the mouth of an active volcano.
While the volcano hasn’t erupted enough to create lava flow since 1772, there has still been some noteworthy activity in recent years. Most recently, in 2008 when the volcano erupted ash and steam.
I imagined that the volcanic activity was being monitored by some geologist-sciencey-volcano guy and that we probably wouldn’t be allowed into the park if there was some cause for concern. I mean. If the thing spewed ash less than 10 years ago, it could spew again. Right?
[Side note: turns out three months later, the volcano started showing increased activity, canceling many tours to the area. There is now visible lava within the caldera. My worries were completely legit.]
I let my bit of worry get lost in the back of my mind as I peered out the window. We passed huge chunks of rock that was once hot, flowing lava. All the way up to the mouth of the Volcano, these volcanic rocks mixed with the vegetation, creating a sea of green and black.
As we reached the top, we could see thick steam rising from the crater. Peering over the rock, all you could see was a giant hole in the earth, and so. much. steam.
If you stared into the hole long enough, you could make out a smaller hole inside, which served at the source of the volcanic smoke.
It’s around this time that you start to feel it. You can literally feel the sulfuric steam crawl into your nostrils, slide down the back of your throat, and make itself cozy in your lungs.
It’s around this time that the coughing starts.
I stared into the volcano as long as I could, but my throat was getting more and more irritated. I excused myself from the viewing platform to see what else was around.
On the mouth of the volcano, I noticed a pathway to a large cross. We were told by our guides that we could not take the path, as the steam was too thick and they didn’t want anyone getting sick.
I resorted to asking the story behind the cross.
As the story goes: Once upon a time the native tribes would perform human sacrifices, sending people into the mouth of the volcano, to appease the angry gods inside. Well, when the Spanish came over to conquer the land, they were not all about the human sacrifices and thus planted a cross to 1) remind the natives not to throw people into the volcano and 2) to commemorate those who were sacrificed within.
From there, we turned our attention out, away from the volcano. From the top you could look down and follow the trail of the volcanic rock running down the sides. Not only that, but there were some pretty sweet views of Nicaragua. I was surprised at how far into the distance you could see.
After about a half an hour at the volcano, we were all trying to manage our coughs as well as the intense Central American heat. We were happy to have air conditioning and fresh air inside our van. We made our way back down the volcano, still in disbelief of what we had just experienced.
Do it Yourself
We visited Masaya Volcano as part of a day tour with Mardigi Tours. You can sign up for a tour leaving Guanacaste, Costa Rica here.
You can also visit the park independently.
Note: With recent volcanic activity, this volcano may not be accessible to tourists right now
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19 Comments
[…] We parked at the top, just feet away from the mouth of the volcano. We were informed we would only be here a short time, due to the fumes. At first I didn’t think it was all that bad. But as soon as I peered into the caldera and allowed the steaming sulfur to ride down my throat and into my lungs, I understood. I stayed long enough to take some photos and marvel in the fact that I was on a real live volcano. (Read more about it here!) […]
This is so cool! When did you go? When I was in Nicaragua last year I can’t remember any tours going here – might have been after it became a bit more dangerous. It looks like an amazing one!
Thanks, Claire! I was there in mid-October 2015. So, fairly recently. It was my first experience with volcanoes, so I was super pumped about it! Now I’m looking forward to all those volcanoes in Guatemala 😉
I loved visiting Masaya when I went to Nicaragua last year. Definitely one of the tiny country’s many amazing highlights. The views from the top of the volcano are absolutely breathtaking!
When you visited, were you able to go all the way to the cross? They had blocked it off when I was there due to the harmful gasses.
The park allowed hiking to the cross while we were there, but our tour guides said the gas was too strong and didn’t want any of us to get sick.
What a great story – I have always wanted to visit a volcano, and not one that has been dormant for hundreds of years but a “live” (ish!) one. It’s interesting the effect the sulfuric steam had on your nose and throat – sounds like quite a strange sensation! Love this insight, thank you.
Angie- when you were in Nepal, did you feel the polluted air in the back of your throat? That’s the only other time I’ve have a similar feeling…
Well I’ve certainly been to dormant volcanoes but never been near to an active one, let alone got to peer inside its interior! It sounds like a unique experience, if a somewhat discomfiting one…
Cool story about the cross too. The Spanish sure do know all about planting crosses as a symbol of their subjugation of the natives – I recently saw Magellan’s Cross in the Philippines, and it was basically the same thing!
A great post, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks for reading, Joe! It’s a bit of a rush to stand at the mouth of a volcano and know it could totally explode then and there
What an interesting experience. Kind of reminds me of visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I’ve never seen a cross near a volcano. Love the story behind it. I always think of the movie Dante’s Peak with Pierce Brosnan when I read about volcanoes. 🙂
Haven’t made it to Hawaii yet, but I hear the volcanoes there are a sight to see!
This is awesome! Reminds me of Kona, Hawaii – similar climate and also has an active volcano. We actually took another private tour to hike out to play with the magma flowing out the side of the mountain. It was a TRIP in every sense of the word 🙂
Oh gosh! It must have been quite the experience to see actual magma! I guess I’ve got some more volcanic exploration to do 😉
Human sacrifices? Creepy! Sounds like your trip up to the volcano was worth the trip. And so crazy that it started ashing just a few months after your visit! I always thought someone was monitoring volcanoes too. When I was in Iceland, the people kept talking about how they were expecting activity from one of their volcanoes any day!
An Icelandic volcano would be cool too see! Good ole Fire & Ice!
Really interesting place to visit! Nice post 🙂
You’d find the volcano changed somewhat today. In January 2016 a volcanic lava lake formed after a period of intense activity, and now the park is one of the most frequented sites in the Granada department. Tours are offered for day visits, or night visits. It’s a definite must see stop, one of only eight lava lakes in the world, and likely the most accessible, with vehicles reaching the crater’s rim.
No way!! I guess I have to go back. That sounds awesome.
Keep an eye out for a National Geographic special on the recent activity. They were here for weeks filming. This film was before the lava lake but, you’ll love it none the less http://www.pbs.org/video/2326545275/ cheers. Drop us a line if you do plan to return. buen viajes siempre!