Destination

Nicaragua Volcanoes

All of Central America is blessed with beautiful volcanic cones, mountains of testament to our earth's immense power and its living, breathing interior. Nicaragua's volcanic chain is one of the most impressive on the isthmus due to beauty of the cones and the fact that all of the more than 50 cones (7 active which are active) rise off of a flat coastal plain that lies just above sea level. This gives the Nicaraguan volcanoes a starkly dramatic profile and makes them accessible to climbers, hikers and walkers.

Cosiguina Volcano - is in the province of Chinandega and located at the very northwestern-most point of Nicaragua and its stunning volcanic range. At 800 meters above sea level, the 3-5 hike up to its crater lip provides an unforgettable view of the Golf of Fonseca and its islands, not to mention the pristine crater lake sleeping inside Cosiguina's steep interior walls. The forest reserve that wraps the cone is home to Scarlet Macaws and other species that are rare finds on Nicaragua's Pacific slope. The volcano can be accessed from the efficient business hotels of Chinandega located 3 hours northwest of Managua or from a rustic lodge on its flanks located 2 hours from Chinandega.

San Cristóbal Volcano - is an active volcano located in the province of Chinandega and Nicaragua's highest at 1,745 meters above sea level. San Cristóbal is located outside the city of Chinandega and has been in constant eruption since 2001. One of the most symmetrical and handsome of the Maribios Volcano Range, San Cristóbal is a difficult climb that should be reserved for hikers in very good condition, though 4x4 access to the adjacent Casitas Volcano means that lesser athletes can also reach the summit. It is best accessed from the city of Chinandega.

Telica Volcano - is in the province of León and located in the north-central part of the Maribios Volcano Range. At 1,061 meters above sea level Telica Volcano is easily recognizable for its bald eroding west face and lightly smoking crater. Telica is active with its last significant eruption occurring in 1999. There is a long but rewarding hike around its east face to the summit that affords a breathtaking view of the vertical interior walls of its crater. The hike can take 3-5 hours if retuning to the place of departure or can continue to the village of San Jacinto next to the Santa Clara Volcano. The complete hike takes 6-8 hours and involves separate three ascents. Access is from the fine hotels of León 30 minutes away or a simple home lodge in the village of San Jacinto.

Cerro Negro Volcano - is in the province of León and located in the middle of the impressive Maribios Volcano Range. At just 450 meters, little and very active Cerro Negro deceives those who underestimate it ferocity. One of the newest volcanoes to burst forth in the Americas, Cerro Negro is a huge pile of black sand and gravel, wrapped in dried lava and rocks that it spit out of its center in 11 harsh eruptions in the 20th century. The last of which in 1999 opened up 3 baby craters at its base. The climb of Cerro Negro is on its north face and can be done in one hour. The descent of Cerro Negro can be done by a form of foot-sliding and dancing down its sandy and steep west face. The cone can be accessed via the good hotel selection of León reached by a 50 minute driver on a long earthen country road.

Momotombo Volcano - is in the province of León and located at the southern tip of the Maribios Volcano Range. At 1,300 meters above sea level it is one of Nicaragua's most beautiful volcanoes with a symmetrical cone that towers over the shores of Lake Managua. The volcano has been an inspiration to both national and international poets over the centuries and sports a geothermal plant at its base. The climb is a long one, normally taking two days with camping just below the end of the tree line. The smoking cone is active, but it has not seen a big lava flow since 1905. Access to the base of the volcano is from either León or Managua, both with fine hotel options 1½ hours away.

Masaya Volcano - is in the province of Masaya and could be the most accessible active volcano in the world. A paved road runs to the summit of the smoking Santiago crater, just 29 km from the center of new Managua. The park's maximum elevation is 635 meters above sea level measured from the extinct cone of San Fernando where views of the lake valley are priceless. The ancient caldera houses more than 7 volcanic cones and a crater lake, all of which are protected by the Masaya Volcano National Park. The park's landscape is a Martian or moonscape and its most famous residents are the crater dwelling parakeets which live in the toxic inner walls of the active Santiago crater. Santiago's last eruption was in April of 2001.

Apoyo Volcano - shared by the provinces of Masaya and Granada. This dormant cone last erupted about 20,000 years ago and has been filling with clear, Mediterranean blue water ever since. Laguna de Apoyo or Apoyo Crater Lake is the biggest of Nicaragua's spectacular 14 lake filled craters and has good lodging along its shores, as well as access from good hotels in Managua (1 hour) and Granada (30 minutes). The interior of the crater is a nature reserve and home to more than 145 species of birds, howler and white face monkeys and rare species of fish.

Concepción Volcano - is in the province of Rivas and located in the western part of massive Lake Nicaragua on the Island of Ometepe. At 1,610 meters above sea level Concepción Volcano is Nicaragua's second highest volcano and many believe the most beautiful in Nicaragua. The volcano slopes are a nature reserve, home to deer and monkeys, as well as numerous legends. Concepción last big lava flow was in 1957, but ash and smoke eruptions occurred as recently as 1999. The volcano is a one day climb of 7-9 hours and for the very athletic, but its forested slopes can be enjoyed with a complete ascent. Rustic, but good lodging is available on Playa Santo Domingo which affords easy access to the east face of the mountain after a 30 minute ride in 4x4.

Maderas Volcano - is in the province of Rivas and located on the Island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. At 1,394 meters above sea level, Maderas is usually draped in mist, the vital liquid of its rich cloud forest reserve. Maderas Volcano is the sleepy twin of Concepción and home to a much more diverse and less disturbed flora and fauna that includes healthy populations of howler monkeys and Amazon parrots. There are two popular hikes on the mountain, the first a fairly easy walk up the west side of the volcano through farm land and then cloud forest ending at a spectacular mountain cascade of more than 40 meters. Average hiking time varies from 1-3 hours up and 1-2 hours down depending on starting point. The second option is a summit hike that is muddy and trying, but less physical than the ascent of Concepción. Normal climbing time is 3-5 hours with a 2-4 hour descent. At the summit is a misty, ice cold crater lake. This seemingly extinct crater can be accessed by the same rustic but charming lodging on Playa Santo Domingo located 1 hour from the cascade trail head and 30 minutes from the summit hike trail.