Mombacho and Masaya Volcanoes
As the day started to break gently, and the first sunrays decorated the serene waters of San Juan del Sur Bay, the call for breakfast was well received by everyone while we got prepared for another wonderful exploration day in Nicaragua
Today, our way took us to discover the magical experience of climbing Mombacho Volcano, over 3500 feet above sea level. Thanks to the fine efforts of the Nicaraguan non-governmental organization (NGO) Fundación Cocibolca, Mombacho Volcano is now being managed as a natural reserve.
In order to reach the top of the volcano, our adventurous group had to leave the comfort of the tour buses to transfer into more sophisticated Mercedes Benz trucks, as a courtesy of the Nicaraguan military! The steep access route was very pleasant since we could admire the changes in vegetation, different crops along the way such as coffee and plantains, as well as the breathtaking views of Granada, and the lake down below. We ought to mention the relieving drop in the surrounding temperature, considered a real treat by the members of our expedition.
Upon arrival, our group decided to cover the one-kilometer, loop trail around the circumference of one of Mombacho’s four craters. As we walked, we encountered moss-covered trees, ferns, heliconias and an enchanting cloud forest canopy. The great trail led us to a fumaroles area as a reminder of the ancient volcanic activity that supposedly created the now famous “Isletas de Granada” thousands of years ago.
As a special gift from nature, we saw a number of incredibly beautiful hummingbirds that glittered in the sunny sky as they visited flowers around the craters. This represents only a small sample of the more than 100 species of birds found in the reserve. Moreover, as we observe in the picture displayed, we had the unique opportunity to find amazingly beautiful orchids growing wild in this natural ambience of clouds and fumaroles.
After a delicious typical Nicaraguan lunch served in a nearby restaurant, we continued our exploration towards Masaya Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the region. The Spanish first described the volcano in 1524 and since then, Masaya has erupted at least 19 times. From 1965 to 1979, Masaya contained an active lava lake. The most recent eruption was in 1993. Masaya is an unusual basaltic or “Hawaiian” volcano, because it had explosive eruptions characteristic of strato or composite volcanoes. At this moment, Masaya volcano consists of a gigantic caldera (four by seven miles, six by 11.5 km) that contains 13 vents. Most activity at these vents consisted of effusion of basaltic lava. Unlike the strato volcanoes that characterize subduction zones, Masaya has a shield-like morphology. Our visit to the Masaya National Park was then followed by the “obligatory” shopping stop at the “ Mercado de Masaya,” where a wonderful display of handicrafts captivated us and, as we say, we all decided to help the economy of Nicaragua! The last sunset colors accompanied the Zodiacs through the welcoming waters of San Juan del Sur while this marvelous day came to an end.
As the day started to break gently, and the first sunrays decorated the serene waters of San Juan del Sur Bay, the call for breakfast was well received by everyone while we got prepared for another wonderful exploration day in Nicaragua
Today, our way took us to discover the magical experience of climbing Mombacho Volcano, over 3500 feet above sea level. Thanks to the fine efforts of the Nicaraguan non-governmental organization (NGO) Fundación Cocibolca, Mombacho Volcano is now being managed as a natural reserve.
In order to reach the top of the volcano, our adventurous group had to leave the comfort of the tour buses to transfer into more sophisticated Mercedes Benz trucks, as a courtesy of the Nicaraguan military! The steep access route was very pleasant since we could admire the changes in vegetation, different crops along the way such as coffee and plantains, as well as the breathtaking views of Granada, and the lake down below. We ought to mention the relieving drop in the surrounding temperature, considered a real treat by the members of our expedition.
Upon arrival, our group decided to cover the one-kilometer, loop trail around the circumference of one of Mombacho’s four craters. As we walked, we encountered moss-covered trees, ferns, heliconias and an enchanting cloud forest canopy. The great trail led us to a fumaroles area as a reminder of the ancient volcanic activity that supposedly created the now famous “Isletas de Granada” thousands of years ago.
As a special gift from nature, we saw a number of incredibly beautiful hummingbirds that glittered in the sunny sky as they visited flowers around the craters. This represents only a small sample of the more than 100 species of birds found in the reserve. Moreover, as we observe in the picture displayed, we had the unique opportunity to find amazingly beautiful orchids growing wild in this natural ambience of clouds and fumaroles.
After a delicious typical Nicaraguan lunch served in a nearby restaurant, we continued our exploration towards Masaya Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the region. The Spanish first described the volcano in 1524 and since then, Masaya has erupted at least 19 times. From 1965 to 1979, Masaya contained an active lava lake. The most recent eruption was in 1993. Masaya is an unusual basaltic or “Hawaiian” volcano, because it had explosive eruptions characteristic of strato or composite volcanoes. At this moment, Masaya volcano consists of a gigantic caldera (four by seven miles, six by 11.5 km) that contains 13 vents. Most activity at these vents consisted of effusion of basaltic lava. Unlike the strato volcanoes that characterize subduction zones, Masaya has a shield-like morphology. Our visit to the Masaya National Park was then followed by the “obligatory” shopping stop at the “ Mercado de Masaya,” where a wonderful display of handicrafts captivated us and, as we say, we all decided to help the economy of Nicaragua! The last sunset colors accompanied the Zodiacs through the welcoming waters of San Juan del Sur while this marvelous day came to an end.
