If you are planning on getting the full Nicaraguan experience, then you are not going to want to miss out on seeing beautiful, quaint, Masaya.
Many travelers tend to overlook the quiet area of Masaya, and quickly discount it in their travels around Nicaragua, simply because it isn’t listed in a lot of guide books as being “The Place” to go.
Masaya has a lot to offer all kinds of tourists. For those of you who wish to learn about Nicaraguan culture, Masaya is a great place to do just that. For those of you looking for a little bit of excitement, you can hike in and around the very active Masaya volcanoes. And for those who are looking for a relaxing getaway, without a lot of overcrowded places, Masaya has some quaint little hotels and B and B’s for you to choose from while you are staying there.
Of course, in order to enjoy all that magnificent Masaya has to offer, you first need to get yourself there.
If you have arrived in Nicaragua by plane, then you will first need to make your way to the capital city of Managua, in order to continue on your journey to Masaya. Of course, if you have the pocket money, and really do not enjoy buses, you can always rent a car, or simply hire a taxi to take you there. If you are renting a car, then you need to get onto the highway to Managua, and follow the road signs. It isn’t terribly difficult to make your way to the center of Managua, as all roads lead there, and inevitably, you will find yourself on “Carretera Masaya” simply follow it all the way to Masaya. That’s it, no tricks, no twists or turns, just straight on till morning!
Now, for those of you who are going to be bussing it…
You can make your way to Masaya by taking a bus from the capital city of Managua. You have a couple of choices when you are going to choose your bus to head to Masaya.
You can choose the “Fast” buses, these are the buses located in front of the UCA university and MetroCentro mall; or you can choose the slower, more economical, and much more crowded normal inner city buses you can get at the Huembes Market.
If you take the fast buses, it will cost you 56 cordobas – roughly $2 USD – and the trip will last you about 30 minutes, normally faster as they drive really fast.
If you take the slower, more economical buses, you will be paying out a mere 15 cordobas – roughly $0.50 USD – but be prepared to take the real scenic route, and share your seat with a chicken or two. It is really only recommended to take the slower buses if you aren’t in a hurry, are a real people person, and don’t mind animals stepping on your bags.