Today a trip a little bit further - Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya. I went to the volcano which can be seen from the malecon along the Laguna de Masaya. It's about 7 km from the city. I took a collectivo, which is a mini van. Sort of like a large shared taxi which picks up and drops people off whenever they want. They dropped me off at the entrance to the park.
 
The entrance fee is 100 Cordobas, plus 50 for the transport to the volcano. The volcano is about 5 km from the entrance and I had a plan to hike there, but they don't allow it now. So, for 50 Cordobas they provide a ride to the top in an old beaten up pick up truck.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The arrival is at the edge of the volcano, at 600+ meters above the sea level..

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → It's possible to come up right to the edge of the volcano. The smell is quite strong though, and it's not very comfortable to stay there for too long.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → It's practically not possible to see what is going on down there. Perhaps during a lower activity period, but when I was there, it was all just a white milky space. Incredibly, I have seen voltures flying quite low inside the crater, to the point where they disappear from the view. I have no idea how they can survive it and not drop dead. The smell of sulfur and other gases is so strong, that I felt a bit sick after hanging around just for a few minutes..

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → Panoramic view of the volcano Nindiri, the active volcano at the Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → There is a path around the top edge of the crater, which leads to the back of it. This area is not fenced, so practically someone could just walk straight to the very edge of it. The landscape is like from another planet. Just rocks, lava, and vapors.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The volcanic gases are so strong, that I felt really weird and sick. I had to leave soon.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → There is a number of hiking trails around the area. I took one which goes up and between this, and another, not active, volcano. It's easier to see now the real shape of the crater, and the tourist area.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The view from there. The area is basically flat, and covered with old lava overgrown by grass.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → There is a number of hiking trails around the area. I took one which goes up and between this, and another, not active, volcano. It's easier to see now the real shape of the crater, and the tourist area.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → This is the far left edge of the crater.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The middle of the crater.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The path leads to another volcano. This one has been dormant aparently for about 300 years. It makes me wonder how the bottom of the crater looks, what type of animals live there. I would imagine there must be some colorful birds, as this seems to be a prefect senctuary. There is no way to go down there, unless on your own. I am not going to risk it.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The far edge of the crater.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → Parts of the walls of the crater are callapsing.

Photo:  Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya, Nicaragua → The walk between the two volcanos.

There are three volcanos in the Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya. Two not active, and one active. Volcan Nindri is on of the most active volcanos in Nicaragua.

More - Continued here.