Laguna de Apoyo

3 September 2009

By Jonathan Jackson. Photography by Ernesto Hellmund.

Nicaragua is often referred to as the land of lakes and volcanoes, so it is only fitting that one of the country’s most incredible natural wonders has been both. Laguna de Apoyo, located between Masaya and Granada, was formed over 20,000 years ago after Volcano Apoyo exploded leaving a huge crater that over time filled with water and became a lake. It is remarkable to behold, whether from the shore on the bottom looking up at its steep slopes covered in lush vegetation, or from the lookout point above the crater in the city of Catarina.

The main attraction of Apoyo of course is its clear, fresh water – widely regarded as the cleanest in Nicaragua – which can be just what you need on a hot, muggy Nicaragua afternoon. It’s usually pretty warm, but the farther you go out, the colder it gets as the depth increases exponentially with a lowest measured point of 200 meters. Several hotels, hostels and restaurants line the shorefront of the lagoon, each providing varying forms of beach access. They range in price from the high-end Norome Villas, to the cheaper local restaurants that offer traditional Nica food and an abundance of hammocks. If you have a little bit of a budget, it is well worth the $6 day pass to get access to the Monkey Hut hostel’s friendly shores and their assortment of innertubes and kayaks, plus a floating dock made for soaking up the sun.