Discover Catarina

Catarina is one of the most emblematic destinations on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos. To get your bearings, it is worth looking at the municipality’s different themes: historic buildings and memorial sites, local cuisine and crafts, and the landscape, viewpoint and Sendero los Mangos. This can help you decide whether culture, views or outdoor activity should be a priority for your trip when choosing a hotel.

Church, Monument and Festival

In the municipality of Catarina, the Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Catalina de Alejandría was built in the early 19th century; in 1954, it was declared a National Monument. Its construction and monument designation mark different historical milestones: the church’s origins and its later recognition as a monument. The Monumento a Benjamín Zeledón was erected in honor of the national hero. Together, the church and monument represent two distinct forms of remembrance: a historic religious building and a monument dedicated to a specific person. Festival culture also has its own distinctive touch: Catarina’s traditional Torovenado is a three-day folk festival full of humor and mischief.

Viewpoint, Landscape and Trail

From the Mirador de Catarina in the municipality of Catarina, you can see the crater of Laguna de Apoyo, Mombacho Volcano, the Isletas de Granada and Lake Nicaragua. At the viewpoint, visitors can go for walks and horseback rides, enjoy live music by trios and marimbas, and have picnics. This viewpoint thus combines scenic views with a range of different activities.

The Sendero los Mangos has a clearly defined trail profile: it is 860 meters long, has a moderate difficulty level and features two viewing platforms. The difference in choosing where to go lies in the focus: the Mirador combines views with the activities listed, while the Sendero is defined by its length, difficulty level and platforms. The municipality of Catarina also includes hillside areas of the Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, the Nandaime Basin and the Laguna de Masaya watershed.

Local Cuisine and Crafts

Catarina is known for its ornamental plant nurseries and multicolored crafts. Pebre is considered a typical dish of the municipality. Alongside the landscape and buildings, plants, handicrafts and a named regional dish are among the defining features of the area.

Masaya as a Wider Destination

The wider destination of Masaya adds other distinct natural and cultural themes. In Tisma, birdwatching is one of the main attractions, especially from September to November, when migratory birds join the resident tropical species. Masaya Volcano National Park offers guided tours about the local flora and fauna, as well as a visitor center or museum where visitors can learn more about Nicaragua’s active and dormant volcanoes. The Museo Etnográfico Nacudarí features a gallery of Nicaraguan paintings and offers tours about local history and ethnography. In Nindirí, also part of the wider Masaya destination, the Museo Arqueológico Tenderí displays pre-Columbian stone and clay sculptures, traditional dance masks, ancient weapons and photographs of petroglyphs. The wider destination thus brings together birdwatching, volcano studies and different forms of regional culture, while Catarina itself offers a different focus with its viewpoint, Torovenado and local crafts.

Discover more destinations: Nindirí, Masaya, La Laguna, El Socorro, La Concepción

Back to the wider travel overview: Masaya.