Volcán Mombacho

Volcán Mombacho is a mostly dormant volcano that overlooks Granada, Nicaragua and Laguna de Apoyo. It is a natural reserve and a rare example of a tropical cloudforest.

It has some well-maintained trails around the volcano craters at the top. One loop is open to anyone who enters the reserve; two others are more difficult and require a guide. The longer of these is the "puma trail" which has a lot of steep climbs and descents that can be treacherous on wet days if you don't have good shoes and a steady step.

You can see the Laguna de Apoyo, Granada, and Granada's isletas from various vistas. You may see howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, ocelots, salamanders, and other curious fauna, but the vegetation takes center stage.

Along the puma trail is a dead-forest section. About a decade ago, one crater began smoldering and a sulphuric miasma killed off everything nearby. Now it looks desolate and smells like fireworks. It can sting your eyes and might be aggravating to people with sensitive lungs.

The road up to the trailhead looks innocent enough on a map but averages a 17% grade. It's brutal. The "very hard" sections of the puma trail are a cakewalk in comparison. You can get a ride up from a tour company for ~$25 US which includes the ~$10 US entry fee to the reserve.