Catarina is one of Nicaragua’s White Towns, a series of small villages surrounding the city of Masaya. From Catarina Viewpoint (Mirador de Catarina), the highest point in Catarina, you can see Lake Apoyo (Laguna de Apoyo), Lake Nicaragua, and Mombacho Volcano. Plenty of shops and restaurants make for an enjoyable day trip, though you don’t need to block off a full day’s schedule. Many tours focusing on Lake Apoyo, the White Towns, and the greater Masaya area include Catarina as a stop.
Search the gardens for the sacuanjoche, Nicaragua’s national flower that blooms in late spring.
Bring your swimsuit and take a quick ride to Lake Apoyo’s beach.
Grab a cup of coffee from Café San Isidro to see how coffee is made using 1930s machinery.
Catarina is 9 miles (15 kilometers) from both Granada and Masaya. If you have a rental car, it’s an easy drive from both cities via Highways 4 and 11B. However, you don’t necessarily need your own set of wheels to get around. Private taxis, shared shuttles, and public buses run from Managua, Masaya, Granda, and other towns to Catarina.
Come to Catarina on the weekends and you won’t be alone. Plenty of locals and tourists come for flower shopping and to stroll the handicrafts at the Villa de las Artesanías. The dry season (which runs from November to April) is a great time to visit, especially in November and December, to enjoy street fairs and the festival of Santa Catalina. Don’t let the wet season (May through October) deter your visit; that’s when the local flora and fauna are at their peak colors.
Near the city’s eastern edge is the Los Mangos trail, which leads to Catarina Viewpoint. Popular with locals and visitors, the sandy trail offers glimpses of howler monkeys eating mangoes in the trees. It’s a short, circular path with a hanging bridge and views of Lake Apoyo.