As of Jun 19, 2026, 8:54 PM, in season now. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Masaya (Santiago crater) holds one of only a handful of persistently active lava lakes on Earth, and it is the single most accessible one anywhere — a paved road climbs to a parking plaza at the crater rim, so visitors can walk a few steps and look straight down into the molten vent.
The current eruption has continued since 2015.
After a 2024 rockfall buried the lake and dimmed the glow, lava became visible again through late 2025 into 2026 and evening 'turismo nocturno' tours resumed, when the orange incandescence of the vent is most vivid against the dark.
Sulphur-dioxide gas and activity levels fluctuate, so the park rotates rim access and time limits; check INETER bulletins and the park before going.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Santiago Crater Rim Overlook (Plaza de Oviedo) |
| Masaya Volcano National Park Visitor Center (Centro de Interpretación) |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.