Masaya is located here, on this roughly estimated map. In the general area of Granada and Laguna de Apoyo. As I mentioned, the market is basically the sole reason for stopping in Masaya. But, for a first-time visitor who has no idea about the place, can be deceived.
I found these pictures on the internet of Masaya's tourist market.
Clean and very appealing to find all the authentic Nicaraguan souvenirs you might want. Very lovely, surrounded by castle walls, this market brings in the tourists. But, after seeing the REAL market, I would definitely call this deception, "The rich man's market."
Allow me to show you a couple pictures I've taken of the real reason to come to Masaya.
Like night and day. This market is a maze of small, sketchy pathways through an endless sea of stalls and vendors. These two pictures are only a small sample of just the beginning of the outskirts. This place sells all the same products as the tourist market for half the price and basically has everything you can imagine. One shop could be selling clothes, while the one next to it could be a barber shop, cutting people's hair. Like I said, it's sketchy... not so much in the way you're gonna get mugged... but there are many unsanitary features of this market, including the food section, which features people cutting up meat under a sizzling tin roof, during the baking mid-day sun. Walking through that section is suffocating and not fun... but it's all part of the adventure.
Two reasons I'm posting a comment is that I haven't seen anyone ever post a comment here so I felt fitting to post one. And two, walking through the meat section was def horrible. You seriously couldn't breathe.
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