Boiling Mud Pools of San Jacinto

Volcano Telica remains one of

the most popular attractions for visitors to

Nicaragua

, not just for its gigantic lava-filled crater, but also for its stunning views over the ocean and the neighboring volcanoes. But nearby, in the small town of San Jacinto, is a lesser-known volcanic artifact.

In this area geothermal activity causes small pools of super-heated mud to boil furiously. The local community has marked some paths with rocks and provided an information board, but otherwise, the area, known as Los Hervideros, is left completely natural.

As with many volcanic environments, the raw open wound caused by the mud pools is in stark contrast with the rich landscape. Here the setting is a lush, green, tropical dry forest.

The volcanic energy of Los Hervideros is so reliable and strong that one of Nicaragua’s two geothermal electric plants is found in the same town. The plant is not open to visitors, but the pipes carrying hot water can be see after a 5-minute walk through the woods.