Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve
Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve is a protected area in Nicaragua, located across Granada Department, Masaya Department, Catarina, and Diriá. Established in 1991 and operated by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, it covers an area of 42 square kilometers at an elevation of 70 meters. It ranks as the second most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The drier months from December to March experience lower rainfall, with precipitation between 4 mm and 19 mm and about 0 to 3 rainy days per month, alongside daily highs of 29 °C to 32 °C and lows of 22 °C. The months from May to October see heavier rainfall, reaching up to 275 mm in October across about 25 rainy days.
The reserve is located 37 km from the capital city of Managua. The nearest airport is Augusto C. Sandino (Managua) International Airport in Managua, situated 29 km away. Nearby sights include Masaya Volcano at 15.6 km, Immaculate Conception Cathedral at 34.8 km, National Palace of Culture at 37.1 km, Old Cathedral of Managua at 37.1 km, and the ancient footprints of Acahualinca at 39.2 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is April, with an average high of 33 °C. The wettest is October, with about 275 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 30 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Average low, °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| Rainfall, mm | 13 | 4 | 9 | 22 | 233 | 242 | 182 | 201 | 270 | 275 | 79 | 19 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 20 | 24 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 13 | 3 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
