In this guide
The Masaya artisan market is a craft market inside the old market building, a block east of Masaya's central park, selling hammocks, pottery, wood and leather from across Nicaragua. Sources list it open daily from 8:00 or 9:00 to 17:00. Monkeys Travels & Tours runs a 3 to 4 hour market tour from US$30 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo.
This guide covers the building, the schedule and the contradictions in it, the Thursday night Verbena, what to buy and how to pay, and how to fit the market into a trip from the coast. If the market is one stop in a day with Granada and the volcano, read our guide to Granada and Masaya in one day.
Where the market is and why it looks like a fort
The craft market occupies Masaya's former market building, which locals still call the mercado viejo, the old market. You recognize it by its old restored walls; Wikivoyage describes it as the market that resembles a castle. Masaya itself is about 27 km south of Managua, and its city was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 1989.
The building's age depends on the source. Wikivoyage says it was built at the end of the 19th century, while Wikipedia calls it a structure from the 1900s. Both agree on what happened next: it was restored and turned into a tourist market and cultural center. Inside the same complex is the Museo del Folclore, which shows the traditional dress and ways of life of the area.
Masaya calls itself the cradle of Nicaraguan folklore, and the market is where that label is easiest to see, especially on Thursday nights.
Masaya artisan market hours: the sources disagree
| What | Hours reported | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Craft market | 8:00 to 17:00, every day | Visit Centroamérica, undated |
| Craft market | 9:00 to 17:00, daily | Wikivoyage, checked November 3, 2026 |
| Jueves de Verbena | Thursdays from 19:00 | Vianica, October 2013 |
| Jueves de Verbena | after 19:00, usually until around midnight | 7toucans, undated |
| Museo del Folclore | Monday to Friday 8:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00; Saturday 8:00 to 12:00 | Vianica, October 2013 |
We did not find a 2026 schedule published by the Masaya municipality, INTUR or the market itself. The practical window where both sources agree is 9:00 to 17:00. We confirm the day before every tour.
Jueves de Verbena: Thursday night at the old market
Every Thursday night the old market hosts the Verbena, a show of traditional Nicaraguan dances in costume and live music, attended by both locals and visitors. In October 2013 the Masaya mayor's office and INTUR relaunched it with a new stage and scenery, with a start time of 19:00. A later guide says it starts after 19:00 and usually ends around midnight.
Because the most specific information is from 2013, treat the Verbena as likely but not guaranteed on any given Thursday. If seeing it matters to you, mention it on WhatsApp when you book so we can plan the day around Thursday.
What to buy at the Masaya market
The stalls bring together crafts from Masaya and from other parts of the country. Typical finds:
- Hammocks, hand woven. Hammock shops also line the street between the city center and the malecón.
- Pottery, including the black pottery made in nearby villages such as San Juan de Oriente.
- Wood carvings, masks and paintings.
- Leather goods.
- Cotton clothing, blankets and Nicaraguan T-shirts.
- Toys, jewelry and household utensils.
If pottery is the reason you came, you can go to the source. Our guide to Laguna de Apoyo and the Pueblos Blancos covers San Juan de Oriente and the black pottery workshop.
How much things cost and how to bargain
Wikivoyage, checked on November 3, 2026, says a decent hammock can be had for under US$20. For other crafts we did not find current prices we could verify, and they vary with size and finish.
Bargaining is part of the tradition, and prices can come down further if you buy several pieces from the same seller. A few habits help:
- Walk the whole market first. Many stalls sell similar pieces; compare before you choose.
- Carry small bills. Córdobas and small US dollar bills make bargaining and change easier. Our guide to money in Nicaragua explains cash and ATMs.
- Ask about packing. Pottery and hammocks travel better if the seller wraps them.
Purchases are never included in any Monkeys tour.
The craft market or the municipal market?
Masaya has two markets, and they serve different purposes. The craft market is the old market in the center. The new market, on the west side of the city, sells fresh produce, bread and sweets, and most buses arrive at the station next to it. If you want souvenirs, go to the old market; if you want to see where people do their daily shopping, the new one is the place.
Visiting the market with Monkeys
| Tour | Duration | From (groups of 4 to 6) | Solo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masaya Artisan Market & Folklore | 3 to 4 hours | US$30 per person | US$55 | transport from Rivas or Granada, certified guide, market entrance, water |
| Masaya Volcano + Artisan Market | 6 hours | US$45 per person | US$80 | Santiago crater by day, then the market |
| Granada + Masaya Volcano | 9 hours | US$45 per person | US$80 | Granada, Isletas boat, market and crater, from Rivas or San Juan del Sur |
Market tour prices by group size: US$55 solo, US$42 for 2 to 3 people, US$30 for 4 to 6, US$26 for 7 to 10 and US$22 for 11 to 15. Not included: artisan purchases, lunch, tips and travel insurance. For 16 people or more we quote.
If you want to see the Thursday Verbena, mention it when you book; we confirm the plan and what the price includes in writing. For the bigger calendar of Masaya festivities, see our guide to festivals in Nicaragua by month.
What Monkeys does
Monkeys Travels & Tours is a private tour operator based in Rivas, founded in 2018 by Everth Palma, who was born and raised in Rivas.
- Every tour is private. Your group only, never combined with other travelers.
- We confirm the market hours the day before and adjust the order of stops if needed.
- Bilingual bilingual guides born in Rivas, in a private vehicle.
- WhatsApp at +505 8506 1173, every day from 7:00 to 20:00, with answers in under an hour. Send the date, the number of people and your hotel.
- Written confirmation of price and inclusions. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.
Questions we get every week
What are the Masaya artisan market hours?
Sources disagree. Visit Centroamérica lists 8:00 to 17:00 and Wikivoyage lists 9:00 to 17:00, both daily. We found no official 2026 schedule from the market or the municipality, so plan your visit between 9:00 and 17:00 and we confirm the day before.
What is the Jueves de Verbena in Masaya?
A weekly show of folkloric dance and music on Thursday nights inside the old market, which locals call the Centro Cultural Antiguo Mercado. A 2013 report gives 19:00 as the start time and another guide says it usually runs until around midnight. We found no 2026 confirmation of the schedule.
What can you buy at the Masaya market?
Hammocks, pottery including black pottery, wood carvings, leather goods, cotton clothing and T-shirts, toys, jewelry, paintings and masks, from Masaya and other parts of Nicaragua. Bargaining is customary, especially if you buy several pieces from the same seller.
How much is a hammock in Masaya?
Wikivoyage, checked on November 3, 2026, says a decent hammock can be had for under US$20, and that hammock shops line the street between the city center and the malecón. Prices depend on size, material and how well you bargain.
How do I visit the Masaya market from San Juan del Sur?
The Monkeys Granada + Masaya Volcano tour includes the market and runs 9 hours from Rivas or San Juan del Sur, from US$45 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$80 solo. The market-only tour lasts 3 to 4 hours from Rivas or Granada, from US$30 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo.
Sources
Every figure in this guide comes from one of these pages, checked on the date shown above.