Masaya Crafts Market
Masaya Crafts Market
4
About
Nicaragua Market is a small company that offers authentic Nicaraguan goods. We work closely to local artisans and the price you see is a reflection of our fair value after partnering with our artists. When you purchase Nicaragua Market products you are helping to ensure that the trade of local Nicaraguan artistry remains a viable small business.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
335 reviews
Excellent
102
Very good
117
Average
75
Poor
26
Terrible
15
Nelson G
Ohio26 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
Possibly not the cheapest place but definitely the best place for the variety. Enjoy a bit of culture in a clean well maintained market. Great place to buy local hand made souvenirs, hammocks and many more useful items and food.
Written 16 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PilikaiHawaii
49 contributions
May 2015 • Family
Again fue The invasion of americans And canadiana that are lazy enough to travel to a different country not speaking Spanish, the prices here are non sense ... But as they look for the unreal world , a matrix that doesn't exist, you have security, lots of shops with high prices , expensive foods etc. The real market, called Ernesto Fernandez is just 4 blocks away. But , it is the true world... Not covered with sugar for gringos ... The price is right , food is still wonderfully tasty and cheap, real people walking and shopping etc
Example .: a family hammock costs 1200 to 2000 in here and in Ernesto easily found for 800 cordobas ...
Example .: a family hammock costs 1200 to 2000 in here and in Ernesto easily found for 800 cordobas ...
Written 3 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katy c
Seattle, WA68 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
We stopped at the Masaya Crafts Market and found a great variety of handmade Nicaraguan crafts, but everything was tourist priced. We quickly walked around the market and moved on...the coolest part was the building the market was in.
We later walked over to the "Main Market" or the "Masaya Municipal Market" which is more of a local market, and found very similar crafts for a fraction of the price. the market also had a lot of different produce, meats - you could definitely tell it was a local market and not as much targeted for tourists. We were able to barter prices and purchased most of the souvenirs/gifts that we took home. The main market is located next to the bus stop parking lot. We took a bus from Granada to Masaya, walked around Masaya, and then easily hopped on a bus back to Granada at the end of our day. The bus from Granada to Masaya cost 18 cordoba (about $0.75 USD) for both of us, and the bus back to Granada cost 22 cordoba (about $0.92 USD).
Here are some of the souvenirs we purchased at the main market, and their prices both in Cordoba and the approx. USD equivalent at the time we were travelling
- Wooden bowl made from single piece of wood (125 Cordoba, $6.25)
- 2 pairs of wooden earrings (50 cordoba, $2.08)
- large ceramic vase (180 cordoba, $7.50)
- small ceramic vase (80 cordoba, $3.33)
- extra small ceramic vase (15 cordoba, $0.63)
- 2 t-shirts (100 cordoba, $4.17)
- 1 small painted wooden cross (20 cordoba, $0.83)
- 2 matching wooden bowls on a small platter; (condiment or dip size) (150 cordoba, $6.25)
We later walked over to the "Main Market" or the "Masaya Municipal Market" which is more of a local market, and found very similar crafts for a fraction of the price. the market also had a lot of different produce, meats - you could definitely tell it was a local market and not as much targeted for tourists. We were able to barter prices and purchased most of the souvenirs/gifts that we took home. The main market is located next to the bus stop parking lot. We took a bus from Granada to Masaya, walked around Masaya, and then easily hopped on a bus back to Granada at the end of our day. The bus from Granada to Masaya cost 18 cordoba (about $0.75 USD) for both of us, and the bus back to Granada cost 22 cordoba (about $0.92 USD).
Here are some of the souvenirs we purchased at the main market, and their prices both in Cordoba and the approx. USD equivalent at the time we were travelling
- Wooden bowl made from single piece of wood (125 Cordoba, $6.25)
- 2 pairs of wooden earrings (50 cordoba, $2.08)
- large ceramic vase (180 cordoba, $7.50)
- small ceramic vase (80 cordoba, $3.33)
- extra small ceramic vase (15 cordoba, $0.63)
- 2 t-shirts (100 cordoba, $4.17)
- 1 small painted wooden cross (20 cordoba, $0.83)
- 2 matching wooden bowls on a small platter; (condiment or dip size) (150 cordoba, $6.25)
Written 18 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
weloveadventure09
Canada68 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
My wife and I have been visiting Nicaraugua for a month and driving ourselves all over the country. We stopped at this market for a walk around and luck would have it that we ran into a local who spoke excellent English. My wife and I are both Canadian police officers so we are very leery of individuals who suddenly attach themselves to you. He walked with us through the market but didn't try to pressure us into buying anything. He was providing a service for our benefit...not his. When I asked him about good coffee he took us to a fellow who was selling the best. I got a whiff of the product and was in coffee heaven! It wasn't cheap but Tony kept telling me to make a lower offer and I got four pounds of coffee for a reasonable price. Next on the list was a wooden bowl....he took us to one place that was good but not great, and I wanted great. Tony told me about a shop that makes the bowls near his house. Being cautious, we had Tony sit in the front seat with me while my wife rode in the back. He took us through a tangle of streets that we would have never been able to navigate and found the bowl maker. Carlos didn't have what I was looking for but he did have one on the lathe that I wanted. He told me to return on Saturday and Tony was waiting for us. We picked up the bowl and some other items and took Tony back to the market. I know that no one does anything for free and when I asked Tony what he wanted he stated that the money was up to me. In the time that I had driven and spent with him I learned a lot about the man and felt comfortable in giving him something above and beyond. At no time did he try to get more out of us and I felt that this young man, and his family, will do well in life. So if your looking for a guide at the market, ask around for Tony!
Written 26 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sonya B
Chicago, IL38 contributions
Mar 2017
I went there thinking of a true artisan market. however, this is just a commercialized place where they sell factory made goods, probably made in China! Not worth the trip.
Written 25 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atmSydney
Sydney, Australia112 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
I lived in Masaya 10 years ago and used to love this little market. I came back for a visit recently, and was shocked. The goods are still the same, and are very nice, and the market is a pretty place. But the prices were horrendous, and higher than New York prices, where I now live. What's more, they don't even quote prices in Cordobas, everything is priced in Dollars. Do yourself a big favor, and go to the Mercardo Municipal, about 10 minutes walk away, just near the bus terminal, and the prices are less than half for exactly the same merchandise. It's also easier to bargain. If you want to buy a hammock (they are really beautiful in Masaya) go to the hammock making district close to the Malecon, and pay only around 2/3 the price of the tourist trap market.
Written 5 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KANNAPOLIS22
Annapolis, MD85 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
I should have known how terrible this was going to be when the taxi driver explained it used to be the town's market but is now a "tourist market". Tons of vendors but they are all selling the exact same items that are not authentic at all. Not one stall is authentic. It's also expensive, you can get much better deals for the same items in Granada - like hammocks. Don't waste your time or money -- not even if it's a part of a larger tour. Skip !
Written 9 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dingldorf2001
Port Alberni, Canada29 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
The market is filled with trinkets, T shirts and some handmade goods but nothing you can't get anywhere in Nicaragua. Outside the market you will find parking bandits asking for big money to watch your car $300 cor, supposed tour guides that will help you find what you're looking for and find your way around, for a cost. Kids handing out flowers for free then asking you for money and every other scam that you would expect to find in a tourist trap. This is the only place I have experienced like this in Nicaragua. If you walk north ten blocks from this market you will find the public market where you can get everything that is in the other market and more for much, much less. Mostly because a lot of it is made there. Don't go it doesn't represent the Nicaragua that I know.
Written 3 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miha h
AntonAlbin36 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
The market in Masaya does not sell any local produce. They sell generic junk all made in China. You can buy the same things in markets like this all over the world. The vendors do not have a clue about what they are selling, for example I asked (just for fun) about a wooden lizard with dotted pattern and they told me it was made by some local guy as a piece of traditional wood carving. It is a piece of fake Australian aboroginal wood carving, they sell the same crap from Bali to Europe, from Botswana to Nicaragua.
The vendors are also very negative, sleepy, lazy and not willing to negotiate.
All in all: a typical tourist trap. Be smart, buy elsewhere.
The vendors are also very negative, sleepy, lazy and not willing to negotiate.
All in all: a typical tourist trap. Be smart, buy elsewhere.
Written 9 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaime L
North Carolina223 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
Masaya Crafts Market was one of our stops on our tour in Nicaragua. This place is an open market and a great place to buy souvenirs. There were lots of beautiful leather goods and ceramics in this place with very reasonable price. Also, there were beautiful woodcarvings. Do not hesitate to bargain to get a better price. There were several vendors that spoke English. There were several young people (guide) who spoke English that can help you find things you would like to buy. You can give them a little tip afterwards. The coffee mug that my wife bought at a bargain price was well made and sturdy. We bought several souvenirs at this place. I recommend that you will eat lunch or dinner at the restaurant beside the Masaya Crafts Market. They had the best steak I had ever eaten. It was served in a very hot platter with all the herbs and spices. It was very delicious. Our tour guide said that Nicaragua got the best steak. It was a wise choice for me even I stopped eating red meat for a long time already to control my blood pressure. Everybody in our tour ordered steak and was the best conversation in the tour bus. Also, make sure to order a fruit drink at the stand beside the restaurant. They served real fruit drink and cost very reasonable. In addition, the fresh roasted cashew nuts were very good but a little pricey. The vendors accept US dollars. Bring lots of small change like $5, $10 and not more than $20 since you cannot use your Cordova once you left Nicaragua. Happy shopping in Nicaragua.
Written 12 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time do they close? Can I visit after the volcano night hike?
Written 20 July 2019
I am Trav512015. I was trying to review the Municipal Market, which was listed as the Masaya Market, I believe, separate from the Crafts Market.
The Crafts Market is very different, much easier to shop but somewhat more expensive and more tourist oriented.
Written 11 May 2018
The market I was in was so called
" Cultural Center Old Craft Market Masaya "
Written 11 May 2018
Is the crafts market open December 31 and January 1?
Written 28 December 2017
Is the market open on Sunday’s?
Written 27 October 2017
Is mercado Ernesto Fernandez in San Juan del Sur or Grananda Nicaragua?
Written 8 January 2017
Its in Masaya. We took a little detour to visit it, on our way to Granada.
Written 20 January 2017
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