Momotombo is the most iconic volcano on the Nicaraguan horizon — a near-perfect conical peak rising 1,297 metres from the northern shore of Lake Managua about 50 kilometres northwest of the city. The symmetry of the cone is remarkable: it is the volcano that appears on Nicaraguan stamps and banknotes, and its silhouette against the lake is one of the great landscape images of Central America.
The volcano can be climbed, though it requires a permit from the national energy institute (ENEL) since a geothermal plant operates on its slopes. The climb is strenuous — about 6–8 hours return from the base — and the crater is active, emitting steam and gases. The views from the summit over both Lake Managua and the Pacific coast are extraordinary. Most people content themselves with the view from the lakefront malecón in Managua, where Momotombo appears on the horizon on clear mornings.