Artisan Workshops

Nicaragua’s most treasured souvenirs, woven hammocks are handmade by scores of Masaya [1] families, and take 2–3 days each to make. The most obvious place to purchase one is in the crafts market [2].

More fun than just buying is to visit one of the many fábricas de hamacas, most of which are in people’s homes, clustered on the same block near the southwest edge of town, across from the old hospital on the road to the malecón [3] and baseball stadium.

There you’ll find at least a half-dozen family porch-front businesses; all of these craftspeople will gladly show you how hammocks are woven.

Sergio Zepeda is a third-generation luthier (guitar builder) at Guitarras Zepeda (200 meters west of the Unión Fenosa, tel. 505/8883-0260, guitarraszepeda [at] yahoo [dot] com). His shop is only a block off the Carretera Masaya, behind Hotel Rosalyn. Cheap children’s and beater guitars start at $60 or so; professional hardwood instruments with cocobolo rosewood back and sides and imported red cedar, mahogany, or spruce tops can go for up to $800. Allow at least two weeks to order, or show up in his shop and see what’s available.