Masaya, Nicaragua

Set midway between Managua and Granada and shadowed by the hulking form of Volcán Masaya, MASAYA's stirring geography would make it an attractive town to visit even if it weren't also the centre of Nicaragua's artesanía production and home to two colourful crafts markets. These are of quite recent provenance – only during the Sandinista years did Masaya develop its crafts tradition into a marketable commodity – but the city is now by far the best place in the country to buy hammocks, rocking chairs, traditional clothing, shoes and other souvenirs. Many of the crafts on sale come from designs that originated in the indigenous barrio of Monimbó, and the district continues to churn out a sizeable proportion of the region's handicrafts. Most visitors come here on day-trips from Managua or Granada – a sensible plan, since Masaya doesn't have a large range of hotels but the bus services are fast and efficient.