San Cristóbal Volcano, Active volcano in Chinandega Department, Nicaragua

San Cristóbal is an active volcano in Chinandega Department that rises as a symmetrical cone with steep slopes dominating the landscape. The mountain features a crater measuring roughly 500 by 600 meters, creating a distinctive silhouette when viewed from a distance.

The 1685 eruption was strong enough to be recorded in historical accounts. Later documented activity includes loud noises and light tremors in August 1919, explosions every three minutes in March 1976, and a phreatic eruption in April 2006. In September 2012 ash rose several kilometres and about 3,000 people were evacuated; ash emissions were reported again in March 2021 and July 2023.

The volcano's Nawat name, Tepemesquián, survives alongside the Spanish San Cristóbal. Adventure tourism has grown in recent years, with routes climbing the volcanoes of the Cordillera de los Maribios, and both Nicaraguan and foreign visitors walk them. Ash falls have repeatedly reached nearby towns such as Chinandega.

Visitors should check current volcanic activity reports and obtain necessary permits from local authorities before attempting to climb. Preparation is important because conditions on the mountain can change quickly.

The crater rim on the southwest side stands 140 m above the northeast rim, because prevailing trade winds carry tephra toward the southwest and build up that flank. The southwest slope is also the longest of the cone. The crater itself measures 500 by 600 m.