

Nicaragua's lush Northern Highlands, full of blue mountains, historical murals and coffee tours provide the perfect antidote to the heat and crowds of the major cities. Matagalpa and Jinotega, with their famous cathedrals and coffee farms, recall the European ancestry of their early settlers. You can stop in one of the area bakeries for a pastry, buy one of Matagalpa's famous black ceramics or pick up some fresh-cut flowers from local vendors.
The region has seen its share of famous natives, including Rubén Darío, whose birthplace adopted the name Ciudad Darío, and Carlos Fonseca, Sandinista hero who was born Matagalpa. Both men have museums dedicated to them in their hometowns. The region contains a number of ecological reserves, such as Reserva Natural Miraflor or Tisey Estanzuela. Here you will find yourself in a land of quiet cloud forests and sparkling waterfalls. A hike along local trails will give you the chance to see toucans, howler monkeys or small wild cat known as a jaguarundi. Butterflies and birds can also be spotted flitting through the foliage.
For a cup of world-famous local coffee, head to one of the plantations that dot the mountain sides. Selva Negra Mountain Resort, in particular, is renowned for both its coffee and the owners' sustainable agriculture projects. Encouraged by the local government, other small plantations, particularly around Miraflor and Esteli, have begun welcoming visitors. You can now learn how coffee is grown and produced and then sit down for a taste of the local roast.
This moving tribute was founded and is run by the mothers of widows of soldiers killed in the Sandinista Revolution. Although the displays are a bit makeshift, the murals, photos, articles of
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In order to get a sense of the roots of the Nicaraguan Communist movement, you might want to visit the childhood home of FSLN founder, Carlos Fonseca. On display are photographs of Fonseca throughout
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This blindingly white church is easy to spot in the distance, so makes a great reference point for navigating Matagalpa. After those in Granada and Leon, this is the largest cathedral in the country.
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This short, easily accessed hike is a good way to stretch your legs and get your heart rate up during your stay in Matagalpa. A guide is not necessary as the hike is a well marked loop. Starting at
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Chocophiles unite! A tour through El Castillo del Cacao takes the visitor through the process of chocolate production, from the roasting of beans to the packaging of bars. The small factory, shaped
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Less frequented than Reserva Miraflor is Reserva Natural Meseta Tisey-Estanzuela, also located outside of Esteli. Trails within the expansive forest offer views of Honduras and El Salvador, as well
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Travelers usually come to dry, isolated San Juan de Limay for just one reason: soapstone sculptures. Intricately carved and impeccably smooth, these glowing figures range from tiny nativity scenes to
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Population 29,500. Most visitors swing by Ocotal on their way to the Honduran border at
Las Manos, not realizing that it is a city rich with history. On July 1st 1927, Augusto Cesar Sandino gathered
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Population 15,000. 105 km north of Managua. On the crossroads between Matagalpa, Esteli and the south, Sebaco is largest city in the fertile Sebaco Valley, and a commercial hub where Nicaragua’s
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To increase your handbag collection with some truly special pieces, head to the tiny village of El Chile located 30 km from Matagalpa. Any bus heading to San Dionisio can drop you off at the base of
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Population 3500. For a half-day’s excursion outside Matagalpa, consider heading to Chaguitillo. As this sleepy little town lacks restaurants and sleeping accommodations, you’re better off
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5 km north of Ocotal, this small village is best known for its production of ceramics, the sort of which can be seen hanging in homes and restaurants all over Nicaragua. Visiting a few makes a
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Population: 35,000. This tiny town, located 29 km from Ocotal, has over the past few years become a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts. This is due to its proximity to the stunning geological canyon,
...Esteli has an amazingly authentic feeling about it. For starters it's so much cooler than anywhere else, a real relief. Warm by day and cool at night. Men, women and children just saying Adios to us in the street, to say Hi, I guess, people chat and ask if we like Nicaragua, invite us around to see their house even, when chatting to our neighbour on the local bus. It's not a pretty city, dusty and post-colonial, but light and airy, good street shopping, nice central park. There are loads of projects and centres working here, and easy access to visit the rural communities in Tisey and the Miraflor Natural Reserve, both close to the town, and we left in the local buses. New coffee shops, cafe bars, an awesome night out dancing in a place called Los Semaforos on the southern limits of downtown. We had a really interesting and fun time. There's loads of good hotels and restaurants, and some new places. We would really recommend this area to do some day trips, Somoto Canyon was easy and beautiful.
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