Esteli Things to See and Do

As one of the most developed cities in northern Nicaragua, Esteli offers the tourist a fair number of attractions. Having been the stronghold of the Sandinista movement, Esteli is home to the poignant Gallery of Heroes and Martyrs, as well as a multitude of murals depicting scenes encouraging social action and equality. On May 27th 2005 Esteli even entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest mural in the world, painted by more than 2000 children. Esteli is also a great place for shopping;. regional specialties include leather goods and cigars. Even those not looking to spend can enjoy a day visiting factories and workshops.

By Nili Larish and Sara Levavi

Created: 13 Apr 2009

Updated: 13 Apr 2009

Top Things to Do in Esteli

Filter By:

Activity Type

Hiking

Museum

Other Activity

Historical Building

Order By :

Writers Favorite

Traveler Rating

Price

Please Wait...

Gallery of Heroes and Martyrs

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 clothing, and collected stories show how deeply personal the war was to this region. As the capital of the...

Types: Museum
Location: Esteli, Nicaragua

Reserva Natural Miraflor

Located 35 kilometers (22 mi) northeast of Esteli, this campesino-owned nature reserve became protected in 1990, and is a haven for exotic flora and fauna including hundreds of species of birds and orchids. The best time to go is in June, as this is when the birds migrate south and the orchids...

Types: Hiking
Location: Esteli, Nicaragua

Cigar Factory

Upon entering Nick’s Cigar Company in Esteli, visitors are immediately accosted by the overpowering scent of tobacco. The entrance room is covered in large portraits of owners Nick Perdomo Sr. and Jr. as they happily pose in the factory, surrounded by employees working intently on producing...

Types: Other Activity
Location: Esteli, Nicaragua

Reserva Natural Meseta Tisey-Estanzuela

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 Leon and Chinandega’s volcanoes. On a clear day, the lookout point, Mirador Segoviano, affords a...

Types: Hiking
Location: Esteli, Nicaragua

Museum of History and Archaeology

Adjacent to the Gallery of Heroes and Martyrs, this tiny, slightly dilapidated museum houses an eclectic collection of artifacts, from antique phones and typewriters to archaeological finds. Perhaps the most interesting feature is a diorama of the sites where pre-Columbian artifacts were originally...

Types: Museum
Location: Esteli, Nicaragua