Hiking Cerro Apante

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 the traffic light on the southwest corner of Parque Dario, continue south straight up the hill for about twenty minutes. It’s a steep climb out of town and past several farms. The Marena office, where you’ll pay the 1.50 USD entrance fee, is located on your left, right before the little footbridge crossing the Rio Grande de Matagalpa. The hike starts right at the office and shortly thereafter you’ll encounter swarms of butterflies --most strikingly green ones that camouflage perfectly into the foliage. At the top you’ll find a lookout point from which you can see all of Matagalpa and the surrounding area. From there it’s a steep walk downhill. The whole excursion, with frequent breaks for water and photo-ops will take under two hours. Finca San Luis can be found right before the Marena office, and you can speak with the owner to take a tour of his property. Finca El Socorro, just past the entrance to the hike, is purportedly working on building tourist accommodations for those who would prefer to sleep away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Location:
Matagalpa Activities, Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Hiking Types:
Hike

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
Nicaraguan córdoba

By Nili Larish and Sara Levavi

Created: 14 Apr 2009

Updated: 09 Jun 2009