BOACO

The department of Boaco consists of the following towns: Boaco, Camoapa, San Lorenzo, Teustepe, San José de los Remates y Santa Lucía. Its Capital is Boaco, known as “The two story city”.

The name Boaco, comes from both zumo and azteca cultures, the root Boa o Boaj means “charmers” and the termination “O” means “place or town”, together it means “Town or Place of Charmers”.

Its weather varies from humid tropical to jungle tropical. Boaco is located in Nicaragua's central region, 88 kms from Managua. Boaco has uneven topography and breathtaking mountain views, with elevations between 200 and 300 mts above sea level.

The “Cerro de la Vieja” has the highest altitude with 1,020 mts. It has many picturesque landscapes like the Valleys of Santa Lucia and San Jose de los Remates.

This is a city situated in the Mountain Chain of Amerrisque, surrounded by hills, area of the legendary Chief Yarrince, with beautiful cozy landscape and a cool climate. Its neighborhoods with up-hill and uneven streets are connected by stairs with names like Bailante Niña Marina (Dancer Girl Marina), or Paseo Yarrince, are a good excuse for a walk through town while uniting “High and Low Boaco”.

The two-story city, birthplace of intellectuals, can be enjoyed from the Mirador El Faro, built in 1995 to commemorate the century anniversary of the city. It is located in the Parque del Cerrito (Small Hill Park).

Old Boaco was the mother town of the actual city of Boaco. Today it is a separate village. There is nothing left from the old town.

In 1749, the Zambos, Caribes and Mosquitos, supported by the English, robbed and killed the citizens of Old Boaco village. The survivors founded the new town of Boaco near the Malacatoya River. Old Boaco is known today as Boaquito. From 1752 to 1772, worried by the Colera epidemic, fighting broke out again and the city remained where it is today.

In 1876, it became the Village of Santiago of Boaco. In 1895, it was officially denominated as a city. On July 18, 1935, when Doctor Juan Bautista Sacasa was president, the Senate and the Chamber of Congress of the Republic of Nicaragua, decreed the definite creation of the department.

Dance of Moros and Christians

In honor of the “Apostol Santiago El Mayor” (Saint James Apostle), Patron Saint of Boaco, there is a traditional drama-dance called “Moros and Christians” (The Moors and the Christians”). It is performed by dancers –actually, they are devoted farmers keeping promises made to their Patron. It begun in the XVII century and is still practiced today.

The group of dancers consists of 13 moors, 13 Christians, 7-rod holders, 3 box holders, and a small dancer. They each dance in their respective row to the rhythm of drums. As one, they dance to the same musical tempo, moving their feet, hips, and shoulders, while shaking maraca-type rattles. As they contort, they pretend to fight among themselves as if crossing weapons with their enemies and screaming loud combat cries.

The religious choreography represents the decisive battle between moors and Christians, symbolizing the battle between good and evil. The Vigia Moro supervises the battlefield and, once he evaluates the conditions of the fight, leads the moor fighters into war to the sound drums, and rattles.

Moors and Christians, at the head of their kings, agitate their rattles, their machetes, and snakes. Finally, the Moor King decides to give in to be baptized. The devil demonstrates that he has lost the battle with rough movements and the angel walks amid the troops in sign of peace.

Combat episodes include drums music. Musical pieces can be heard containing Christian songs, war songs, desperate moor songs, and peace and farewell songs.

Teustepe

Teustepe in Chorotega language means, “Town, Valley, or Place of God”. Its indigenous population established in El Tamarindo to the northeast of the actual town.

At the end of 1776, the floods caused by the Malacatoya River forced the population to move to Camoapilla, the actual town. Historically, it has been a warrior town. They fought against the filibuster, William Walker, during the National War.

Teustepe is small, with an altitude of 146 meters; the weather is very dry and boasts a large cattle industry. Teustepe was denominated as a city by legislative law on February 28, 1970.

Santa Lucia

The name was chosen in honor of Saint Lucy, Virgin, and Martyr, originally, from Italy. Hispanic tradition at the time made it common to choose names from saints in Europe as a symbol of both sovereignty and religious blessings.

The town of Saint Lucia has three types of weather: tropical, semi-humid, and humid. It is located on the skirts of the Amerrisque Mountain Chain, which consists of mountainous
and fertile land. Its mountainous area reaches an altitude from 915 to 1,067 meters
conformed by the commanding rocky elevations of “Los Talnites”.

El Viejo and Santo Domingo end in a high monolith that can be seen from a long distance on the Pacific. The Malacatoya, Fonseca, Buche, La Chingastosa, Sarco, and Conganchigual rivers crisscross the town. It is located 94 kms from the city of Managua.

San Jose de Los Remates or Boaco
San Jose de Boaco founded on March 18, 1846, a region of abundant water, cool weather, and fertile mountains. An administrative order mandated that dispersed families and
neighbors of Teustepe re-establish themselves where San Jose de los Remates and Boaco are now located.

The territory has an irregular and uneven topography, and the mountain range of Cerro Alegre, La Pelona, Cerro El Padre, El Bonete, and La Virgen.
Its hydrograph is composed of the rivers: La Lajita, El Salto, Malacatoya, Los Talnites, Caña Vieja, and Monte Limon.

San Lorenzo

The village called San Lorenzo de Los Tellez was founded in 1862. Initially, it was a farm owned by Mrs. Josefa Tellez. She donated the land for the development of a town.
Mrs. Tellez found a statue of San Lorenzo on a riverside called “La Chombita”, and decided to name the village after him.

In the hilly, rocky, cool, and mountainous town of San Lorenzo, you can find the following mountains: Las Cuevas, Monte Fresco, La Barbona, El Rincón, La Cabadilla, La Barranca, and el Níspero. San Lorenzo has been part of the Department of Boaco since 1935.

Camoapa

The town of Camoapa in Mexican dialect means “Place of Parrots” according to Davila Bolaños, or “Place of the River Camotes or Batatas”, according to the interpretation of Valle or Mantica.

The old Camuapas are descendents of the Boajos or Boaco tribes. During the years of 1749, 1752, and 1768, because of the many incursions by the zambos, Miskitos, and English, the city was forced to change locations many times. Its present location under the name of San Francisco de Camoapan. In 1925, because of a conflict with the neighboring town of Comalapa, Camoapa became part of the Department of Boaco.