JINOTEGA

Among valleys and high mountains, we find the picturesque department of Jinotega. This is one of the largest departments in the country, located 140 kms from Managua, in the Northern Mountain range of the central region.

It is located 1,004 meters above sea level in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, with a climate ranging between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.

Entering the city by the Guayacan road, to the right you can see the Cerro Cubulco (Cubulco Hill)-where General Sandino’s headquarters were located, and from where he led his troops. On this same hill, the Teyte (a kind of shaman or witch doctor) used to light a sacrificial fire as a religious ritual in honor of their Gods.

On 1891, Jinotega was founded, with a mountainous terrain, part of the Isabelia's ridge. It has lengthy valleys and the artificial Apanas Lake is the largest hydroelectric project in the country called Asturias. It provides electric power to a large part of the Nicaraguan territory. The main economic activity is agriculture and coffee is the main product.

Jinotega: Jinotega City and Cubulcan Hill.

Jinotega: Saraguasca, El Coyotero, La Cueva del Mico, Yucapuca, Molino, and Trilladora de Trigo, (Tomatoya River reservoir), Salto de Antioquia, El Bonetillo, Las Cureñas and Jinotega City.

San Rafael del Norte: Museo Sandino and Blanca Arauz, Balneario Cuatro Esquinas, Cascada de Laguna Verde, Salto de la Unión, Salto las Golondrinas, Salto el Salitre, Cerro el Volcán, Comunidad Boniche, Sacaclí, San Martin de Loma Azul, Comunidad de Janeiro, Cascada de Rio Grande, La Brellera.

San Sebastián de Yalí: Emboscada de San Antonio, Bosque de rio Arriba, Volcán Abajo, Bosque de la Garita, Petroglifos de San Pedro, El Salto de la Estación, Soto-Bosque Veracruz, Cascadas de Cayansimil, Cerro la Pelota, Cascada las Delicias, Yalí Urbano, Cascada del Borbollón, Rio de Boniche, Mirador Volcán Arriba, Rio las Kiatas, Cementerio Indígena los Rodeítos and La Vainilla, and Las Naranjitas.

La Concordia: Cueva del Guerrero, la Vuelta del Roble, Combate de la Concordia, la Concordia, La Granadilla, Piedra Larga, Cerro Volcán, La Cususa de Mora Abajo, Piedra de las Chichiguas, Piedras de los Calpules, Artesanías de Wiscanal, Petroglifos de Santana, El Ocote, Bosque de la Esperanza, La Esperanza.

Pantasma: Las Praderas, los Planes de Vilán, Anisales, Cerro helado, Loma Alta Prisionero Sacramento, La Vigía.

Wiwilí: Wiwili-Jinoteguita, La Marrana, San Andrés, Plan de Grama, Wamblán, Agua Fría, Piedra Pintada, Maleconcito, El Carmen, La Joba, Rio Coco.

• Participate in the fishing tournament of the “Guapote Lagunero" of Apanas Lake in the Asturias Community, held on the last Sunday of April.
• Participate in the Vernacular Music Festival from October 13-15.
• Attend the Festival of Polkas and Masurkas in the town of La Concordia, in the Community of Coyolito held on the last Sunday of July.

San Rafael del Norte:

The small but interesting town of San Rafael del Norte made up of valleys and plains, sits outside the Isabelia mountain range, located 25 kilometers from Jinotega.

It is best known for the most worthy and beloved Blessed Brother Odorico D'Andrea. D’Andrea was an Italian priest who came to San Rafael del North in 1954, developing and building health centers, bridges, potable water, and electricity for the residents. He surrendered his soul to the creator in 1990, was buried in the chapel at Tepeyac, where later his body was found incorrupt and is now in the process of beatification.

It is also the birthplace of Blanca Arauz, “the telegrapher” as the wife of General Augusto Cesar Sandino was called in that town. There is a museum now where you can find historical artifacts, newspaper articles, letters from Sandino, and weapons that belonged to the USA marines against who Sandino fought.

Iglesia San Rafael Arcangel:

The church has been declared a National Historical Monument, thanks to the kindness and fervent devotion of the Franciscan Priest, Rev. Odorico D'Andrea.

He began his journey in 1954. In 1966 and by request of Rev. D’Andrea, a Swiss artist painted murals of prophetic and theological themes within the church.

Finca Kilimanjaro (Kilimanjaro Farm):

The agro-tourist coffee farm of Kilimanjaro, is located on a macadam road, its owner, Mr. Andy Altamirano, has been the winner of the Cup of Excellence, for its texture, acidity and flavor.

You can experience rural tourism by visiting the coffee plantations, where you will learn about the processes of cultivation, harvesting, milling necessary to the golden grain, and their methods of selection for gourmet coffee.