Located in the pacific region of Nicaragua is formed by the towns of: Rivas (Department Capital) Tola, Belen, Buenos Aires, San Jorge, San Juan del Sur, Cardenas, Altagracia and Moyogalpa, these last two are located in the Island of Ometepe.

On these lands is where three big tribes settled: Caribies, Chorotegas and Nicaraos, territory of the wise Chief Nicarao or Nicaragua, area known during the conquest as the Valley of Nicaragua. Apart from being a transit corridor for the colonization of the country, it served as a bridge for historical migrations of paleo Indian groups and pre-Columbian tribes.

Rivas was the first Nicaraguan territory exploited by the Spanish conquerors, which started by two expeditions. The first was led by Captain Gil Gonzalez Davila in 1522 and the second in 1524 led by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba.

Formerly known as the “Valley of Nicaragua”, it was elevated to the rank of “Villa of the Pure and Clean Concepcion of Rivas” in 1720, in honor of Captain General Francisco Rodriguez de Rivas, President of the Audience and General Capitany of Guatemala, in times of the conquest.

Enmanuel Mongalo, a professor from Rivas, full of patriotism, burned the hostal (El meson) during the invasion of the bloody filibuster William Walker on June 29, 1855, a heroic gesture known as the first battle of Rivas and first defeat of the Yankee filibuster.

In the department of Rivas the Anthropological Museum is located in an old farm-house, one of the oldest in the city. It was the first house taken over by the troops of William Walker.

Today, the entire building is used as a museum, with interesting expositions in different rooms. The main room is the biggest housing pre-Columbian ceramics brought mostly from Ometepe, or from coastal areas of the department.

They also have bone remains from Mammoths that were found in the areas closed to Lake Cocibolca and minerals from Nicaragua.

The museum was founded in 1975. There is always a tour guide available and the schedule is from Monday thru Saturday 9-12 PM and 2-5 PM.

 

“Bays of Sunset and Adventure”

In the pacific, with excellent and numerous beaches, you can find the magnificent bay of San Juan del Sur; popular because of its beautiful beaches close to one another, surrounded by vegetation, flora and fauna, with magical legends of the treasures that the Pirate Morgan left hidden in its sands.

It is exuberant, beautiful and U shape, the always beautiful San Juan del Sur Bay, is a compound of beaches such as: Marsella, Majagual, Ocotal, Remanso, Ostional, among others and the Wild Life Reserve “La Flor”-a massive site of turtles spawning (among the 8) in the world.

The bay of San Juan del Sur is frequently visited by national and international tourists. It’s an essential destination for cruises coming from USA, Canada, and Europe. You can enjoy the wind, water sports, hiking, canopy, scuba diving, surfing, and the beautiful sceneries of its sunsets.

During Easter week it fills to capacity with tourists, shows, concerts, and nightly parties. These events are known as “Beach Nights and Sun Baths”.

Wild Life Refugee La Flor and Playa El Coco

The most famous beach of San Juan del Sur is La Flor. This beach has been declared a Natural Reserve of Wild Life due to the multiple arrivals of the Paslama (ridley) Turtles, which happen every year between the months of July and January.

During this season of nesting and probably since millennium times, thousands of female turtles invade La Flor at night to deposit their eggs. This phenomenon is called “arrivals” and happens many times. Approximately 50 days after the “arrivals” thousands of turtles are born immediately looking for their way back to the sea. Both events can be watched in Playa La Flor, which is managed by an NGO environmentalist.

To the north of La Flor is El Coco Beach. This crystalline beach is a little isolated, which makes it a good place to relax and enjoy the tranquility and its natural environment. There are also other beaches to the south, but there is not much tourist infrastructure. One can get to any of them by an improvised road, for which you will need an all terrain vehicle, mainly during the rainy season.

Ometepe Island

Ometepe, word of Nahual origin meaning: Ome; two and tepetl; Hills. It has an extension of 276 Km2, is the biggest island in the world on a sweet water lake. This “sacred place” where the Gods used to live, and that is how the island is known, has the towns of Moyogalpa and Altagracia on the Lake of Nicaragua or Cocibolca, guarded by the Volcanoes El Maderas and El Concepcion.

In the pre-Columbian era, it was populated by the Caribisis tribes of South America, Chorotegas, Nahuas, and other tribes. A proof of their indigenous settlements is a large amount of petroglyphics that can be found throughout the entire island.

In its fauna you can find: Garrobos, Cusucos, Pizotes, White Face Monkeys, among other species. Birds such as: zanates, herons, urracas, etc.; and in its waters: Guapote, Gaspar, White Shark, Knife fish, robalos, and Tilapia. In its flora you can find: tree species such as Guanacaste, Pochote, Laurel, Genizaro and the elegant Madroño.

Altagracia

Altagracia or Aztagalpa was populated by the Chibcha tribes during the pre-Columbian era, descendents from Chorotegas and Nagrandanos, strong Indians, robust, great sailors, ingenious, and industrious. They settled on the coasts of San Miguel, Culco, Taguizapa, Calaiza, San Silvestre and in the surroundings areas of the Maderas Hill.

During the conquest it was known as the Town of Our Lady of Concepcion. In 1871, was denominated as a Villa with the name of Big Town of Moyogalpa (Pueblo Grande de Moyogalpa).

Its ancient people were said to be an industrious people, because of the materials they used for their crafts: a type of bamboo to design trunks, baskets, and decorations for domestic and personal use sold at the Plaza of Rivas and Granada. They were also known as strong, robust, and expert sailors on the lake.

Maderas Volcano

The Maderas Volcano has an elevation of 1394 mts above sea level, born some 800 years ago as a result of a strong explosion that gave birth to a crater of 400m x 150m.

It belongs to the Mountain Chain of El Fuego that goes through Central America, part of Mexico and South America. It has a dry tropical forest and a variety of flora and fauna. It is covered by deposits of Pirociastos and volcanic rock.

Concepcion Volcano

This volcano was born in the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era, with an altitude of 1610 mts above sea level, boasting of a perfect cone. In the pre-Columbian era it was known as Choncoteciguatepe by the Chorotegas: “Brother of the Moon” and Mestliltepe “Hill that Menstruates”.

Its first eruption was in 1880 and lasted a year. The second in 1883 and subsequently in the years 1889, 1902. 1907, burning for three consecutive years; 1921 1924 and the last one in 1957.

Moyogalpa

Moyogalpa in ancient Mexican language Nahuatlaca that means “Town of Mosquitoes”, founded 10,000 years BC, its first inhabitants were the Olmecas, Toltecas, Chibchas, Tiwanacos, Nahuas, Mayas y Aztecs, the last one to settle down were the Chorotegas and Nicaraguas, according to historic sources, they are direct descendents of the Moyogalpaes.

They were great sculptors, farmers of corn, ñame, potato, excellent potters and with deep religious roots in worshipping their Gods.

Tola

Tola, Tula or Tulan means Tule, town of tolteca ancestors. The first town of Nicaragua attacked by the filibusters led by William Walker in 1855. In the XVII century it was known as San Juan de Tola.

It is located on the northeast section of the Department of Rivas. It has the most beautiful and exuberant beaches of Nicaragua’s Pacific side.

San Jorge

On June 15, 1852 it was elevated to Villa and on January 30, 1931 to City. It was part of the Capital of the Kingdom of the Nicaraos or Nicaragua.

The Spanish Cross is a silent witness of the encounter between the Spanish Conqueror Gil Gonzalez Davila and Chief Nicarao- Cali or Nicaragua, as a result more than 1000 indigenous were baptized Catholic.

The name of San Jorge comes from the image of the Saint that appeared on the shores of the Lake Nicaragua, in the place called Kuashzapolka that in Nahual language means: Place of many Trees, on April 23, 1777.

It was here where the North American filibuster William Walker placed his headquarters during the war of 1856, and the place where he signed his unconditional surrender to the Central American armies on May 1, 1857.

Cocibolca Costs: Buenos Aires and Cardenas

Buenos Aires: They fish as a means of living, cultivate sugar cane and grains. Founded in 1717, during the colonial era, it was a great producer of Indigo.

Cardenas: Its name comes from President Adan Cardenas, it was formerly known as Tortuga (Turtle).

Belen and Potosi: Dairy Farms and Sugar Cane Production.

Belen: It was originally an old dairy farm called El Obraje, in 1738. Its name, of religious origin, comes from the apparition in that place of an image of Baby Jesus.

Potosi: With a colonial urban design, is comprised of 28 blocks of the exact same size and colonial constructions.

 

 

Dirección: Gasolinera Texaco 1 cuadra al oeste. Rivas.
	(505)2254-5191
	info@intur.gob.ni

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