Between valleys and high hills, we find the picturesque department of Jinotega, one of the largest in the country, located just 140 km from the capital in the mountains of the northern central region.
It is located at 1004 meters above sea level, it is a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, with a climate oscillating between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. At the entrance of the city entering by the Guayacán highway, the Cubulcan Hill was observed on the right hand side, it was the barracks from where General Sandino directed his troops to take Jinotega, also on that same hill the Teyte lights the sacred fire in a religious ritual to honor their Gods.
Places of interest
Panoramic views of Jinotega
On the old road from Matagalpa to Jinotega, you can enjoy a misty jungle climate, where the cultivation of vegetables and the most beautiful flowers of the country predominates, as well as country life and the typical gastronomic offering of the place.
The journey offers a unique experience as you come into direct contact with nature and appreciate the impressive views on different sections of the road, considered one of the most scenic roads in Nicaragua.
Jinotega is nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, including the Isabelia and Dariense mountain ranges, which open up to the north towards Lake Apanás. From any point on both mountain ranges, you can enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the city of Jinotega, resulting in interesting landscapes where the spectacle of nature and that of human creation are combined.
Jinotega Historical and Cultural Center
San Juan Bautista Cathedral, Central Park and Family and Culture Walk
The site where the Cathedral is located was once the site of the first Church of Jinotega, a small chapel built with rustic materials, which was later replaced by the current San Juan Bautista Cathedral, with imposing architecture and neoclassical elements. Upon entering the interior, we can find authentic Spanish religious images, including the wooden image of the “Flagellated Christ” on the main altar. In front of the cathedral is the Central Park, a reference point for Jinotegan families. Next to the Park is the Paseo de la Familia y la Cultura, which houses the area of illustrious figures and space for the development of various activities related to Jinotegan culture.
Coffee tasting and culture
The Bastille, Jinotega
Jinotega has the title of Coffee Capital, and is known for its production of gourmet coffee that has achieved world-renowned quality levels. In addition to enjoying the flavor of this drink in the city's various restaurants and cafes, you can also enjoy tours of the different coffee farms in the municipality, where you can learn about the coffee production and harvesting process.
Rock of the Cross
It is the most impressive peak on the west side of the city of Jinotega, 1300 meters above sea level. The Peña de la Cruz currently has two access roads, one for 4×4 vehicles and another pedestrian one through steps. Currently it is visited for hiking, nature trekking, and panoramic views of the city. During the trip you can see birds and a variety of orchids and other types of native flora.
Art and crafts of Jinotega
Jinotega is also considered a breeding ground for musicians, poets and writers. The communities of Tomatoya and Saraguasca are known for their vernacular music, with polkas, mazurkas, jamaquellos and yankas, which are the result of the transculturation of our people and the influence of other cultures.
It is a remarkable engineering work from the 60s. By damming the waters of the Tuma, Jigüina and Mancotal rivers, the 54.15 km water mirror was obtained.2, considered the largest artificial lake in Nicaragua. This resource feeds the Central America Hydroelectric Plant and the Lareynaga Hydroelectric Plant, which generates 40% of the energy produced in the country.
Apanás Lake
In addition to energy and beautiful landscapes, the lake provides the communities settled on its shores with a source of income through artisanal fishing, sport fishing, fishing tournaments, boat rides, kayak rentals, horseback riding around the lake basin and tasting of local cuisine offered by local residents.
Church of Saint Raphael the Archangel
It is located in the urban area of San Rafael del Norte.
It was built between 1953 and 1990 by Brother Odorico D'Andrea.
The church, which was built with the help of parishioners and the entire community, stands out for its imposing presence in the town, and was declared a National Artistic Monument on December 18, 2000.
Inside, in addition to altars and sacred objects from Italy, the murals by the Austrian painter Juan Fuchs Holl are also striking. He decorated the side naves and the dome with paintings alluding to biblical passages and incorporated characters from the town into the frescoes.
Tepeyac Sanctuary and Museum
Dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, a work that testifies to the religiosity of this town. It is located on the north side of the urban area, on a hill that served as a barracks for the American marines and later for the National Guard-GN.
Here rest the mortal remains of the Franciscan priest Fray Odorico D'Andrea.
In the department of Jinotega in the municipality of San Rafael del Norte in the rural area you can visit Agro eco-tourism farms among which the following stand out:
Agro-Ecotourism Farms in San Rafael del Norte
El Jaguar Private Wildlife Reserve
It is part of the National System of Protected Areas. It is located 7.5 km from the urban area. It is a farm nestled in the Isabelia mountain range, at 1,350 meters above sea level, and 190 km north of Managua. The main activity is the cultivation of high-quality organic coffee, respecting the abundant biodiversity. It is considered a refuge for resident and migratory birds, with more than 200 recognized species.
Kilimanjaro Agro-Tourism Farm
Located 6 km from the town centre, this property covers more than 500 acres, where you can enjoy an enviable Nebliselva climate, at 1,200 meters above sea level. The coffee produced is of high quality, so much so that the farm has been awarded several recognitions such as the Cup of Excellence. In addition to accommodation, it offers a coffee tour, horseback riding, expeditions to the forest and the opportunity to observe integral milking techniques, the raising of pelibuey sheep, as well as a plant that generates its own electricity.
Blanca Arauz House of Culture
In the center of San Rafael del Norte is the Casa Blanca Arauz-Telegrafista, headquarters of General Augusto C. Sandino. The Telegraph office was here and through which Sandino communicated with the world. A device from that time is still preserved, as well as photographs, a large portrait of the Hero, personal items, an old typewriter, weapons and information data on the history of the Army in Defense of National Sovereignty. This House is used to promote artistic and cultural activities of the Municipality. In this place we can find tourist information about the Municipality, carry out recreational and historical cultural activities, and it is used as a training center.
Canopy La Brellera
“La Brellera Natural Aventuras” is located on the San Rafael del Norte-San Sebastián de Yalí highway, 5 km from the city of San Rafael del Norte. The circuit consists of 9 aerial platforms with capacity for 8 people, 8 sections of Ø 3/8″ diameter cables with a steel core and a capacity of 8 tons, 2 suspension bridges, 1 boarding platform and a ramp for level changes.
Church of Saint Sebastian of Yali
The modern church in the small centre of San Sebastián de Yalí stands on the site of a former chapel made of adobe and clay tiles, which served as a barracks for the occupying American troops during the Sandino war. The town is famous because an important page in Nicaraguan history was written here. It was from Yalí in May 1927 that Sandino issued his first proclamation in which he declared his intention to continue fighting for a free homeland, despite the Pact of Espino Negro, which put an end to the Constitutionalist War under pressure from the invading American army.
Yalí Volcano Hill
Nature Reserve located 6 km south of the municipal capital, winner of the Public Tourism Infrastructure competition promoted by central and departmental INTUR.
It is a water recharge area of the three municipalities Yalí, La Concordia and San Rafael del Norte belonging to basin 69 that supplies Lake Xolotlán in Nicaragua.
Yalí Historic Lookout Park – General Augusto C. Sandino
This small hill is located on the south side of the urban area of Yalí. It was used as an observation point by the invading North American troops in the years 1929-1934 in the fight against the Army of Defense of National Sovereignty, and later used as a barracks by the National Guard.
In the 80s, the existing facilities were used for the defense of the town by the EPS (Sandinista Popular Army), which was in a war zone and was the scene of frequent Contra attacks.
In the 1990s, educational facilities were added and today it has become a historic tourist viewing point that offers a beautiful view of the center of the urban area of Yalí and its surroundings. In addition, the municipality has installed a modern children's playground.
Yalí Agro-ecotourism, Historical and Ancestral Corridor
A 14 km route northeast of the municipal capital, this corridor is an important part of the "Cerros de Yalí" Natural Reserve. Here you can see various agricultural farms that produce coffee, producers who manage native stingless bees or meliponas in the community of Gurrión, in addition to the waterfalls of La Estación and San Antonio as well as the El Columpio hill, which served as a camp for Commander German Pomares Ordoñez.
Petroglyphs of San Pedro
Located 22 km north of the municipal capital, it is a historical cultural site where you can see engraved stones of our ancestors.
Center of Understanding with Nature
The Center for Understanding Nature is a training and research center that aims to contribute to the preservation of the web of life in the rural sector through scientific knowledge about the humid tropics and the strengthening of the exercise of citizen rights to build a free and fair society, without exclusions and without abuses.
Website: www.cenaturaleza.org
Guardians of the Forest Cooperative
The cooperative has a total of 83 members, of which 49 are men and 34 are women.
The economic activity is based on conventional coffee cultivation, they carry out agricultural activities with tourists, participation in crop work, harvest processing, participation in household chores and sale of agricultural products.
Agro-tourism farms
In the context of the municipality and the Macizo Montañoso de Peñas Blancas Nature Reserve, you can visit numerous farms to learn about the entire coffee growing process.
Biodiversity can be appreciated in ecosystems, flora and fauna of high value to the nation.
Peñas Blancas Massif Nature Reserve
The protected area of this imposing mountain complex extends over 115 square kilometers and is shared by the municipalities of El Cuá, Tuma-La Dalia and Rancho Grande.
In addition to the imposing mist-covered rock massif, it has other attractions, including the El Arco Iris Waterfall, the natural medicine trees, the biodiversity of fauna and birds in particular, the caves, the picturesque trails that lead to the highest point of the reserve, at more than 1,700 meters above sea level, from where you can appreciate formidable panoramic views, and you can practice nature and adventure tourism. This site is one of the most recognized in the department in terms of ecotourism; and it is especially visited by university students, who come to study flora and fauna in the Reserve.
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