The department of Nueva Segovia, with its more than 3,000 square kilometers, forms together with Madriz and Estelí the “Las Segovias” Region.
It is characterized by its colonial and revolutionary history and its varied crafts, the product of an active indigenous community, in a natural setting of high mountains, scenic beauty and productive valleys.
The department was established in 1858, with its capital Ocotal, and its political-administrative organization includes 12 municipalities: Ocotal, Dipilto, Macuelizo, Santa María, Mozonte, Ciudad Antigua, San Fernando, Jalapa, El Jícaro, Murra, Quilalí and Wiwili de Nueva Segovia.
The climate is subtropical with a tendency to dryness in the western part (Santa María), increasing humidity towards the area of Jalapa and Murra. The average temperature is about 25 degrees Celsius in the valley of Ocotal, dropping to 17 degrees in the heights of Dipilto and Jalapa.
The highest mountains in Nicaragua are located here, such as Mogotón Hill, which at 2,107 meters is the highest peak in the country.
This conformation and the humid tropical climate favor the development of pine forests and cloud forests, where a rich biodiversity develops and farms and estates that produce coffee of competitive quality on the world market expand.
The Mirador Cerro Mogotón is the highest point in the national geography, it is a mountain on the border between Nicaragua and Honduras. On the Nicaraguan side it is located in the Dipilto and Jalapa volcanic mountain range, which is currently inactive.
A farm at the height of Mogotón
Climbing its summit is a challenge for the most adventurous and nature lovers, but the view it offers compensates for all efforts.
To make this tourist tour, you travel by 4×4 transport from 700 meters above sea level, the walk to the highest point lasts six hours.
What else is there?
In the department, seven circuits have been identified, totaling 472 kilometers, of which 168 are paved, leading to the Las Manos border in the north and to the Teotecacinte border post in the east.
The tours have been organized from Ocotal, where the first circuit. Then we propose to go north, to the coffee plantations and communities of Dipilto (second the circuit) or towards the west, discovering the attractions of the small towns of Macuelizo and Santa María, in the third circuit. All of these circuits do not exceed two days each, while a longer time is required for the routes on the eastern side.
El fourth circuit brings together the attractions of the artisan indigenous town of Mozonte, continuing with a visit to the colonial center of Ciudad Antigua and excursions in the mountains of the Dipilto – Jalapa mountain range. Also in the fifth circuit You can visit agroecological farms in the same mountain range, in addition to learning about the productive culture of the Jalapa Valley.
Following the all-weather roads of the last two circuits means getting to know the historic places where Sandino's struggle began, such as the San Albino mine, El Jícaro, El Chipote hill, and the banks of the Coco River where the first cooperatives in Nicaragua were founded.
Other extraordinary elements are the majestic Coco River, which borders and delimits the department to the south and the Jalapa Valley, a wide esplanade surrounded by mountains, characterized by the high productivity of its lands.
The geology of the region also offers other resources, such as hot springs and fumaroles that spring up at different points and gold and silver deposits, which were exploited more heavily in the past and are now exploited by local residents and modern gold seekers.
