Known as El Diamante de Las Segovia, it is located just 150 kilometers north of Managua. The word Estelí, for some historians, comes from the Mexican words "ix" which means "eye" and "telli" which means "flat, valley or field"; that is to say “Eye over the valley”.
This city at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, in the fertile valley of Estelí, was only inhabited by the Mayangnas, (sumos) and the Matagalpas, although the Nahoas and Chorotegas, who wove cotton and palms, are also mentioned. They used cochineal, indigo and mineral substances to color fabrics and ceramics. They worked gold and embedded opal and jade stones.
The city of Estelí, through the centuries, has had three urban seats: the first in the archaeological region of Las Pintadas, the second in the vicinity of the Aguesguespala River (River of Old Lizards), and the third in the old valley of the " Michiguiste”.
How to enjoy Estelí?
The farm El Jalacate
It is located high in the mountains to the southwest of Estelí, in the Tisey-La Estanzuela nature reserve; Mr. Alberto Gutiérrez lives in this Diamante de las Segovias, he is known by Estelians as “El Hermitaño”, who for years has carved the rocks creating fascinating sculptures.
Nationals
Foreign
The Tisey – Estanzuela Nature Reserve
It is located at 13 kmS. southwest of Estelí, it covers an area of 21,600 hectares and is shared with the municipalities of San Nicolás, Estelí and El Sauce.
Eco Inn Tisey
It is a mountainous region with abundant flora and fauna and with heights of up to 1,550 meters above sea level, where pine forests interspersed with cultivated areas are preserved.
El Tisey Viewpoint: Its name is due to the Tisey hill, where you can see the west of the country, the Los Maribios volcanic chain and the Pacific Ocean. The scale with traverses to Cerro Apaguajì where you can see the pine forests and the caves baptized with the same name of the hill.
Nationals
Foreign
Apaguaji Viewpoint and Los Ranchitos Viewpoint, La Garnacha Community, San Nicolás
To get to the viewpoint of Cerro Apaguaji "mountain of water", you have to cross a narrow and short path between trees, and an incredible scenic route at the end of which you can see a kind of hill where there are rest benches where visitors can sit and appreciate the huge hill. And behind the Apaguajil you can see the volcanoes of the Los Maribios mountain range.
Los Ranchitos viewpoint is on the same route from this viewpoint you can see the upper part of the Tisey reserve, Estanzuela.
Nationals
Foreign
Murals
Estelí is a small and prosperous municipality in the northern region of Nicaragua. Not only its economic progress attracts attention, but also a cultural feature that excites both national and foreign visitors: its murals.
The city has more than 300 public and private murals, making it the city with the most such works in the country. It also won an award for one of the largest chalk paintings in the world.
The evolution of these murals and the times in which they were made are visible from the themes.
Today, murals can be seen on the walls of the streets alluding to acquired rights, the happiness of children and the artistic expression of young people.
Saddlery in the city of Estelí
Visit beautiful art workshops, where good taste and good dress prevail in the saddlery street where you can find footwear, belts, saddles and everything derived from leather.
Currently in Estelí, there are more than 10 workshops that work in leather, whose proximity allows you to meet them on the same day.
Museum of history and archeology Dr. Alejandro Dávila Bolaños
Archaeological, ethnological and historical objects are exhibited, as well as ethnohistorical documents and some petroglyphs from the Las Pintadas archaeological site. In addition, a photographic gallery of the history of Estelí between 1920 and 1979, personal objects of the poet and guerrilla Leonel Rugama and a numismatic collection.