The Department of Boaco is made up of the municipalities of Boaco, Camoapa, San Lorenzo, Teustepe, San José de los Remates and Santa LucíaIts departmental capital is the city of Boaco, popularly known as the “Two-Story City”.
The name Boaco originates from the Zuzo and Aztec culture, from the roots Boa or Boaj, meaning "enchanters", and the ending "O", meaning "place or town", together it is described as: "Town or Place of Enchanters".
It has a varied climate, ranging from humid tropical savannah vegetation to forest to tropical jungle. It belongs to the central part of the country, at a distance of 88 km from Managua. Topographically it is irregular, its landscape is mountainous, with elevations between 200 and 300 meters above sea level. Cerro de la Vieja is the highest point with 1,020 meters. It has picturesque landscapes such as the valleys of Santa Lucía and San José de los Remates.
A city coolly nestled in the Amerrique mountain range, surrounded by hills, area of the legendary chief Yarrince, with beautiful welcoming landscapes, its neighborhoods with their steep streets and uneven surfaces communicating with stairs with the names of Bailante Niña Marina or Paseo Yarrince, a good excuse for an urban walk to unite Boaco Alto with Boaco Bajo.
The city of Dos Pisos, cradle of intellectuals, can be enjoyed from the El Faro viewpoint, built in 1995 to commemorate the city's centenary, located in Cerrito Park.
Boaco Viejo was the mother town of the current city of Boaco, today a region or valley, of which there are no vestiges of any kind left.
In 1749, the Zambos, Caribs and Mosquitos, encouraged by the English, robbed and exterminated the hamlet of Boaco Viejo. The survivors near the Malacatoya River founded the new town of Boaco, known today as Boaquito. Later, decimated by the cholera disease, they settled for the third time and definitively between 1752 and 1772 in the town where it is located today.
In 1876 it was elevated to Villa de Santiago de Boaco, and in 1895 it received the rank of city. On July 18, 1935, with Dr. Juan Bautista Sacasa as President, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Nicaragua decreed the definitive Constitution of the department.
Dance of Moors and Christians
In honor of the Apostle Santiago el Mayor, Patron Saint of Boaco, the traditional Moors and Christians drama dance is performed by dancers, devout peasants who pay tribute to the Patron Saint, which has been going on since the 17th century until today.
The troupe of dancers is made up of 13 Moors, 13 Christians, 7 vareros, 3 cashiers and a bailantito, who dance in their respective rows, to the rhythm of the drums. In a single musical beat they move their feet, hips and shoulders, shaking their rattles or chischiles; they perform contortions and mock fights, crossing their weapons with the enemy, uttering pleasant cries to encourage themselves in combat.
The religious choreography represents the decisive battle between Moors and Christians, symbolizing the battle between good and evil. The Moorish lookout oversees the battlefield and, having assessed the conditions for the fight, guides the Moorish fighters in beating the drums and rattles.
Moors and Christians, led by their kings, shake the rattles, brandishing their machetes and snakes. In the end, the Moorish king decides to submit and be baptized.
The devil shows that he has lost the battle through sudden movements and where the angel goes through the troops in a peaceful manner.
The combat episodes are musically accompanied by the drum and the following sounds stand out: Christian sound, war sound, desperate Moor, peace sound and farewell.
camoapa
The Municipality of Camoapa in the Mexican language means “Place of the Limpets”, according to Dávila Bolaños, or “Place of the River of Sweet Potatoes or Batatas”, according to the interpretation of Valle or Mántica.
The ancient Camuapas, descendants of the Boajos or Boacos tribes, due to the incursions of the Zambos, Miskitos and the English, the city was forced to change its location on several occasions, in the years 1749, 1752 and its current location in 1768, under the name of San Francisco de Camoapán.
In 1925, due to a conflict with neighboring Comalapa, Camoapa was integrated into the Department of Boaco.
San José de Los Remates or Boaco
San José de Boaco, a region of abundant water, cool climate and fertile mountains, was founded on March 18, 1848, following an administrative ordinance that directed the dispersed families and neighbors of Teustepe to settle in the current seat of San José de Los Remates or Boaco.
The territory with an irregular and very rugged topography, where the mountains are found:
- Cheerful Hill
- The Bald One
- Father's Hill
- The Bonnet
- The Virgin among other elevations.
Hydrographically, it is made up of the following rivers: La Lajita, El Salto, Malacatoya, Los Talnites, Caña Vieja and Monte Limón.
Santa Lucía
Name in honor of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, originally from Italy, a name chosen by Hispanic tradition of the time and as a symbol of sovereignty and religious blessing at the same time.
The municipality of Santa Lucía, with three types of climate; tropical, semi-humid and humid, is located in the foothills of the Cordillera de Amerrique, a rugged and fertile terrain. Its mountain range reaches 915 to 1,067 meters in height, made up of the imposing and rocky elevations of Los Talnites, El Viejo and Santo Domingo, which ends with a lofty monolith that can be seen from great distances in the Pacific.
- The municipality is crossed by rivers such as El Malacatoya, Fonseca, Buche, La Chingastosa, Sarco and Conganchigual Rivers.
- It is located 94 km from the city of Managua.
Teustepe
Santa Rita de Casia Parish Church
Teustepe in Chorotega voice “Town, Valley or Place of the Gods”, the indigenous population settled in El Tamarindo to the NE of the current town, the floods caused by the Malacatoya River forced its inhabitants to move to Camoapilla, its current location, at the end of 1,776. Historically, the brave municipality resisted in the war against William Walker's filibusters during the national war. Elevated to city status by legislative law of February 28, 1970.
Teustepe, small at 146 m above sea level, has a very dry climate and is highly popular with livestock farmers.
San Lorenzo
In 1862 a settlement called San LorenzoThis settlement was first known as a farm owned by Mrs. Josefa Téllez, who donated all the land for the town to be founded.
San Lorenzo is located 92 km from the capital Managua. The patron saint festivals occupy an important place in the cultural and social life of its inhabitants.
San Lorenzo has diverse natural landscapes, the main tourist attraction of this municipality is the realization of rural activities, linked to adventure and nature tourism.
Characterized by rainfall between 1,100 and 1,200 mm, the rainy season runs from late May to early November each year. The Municipality's climate is tropical savannah and average temperatures range from 24.5°c to 25°c.
The title of town was conferred on the urban settlement known as San Lorenzo on August 23, 1858, and since 1935, San Lorenzo has been part of the department of Boaco.
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