Central Nicaragua is a rewarding destination for travelers who want to explore the outdoors. Its glorious natural countryside consists of cloud forests, coffee farms, lush green hills, rivers and tobacco fields. Visit Central Nicaragua’s cowboy towns and isolated rural villages. Admire pretty waterfalls, hike mountain trails, relax in thermal baths and spot exotic wildlife.
Jinotega is the gateway to outdoor adventures in the region’s north. Hike amid cloud forests and visit waterfalls at the Peñas Bancas Massif. Watch for monkeys, wild cats and rare bird species. The extended mountain mass is part of the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Central America’s biggest natural reserve. Try zip lining in La Brellera and discover tribal villages while walking in Cerro Datanlí Natural Reserve and the Jinotegan Highlands.
Take a guided tour of a coffee farm, trek to summit viewpoints and encounter rundown gold mines around Matagalpa. Travel to Estelí, deep in the heart of the Sébaco Valley. This lively town is famous for tobacco plantations and cigar factories. Find pre-Columbian artifacts in Pueblo Nuevo and browse the workshops of marble artisans in San Juan de Limay.
Journey south to the Boaco department and relax in the soothing hot springs near Embalse las Canoas. Camoapa features ruins of an ancient city and the Salinas caves. Scrutinize centuries-old rock art at Piedra Pintada. Be sure to visit Chontales department to experience Nicaragua’s thriving cowboy and cattle-rearing culture. Watch delightful sunsets from towns such as Puerto Diaz on the north shore of Lake Nicaragua.
In the region’s southeastern corner is the Río San Juan department. Here, El Castillo is a gateway to the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve. Catch a boat to the Solentiname Islands, a small archipelago on Lake Nicaragua.
Reach Central Nicaragua by flying to Managua’s Augusto C. Sandino International Airport and get to your final destination via local buses or on organized tours. Take your time to fully appreciate this scenic region and then relax on the beaches of Nicaragua’s Pacific coastline.
