Matagalpa is a must-visit city if you are interested in seeing the Nicaraguan mountain region. It is a good jumping-off point on a Nicaragua vacation for visiting the coffee, tobacco and cattle farms in the area or hiking and witnessing what remains of the impact of German immigrants in Nicaragua.

If you like mountain hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, browsing for monkeys, ecotourism, agritourism, Indian villages, cigar factory tours, coffee farm tours, and mountain scenery, Matagalpa is the place to visit. It is located in the north highlands that make the water shed division of the Caribbean and Pacific rivers and was called "The Frontier of the Jungle" by the Spanish Conquistadores because it divided the historical Miskito Kingdom and the Colonial Spanish towns. It has mountain resorts with bungalows, youth hostels, regular hotel rooms, B&Bs, and a vast array of shops, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, bars and discotheques.

Many local businesses and residents speak English due to the surge of tourism during recent years as well as the increasing number of ex-pats who now call Matagalpa their home. Matagalpa is a nice town to walk around. Visit historical churches, like the Cathedral, built in 1874. Walk around town and take photographs of oxen carts, cowboys, loaded mules, women wearing their chals, men with hats and musicians playing guitar, trumpet, violin and accordion (Polkas and Mazurcas). These are not performances being put on for the tourists on a Nicaragua vacation but are actual real-time expressions of the local culture that is their way of life.

In many ways, life here is as it was 100 years ago. Tradition is definitely alive and well here in Matagalpa. Worth a visit is the Castillo de Cacao located just outside of the city limits. This tiny chocolate factory manufactures high-quality chocolate and if you call ahead, you can arrange a factory tour. Other things to see or visit - are the Coffee Museum, a Carlos Fonseca Birth Place museum (Founder of the Sandinista Front) and the House of former Nicaraguan President, Bartolome Martinez.

Nicaragua Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to a Nicaragua vacation.

Learn about the history and culture of Nicaragua, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Nicaragua's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips and our visa and health information will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Nicaragua for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Nicaragua tours today!

Extend Your Trip

After your Nicaragua tour, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours. These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Chile vacation packages and Easter Island tours, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.