ESTELÍ
Located in a privileged place due to its climate, between mountains, at 843,97 Msnm, the city of Estelí is one of the most pleasant of all Nicaragua with Monzón type climate of highlands, which is characterized by being subtropical dry but quite Fresh, with temperatures ranging between 25 ° C and 28 ° C, and with a very low humidity compared to other areas of the country.
The population distribution is eminently urban, 81 percent of its inhabitants live in the urban area.
It is 148 km, about 2 hours from the capital Managua, which is easily reached by the Pan-American highway.
Its urban fabric, entirely in checkerboard, as in almost all the colonial cities of America, extends through the valley between the apples, squares and gardens where public buildings such as the cathedral are located.
As head of the department of the same name and main city of the north of the country Estelí maintains a high industrial and commercial activity. The department, mountainous, keeps numerous important natural places that act as tourist attraction.
Estelí has been named as the second most important city of Nicaragua, as a result of the strong commercial activity, also known as the Diamond of the Segovias.
Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario
The Cathedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario of Estelí or better known as Cathedral of Estelí is the Episcopal Seat of the Diocese of Estelí. It has a Neoclassical and modern style and by the distinctive white color since 1990 is known as the White Cathedral.
The image of Our Lady of the Rosary was transferred from the European continent after the founding of New Segovia. It dates approximately from the 17th century.
Casa de Cultura “Leonel Rugama”
Musicians, painters, craftsmen and dancers of all ages meet at the Leonel Rugama House of Culture to learn, teach and share with the national and foreign public the most representative of Nicaraguan art, especially that which takes place in the North of Nicaragua. Founded in 1979, this cultural center offers concerts, art exhibitions, dance performances and a cultural day that lasts a month, dedicated the renowned poet Rubén Darío.
Museo de Historia y Arqueología
His tour begins with a brief explanation of the collection of Nicaraguan bills and coins that were used in previous years, and others that come from Egypt, Argentina, Russia, Holland, among other countries. You can also see the pictures of painters who developed their art in the 1980’s and who stand out for their color and portray the daily life of the stylists.
Murales
One of the most important cultural patrimonies of the city of Estelí is its murals that possess a great artistic wealth, and have been realized by both local and foreign painters.
In the city of Estelí there are over 150 murals, some of them painted by the collective Boanerges Cerrato and others made by members of the Muralism Workshops, founded by the American Janet Pavone, the Englishman Daniel Hopewell and the Argentine Cecilia Herrero.
Muralism Workshops were founded in the city of Estelí in 1989 to promote children’s organization through the collective production of public art, with the participation of children and adolescents with scarce economic resources, And deprived of their liberty.
Its theme is varied: you can see murals dedicated to the country, Rubén Darío, the Guegüense, the Revolution, education or peace. Without a doubt, to walk the streets is to bump into each moment with a cascade of colors and feelings expressed by young people and children muralists.
Fábricas de puros
A large number of tobacco plantations and Cigar or “Puros” factories can be found in and around Estelí. The Nicaraguan cigars of this region are of high quality and are sold in the United States and Europe, which represents a great pride for the local population.
There are some factories in which you, as a tourist, can see the manufacturing process. You can see how tobacco plantations are planted and harvested (if it is in the right season) and men and women by selecting, cutting, rolling, sorting and packing.
La Reserva Natural “El Tisey-La Estanzuela”
The “El Tisey-La Estanzuela” Nature Reserve is located between the municipalities of Estelí and San Nicolás, in the central region of the country known as the Central Cordillera of Nicaragua. It covers an area of 9,344 square hectares, with altitudes ranging between 700 and 1550 meters above sea level. The protected area includes several points with great ecotourism appeal, highlighting the famous jump of La Estanzuela, the lofty slopes of El Tisey with its viewpoints, and the cozy hamlet of La Garnacha.
The Salto de la Estanzuela is six kilometers from Estelí. The jump is not very big, but fine for a refreshing swim. You can hike in the surroundings to observe nature.
Nearby is La Garnacha, an ecotourism initiative where you can walk along trails to gorges, you can appreciate the volcanic chain Los Maribios and Lake Managua, and enjoy cheese made in the Italian style with goat’s milk.
Miraflor un paraíso entre las nubes
The Miraflor reserve was declared a nature reserve in 1990 and has an extension of 206km2.
It is characterized by the presence of broad-leaved Nebliselva forests on mountain tops, tropical dry forest in the lower part of the Quebrada Grande sub-basin, extensive blocks of natural meadows in Las Mesas de Moropotente, intermediate ecosystems and a strong human intervention.
It is one of the richest areas in orchids around the world and there are more than 200 species identified. Miraflor orchids grow in different media, those that grow on the trees are the best known, and those that grow on stones and on the ground directly are also among the most showy or strange.
Los yacimientos paleontológicos de “El Bosque”, cerca de Pueblo Nuevo, y las artesanías de piedras de Limay
At a distance of 7 kilometers from the urban center of Pueblo Nuevo is located the Archaeological site known as “El Bosque”. In this site is found remains of prehistoric animals; Is owned by the Municipality and functions as a museum in which the prints and remains of the bones of the fossilized animals that date back 30,000 years are presented.
In Limay, the artisans elaborate beautiful sculptures in stone. You can see sculpted petroglyphs with prehistoric human figures, animals and birds. The stone marmolina, raw material that they use, began to be used just three decades ago. Most artisans work with traditional and rustic tools such as machetes, rasp, sandpaper and a bit of bitumen to brighten the pieces. Among the most showy or strange.
Reserva Natural El Quiabú
The protected area “El Mirador Segoviano” (El Quiabú), is located to the west of the city of Estelí, at a distance of about 12 km. It has an area of 4,510.68 hectares with soils of forest vocation. As a consequence of the indiscriminate felling of the forests, there are areas dedicated to the exploitation of extensive livestock.
In the area are deer, sahino and coyotes, and predominate small pine forests in growth stage, and oak trees.
This territory is located in the upper parts of the Estelí River Basin, where the “El Jazmín” and “Las Pintadas” streams are tributaries of the Estelí River, and the El Dorado Gorge, which is tributary to the La Sirena River. You can also see water eyes, which in some cases serve for human consumption.
Reserva Natural Tomabú
The Tomabú Nature Reserve covers an area of 165 km2 located at the 137 km of the Pan-American highway at the foot of the community of Santa Cruz in the department of Estelí.
The forest is subtropical dry with predominant species of royal cedar, blackberry, oak, oak, pine and quebracho. In relation to the wild fauna there is very little since in the last years it has been much persecuted by the inhabitants of the surroundings. At present, some types of birds prevail such as: hawks, pijules, corraleras, zanates, magpies, buzzards, chachalacas, cenzontle, thrushes, among others.
Tradiciones
- On July 16 the Catholic church celebrates with songs in the atrium of the Cathedral Mass to the Virgin of Carmen.
- On the 7th of October the Estilians celebrate their “patroness” Virgin of the Rosary, this day a series of cultural activities are performed in the city, such as festivals of peasant singing, the children of the schools interpret religious artworks in the atrium of the cathedral .
- The Virgin of the Rosary, patroness of Estelí dates approximately of century XVII, around her they are woven beautiful and interesting legends and are attributed a great amount of miracles.
- The Holy Burial, celebrated in Holy Week, is the culminating celebration of the liturgical year. It commemorates the capital events of the Paschal mystery: the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Musically it is the Capital of the Polkas and Mazurcas with its great exponent Felipe Urrutia and His Cubs, compiler of the famous theme “The Grito del Bolo”.
The Christmas Shopping Nights that takes place every year in the month of December. - Estelí has become the second city, after Managua, where the largest equestrian parade in Nicaragua takes place. It is celebrated in December.