Matagalpa

By kpvega

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Coffee drying platforms

Matagalpa countryside

The department of Matagalpa is located in the northern region of the country. This mountainous area offers amazing scenery and the forested slopes of the many hills and mountains provide great possibilities for hiking and other nature-related activities.

Being Nicaragua’s coffee-capital, a visit to the coffee museum in Matagalpa is definitely a must -- it's a small museum that offers interesting information about the coffee production, harvest and growth. In the museum you'll find photos, old tools on display, and other objects including pre-Columbian ceramics and old pictures of Matagalpa. There is also a museum of the founder of the Sandinista movement, Carlos Fonseca, who was born in Matagalpa.

Matagalpa is a fairly large city in Nicaragua, and there are plenty hotels and restaurants in different price ranges but mainly inexpensive compared to other countries. Although many interesting activities can be found outside the urban area, there are also several attractions within the city limits. Several small parks are a great place to hang out, enjoying the quiet setting and some local cuisine. The Central Park and the Darío Park are the two most interesting and visited parks in town.

The city is surrounded by green mountains and one of the most prominent peaks is the Cerro Buena Vista, reaching a height of 1,442 meters above sea level. The mountain chain is called Apente, and it is a protected natural reserve. The lush vegetation makes it a great place for hiking. One particular peak, called the Apente Hill (Cerro Apente) has well-prepared trails that lead to the top, and along the way visitors can see small mammals, butterflies, and other animals, as well as water streams and even waterfalls. A viewpoint is located at the summit, providing a superb view of the city of Matagalpa and its surroundings.

Weather
Matagalpa is built on a hilly terrain that is surrounded by mountains. The city itself is located at an elevation of around 700 meters and the weather is significantly different from the hot, tropical climate at the Pacific lowlands. Although it can also get quite hot during the dry season, Matagalpa generally enjoys lower temperatures than cities like Managua or León, and it also rains more in this region. The vegetation is consequently also different, and the area is generally very green.


The department of Matagalpa is generally easily accessible, although the more rural attractions lack good infrastructure. To get there you can take a bus or rent a car. You will get there in less than 3 hours depending on the traffic, and the condition of the rad because on winter it get really bad. The price to take a bus is about $4 American dollars or less.

Within the city of Matagalpa there are taxis for local transportation. The city has sidewalks and parks that make it a pleasant place to stroll around, but the sloped streets can easily be tiring. When driving an own car, make sure to be aware of the many one-way streets.




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