After visiting Somoto and its marvellous canyon, the next step on our schedule is to spend a couple of days in Esteli before leaving again for Matagalpa & Jinotega. At a first glimpse, the small town of Esteli is a very laid-back town that can be easily visited in less than a day. From the bus station, we have a little walk around and eventually (after having checked the expensive Luna International Hostel) we decide to spend the night in the Posada Cuscatleca, a local cheap (15$ private room for 2 people) not-touristy hostel that offers the same facilities of the other.
Apart from a nice Central Plaza, what Esteli is the heart of is the Sandinista Revolution that happened back in the days. All around the city there are plenty of key places, writings and symbol (look out for the FSLN flags) that are meant to be reminders of the past; ways of not forgetting the part of history that most shaped the country. One of these places is the Gallery of Heroes & Martyrs , a place where to remember the fallen during the revolution. Contemporarily, the gallery (which now goes under the name of Casa de Cultura) is also a place where anybody can come to create their own art whether is painting, singing, composing or dancing, nobody is left behind and there’s even classes for those willing to learn. For those looking for a deeper insight in Nicaraguan history should also go and visit the Casa de Cultura Leonel Rugama where to know more precise details about the whole revolutions, from the beginning to the current days.
Having a walk around town is probably the best way to fully enjoy the artistic side of the city. All around the city boundaries, especially close to the central plaza, you’ll find plenty of super colorful and meaningful murales . Make sure to ask locals for direction to the best ones!
Not too far from the city center, you can also find Cigar factory known for its high quality “puros” produced; should you wish to for a guided tour, just make sure to show up on in front of the gates of “Esteli Cigarros” and you’ll be given a free tour explaining the process of turning leaves into puros. Given our not-long-ago trip to Cuba, the time spent in Viñales (check the post here) taught us enough on the cigar production but for the newbies the tour is definitely a nice half-way activity.
And how not to recommend the Restaurant Jerusalem, a small tavern/fast food/bar owned by the funniest Israeli guy which offers tasty food at incredibly competitive prices!!! Don’t miss out on the Hummus!
For those loving outdoors & nature, not too far from Esteli you can pay a visit a the Reserva Natural Miraflor, located 30km north of the city. Due to its huge area and varying altitudes, the park offers a great variety of faun and flora scattered around. Optionally, another good option is to take a bus and visit the Salto de la Estanzuela a.k.a. the highlight of the Reserva Tisey Estanzuela, only at 10km from Estelí.
In the end, a couple of days are good enough for visiting the city and the history of the place but should you wish to explore a bit the surroundings definitely make sure to stop by for at least a week!
PLANNING A TRIP TO NICARAGUA? CHECK MORE POSTS BELOW!
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