Discover Nueva Segovia

From colorful everyday items made from pine needles to a 120-meter-high waterfall, Nueva Segovia appeals to travelers with a range of interests. Highlights include handicrafts, historic sites, traditional foods, hiking and nature watching. To plan your trip, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first: the region offers both cultural attractions and destinations whose appeal lies in their landscapes and water.

Handicrafts, culture and history

In Jalapa, two women’s artisan collectives in La Palmera and El Escambray make colorful everyday items from pine needles. These include hats, plates, cups and ashtrays. The selection ranges from hats to tableware, showcasing the different ways the material is worked.

At Loma Santa near Mozonte, 127 steps lead to a chapel and a grotto dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. From there, you can see the entire urban area of Mozonte. The chapel and grotto give the site a religious connection, while the view across the urban area offers a different perspective on Mozonte.

The historic gold mines of San Albino in El Jícaro are a landmark on the Sandino Route. San Albino is also associated with tours explaining traditional gold extraction. Those interested in the history of gold mining will find a different focus here than at the region’s cultural sites and nature destinations. The Minas de Guano in Macuelizo offer another historical perspective: these former gold mines were exploited during Spanish rule.

In Santa María, the Cueva del Duende is associated with rock paintings of ethnic origin. Local tradition holds that a duende lives there. In Ocotal, the Casa museo Santa María de los Rivas houses sacred art from different parts of the world. The two sites cater to different cultural interests: rock paintings and local storytelling at one, a collection of sacred art at the other.

Food culture is also part of Nueva Segovia’s character. Traditional tamales from Mozonte include Tamal pisque, Tamal dulce and Tamal nesquizado, prepared using traditional techniques. These three names offer a specific glimpse into the variety of Mozonte’s tamal tradition.

Hiking, views and water

The Mirador Coquimba in Dipilto is a natural viewpoint and a hiking destination. At Cerro Mogotón in San Fernando, the focus is on hiking and observing flora and fauna. The Serranía Dipilto y Jalapa Nature Reserve in Jalapa adds hiking, nature watching and landscape appreciation to the options. Each of these nature destinations has a different focus: views, observing plants and animals, or experiencing the landscape.

Las pilitas in Mozonte is a natural formation of seven clear-water pools, surrounded by lush vegetation. Water conditions can vary. Salto El Rosario in Murra offers a different experience: the waterfall is 120 meters high and surrounded by untouched forest. Water flows there in both winter and summer; its volume doubles when it rains. If water and vegetation shape your travel interests, Las pilitas’ pools are distinctly different from Murra’s tall waterfall.

At the Cañón de los Cerros Pegados in Santa María, possible activities include hiking, enjoying the scenery and water sports. Ropes are recommended for climbing the rocks. The options therefore range from viewpoints and nature watching to activities on and in the water. Which destinations you focus on depends on whether you would rather explore the region’s culture, landscapes, water or hiking opportunities.

Before making specific plans, check current visitor access, especially if a tour or a particular nature destination is central to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Ocotal, Madriz Department, Esteli, Matagalpa, Chontales Department, Managua, South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Carazo

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