Are you wondering if Matagalpa is worth visiting? What to do here? And how to get to Matagalpa? Check out my top tips packed full of important information you need to know before going to Matagalpa.
Matagalpa Facts
• Population: 542,000
• Matagalpa City: 150, 000
• Altitude: 700 meters above sea level
• Temperature: 16º – 25º C. (61ºF – 77ºF) between October and February, 25º – 30º C. (77ºF – 86ºF) between March and September
Top Reasons to Visit Matagalpa
Matagalpa, is a destination in Nicaragua which most people have never heard of.
Matagalpa is rich in diversity: delicious coffee, nice hardworking people, fresh air, and relaxed atmosphere, a city surrounded by mountains with steep streets and neighborhoods that extend from the valley to the top of the hills, and its beautiful cathedral made with egg white and sand, its nature reserves, its indigenous fabrics, its business and commerce, rural and peasant life, this and more make Matagalpa an interesting area, full of nature, energy, and movement.
The geography of the area and its humid tropical forests encourage the production of high quality coffee which is known internationally. Matagalpa also produces a variety of vegetables and grains, giving it its well-deserved reputation as “The Capital of Production.” This same geography contains natural reserves of unique beauty, such as the hill Apante and the nature reserve El Arenal, places you can visit if you like hiking.
The city of Matagalpa has a rich three-dimensional structure. Its hills surround the semi-flat main streets; neighborhoods decorate the mountains, stairs that take you to summits with panoramic views from different points, varied houses, each in form and color showing the diversity that characterizes Nicaragua.
In addition, the life of the city has a mix of rural and urban, which is observed not only in its physical structure, but also in its music and in the faces of people walking the streets. It is also an accessible and enjoyable city to walk wherever you want, enjoy the streets and people without any fear, as it is one of the safest cities in the country.
To speak of Matagalpa, one must speak of its people: friendly, accessible, and fighters are perfect adjectives to describe Matagalpans. The name Matagalpa means “people network” name that makes clear reference to the dynamic of social networking in which it has developed.
There are organizations, arts groups and social movements that make this city a unique place for those seeking dynamism and social change.
Top Things to Do in Matagalpa
These are the main tourist activities:
Eco-tourism:
Hiking in nature reserves such as: Peñas Blancas, Bosawas, mountain reserve El Arenal, mount Apante, visits to eco-lodges, organic agriculture, and bird, butterfly, and orchid watching.
Rural Community Tourism / fair trade:
Visit and stay in rural communities with organized cooperatives of fair trade coffee and cocoa.
City Tours:
Coffee Museum, Birthplace of Carlos Fonseca, Chocolate Factory, Overlook El Calvario, Overlook of Apante, social development visits.
Adventure Tours:
Visits to rivers and waterfalls, mountain hikes, mountain biking, horseback riding.
How to Get to Matagalpa?
In Managua, the buses that head to the northern cities of Nicaragua leave from El Mercado Mayoreo (The Mayoreo Market).
From this station, you can reach the cities of Matagalpa, Jinotega, Esteli, Somoto, Boaco, Chontales, Jalapa, San Carlos, Nueva Guinea, Rama and the border of Las Manos and El Espino.
To reach Matagalpa from Managua by bus:
The only bus station where there are buses to Matagalpa is the station in El Mayoreo. From any part of Managua, a taxi can take you to El Mayoreo. Again, all the buses that head north leave from this station.
From the bus station in El Mercado Mayoreo (The Mayoreo Market) you can take an express bus (Servicio Expreso) or the regular service (Servicio Ordinario or Ruteado).
The Express is a few Cordobas more expensive, but much better, because it goes directly to Matagalpa (with only one stop along the way in Boaco), whereas the regular service stops in each little town along the route.
From the airport:
The Managua Airport is on the far eastern edge of the city, along the road to Matagalpa. The regular-service buses pass by the airport, which means you don’t have to go to back west into Managua city to El Mayoreo in order to get a bus to Matagalpa directly.
Just walk out of the airport, and down to the street. From there, just wave down any bus with ‘Matagalpa’ painted on the front or the side. You could also take a bus that says ‘Jinotega’–the city just to the north of Matagalpa.
Make sure to check with the driver that the bus actually is going to Matagalpa, and ask him to tell you when to get off, as sometimes the routes painted on the bus are not correct.
Bus Schedules:
Departure time from Managua: Hourly, from 4:00 a.m until 5:30 p.m
Estimated time and Rates:
Expresos (Express service): 2 hours C$ 60.00 (US $ 2.76)
Ruteados or Ordinarios (Regular service): 3 hours C$ 42.00 (US $ 2.20)
Schedules: Every hours from 4:00 am to 6:00 p.m
Tarifas:
Expresos:C$ 72.00/US$ 3.02
Ruteados:C$ 53.00/US$2.22
In private/rented car:
Private Ride to Matagalpa:
You can arrange a driver to give you a ride to Matagalpa directly from the airport or from the hotel where you are staying:
Prices:
• Aeropuerto – Matagalpa: US$ 105
• Dentro de Managua – Matagalpa: US$ 110
• León – Matagalpa: US$ 110
• Granada – Matagalpa: US$ 120
From other cities:
Direct buses to Matagalpa: From the following cities you can take direct buses to Matagalpa: León, Masaya, Managua, Jinotega y Estelí
From Granada:
You need to take a bus to Managua and then to Matagalpa. But, if you don’t want to pass through Managua, you could take a quick bus to Masaya first, and then another to Tipitapa, a small town to the northeast of Managua. From there, along the Panamerican Highway, you can wave down an ordinary service bus that goes directly to Matagalpa.
Chinandega:
The best option is to look for a bus to León, and then take another bus directly to Matagalpa.
Rivas:
The best thing to do is to take a direct bus to Managua, and then another to Matagalpa.
Recommendations for travel within the country.
Overall I really enjoyed visiting Matagalpa, okay it won’t be your favourite place to travel in Central America, but if you are looking for a relaxing nature destination away from the usual hotspots, I recommend going.