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Matagalpa-Nicaragua
The Department of
Matagalpa
At a height of almost 800 meters above the sea level, in the
northern mountainous region of Nicaragua, lies the city of Matagalpa,
the center of the department with which it shares the same name. The
department of Matagalpa is particularly famous for including Rubén
Darío’s birthplace, now named Ciudad Darío, formerly known however
as the village of Metapa.
The city of Matagalpa is enclosed by a mountainous chain, called the
Apante, which has been declared a natural reserve. The Apante
provides great hiking opportunities, offering varying time intervals
for hiking, depending on the trail you choose. Subsequently, you can
hike up and down the mountain in as little as two or three hours or
as long as five hours or even more, bound by the different trails
you ascend along towards the peak.
During the climbing you will be able to observe several of the
animals in the area, such as magnificently colored butterflies,
monkeys, squirrels, and even the typical tropical rodents, the
agouties. The animals inhabiting the mountains are sheltered by the
verdant rainforest flora and are cared for by the many brooks and
waterfalls which will easily be noticed here. The trails can be
reliably trekked as long as you are accompanied by a guide; it is
preferable not to venture in the wild surroundings of the Matagalpa
city by yourself; guides can be found without effort in the city.
Another aspect worthy of note when it comes to mentioning Matagalpa
is the fact that the city is the leading coffee harvester, coffee
producer and coffee promoter in Nicaragua. Subsequently, as a
visitor, you will most likely be interested in visiting Matagalpa’s
Coffee Museum, located right in the center of the city. From here
you will obtain background information on the history of coffee
processing in Matagalpa.
Several ancient tools used at harvesting and
processing coffee beans are displayed in the museum. Pictures of the
city concerning other aspects than the coffee “business” are also
worth seeing, like those related to older populations and their
activities within what is at the present day Matagalpa. Otherwise,
the museum is pretty small; however it provides the essential
insight into the place’s key historical facts.
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