Matagalpa is the must visit city if you are interested in seeing the Nicaraguan mountain region. It is a good jumping off point for visiting the coffee and cattle farms in the area, hiking and witnessing what remains of the impact of the German immigrants in Nicaragua. Matagalpa was an Indian town, then, due to gold mines found in the 1850s, became the destination of Central European settlers. That is the reason why you see people of lighter complexion than in Managua, Granada or Leon. Life here is more like it was in the old days.

History and Culture
Matagalpa is located in the highlands that make the water shed division of the Caribbean and Pacific rivers, it was called "The Frontier of the Jungle" by the Spanish Conquistadores because it divided the historical Mosquito Kingdom and the Colonial Spanish towns. It has mountain resorts with bungalows, youth hostels, and regular hotel rooms, bars and restaurants. Many residents speak English.

Tourist Offices
There is an Intur office a couple of blocks north of Parque Darío.

Around and closeby
You can visit the neighbouring town of San Ramón to see the old adobe church, on weekends you can see the campesinos playing polkas y mazurcas - local music. Visit the tomb in the local cemetery where Katharina Braun Elster is buried. She was the first person to plant coffee in Central and Northern Nicaragua. A few miles in the same direction is the Indian Community of "El Chile" where the Indians make their own fabric on an old "rueca" (spinning wheel).

Sightseeing
Matagalpa has two public libraries, the Municipal, and Vicente Vita. . There are three historical Catholic church temples few blocks apart: the Cathedral, Molaguina and San José. Saint Peter´s Cathedral is the major building of the city, it was built by the Jesuit fathers, begun in 1874, and finished in 1895.

Getting there
From the Cotran Sur bus station there are buses to and from Chinandega, Jinotega, Estelí, León, Masaya, Sébaco and Manaugua. From the Cotran Norte bus station there are buses to and from Río Blanco. Waswah, Escipulas, Cerro Colorado, San Ramón and San José de Bocay.