Location/Description

Jinotega is located in the north central mountains of Nicaragua, 160 kilometers from the capital, Managua. The city is situated in a valley encircled by high mountains, some covered with pine trees and some covered with cloud-covered rain forests. The department of Jinotega is made up of approximately 177,600 inhabitants over an extension of 9,576 square kilometers. The urban zone accounts for some 65,000 of the total population. This department is the second largest in Nicaragua, bordering on the north with Honduras, on the south with Matagalpa, with Zelaya department on the east, and on the west with the departments of Esteli, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia. The topography is varied, making a variety of zones whose climates range from intense heat to substantial cold. The department of Jinotega contains seven municipalities: San Rafael del Norte, La Concordia, Yali, Cua-Bocay, Wiwili, Pantasman and Jinotega itself, the department capital.

Key Contact People:

Anibal Ruiz Luna
Barrio Linda Vista, De La Ladrilleria, 3 cuadras al oeste, 1/2 cuadra al sur
Ph: 632-3750
Pulperia Osmara

Gloria Castro-Frenzel
Calle Central, del la virgen, 1/2 cuadra al sur, casa #710
Ph: 632-2200

These people are Jinoteganos. They will be very helpful for just about any type of information: where to buy the best fruits and vegetables, where to begin looking for a house, where to find a refrigerator repair man…

Cliff and Valerie Sanders
Minnesota Health Project
Calle Centenario, Frente de la Shell

Cliff is an American and an ex-Peace Corps Volunteer.

Going to Jinotega from Managua:

Approximately 3.5 hours
To get to Jinotega from Managua, take the Express buses that depart from El Mercado Mayoreo. The cost as of October 1, 1998 was C$27 (Cordobas). The buses leave every two hours, starting at 6:00 am, Monday through Saturday, with the final bus leaving at 4:00 pm. On Sunday, there are only two Express buses, one leaving at 8:00 am and the other leaving at 10:00 am.

Going to Managua from Jinotega:

Approximately 3.5 hours
To get to Managua from Jinotega, take the Express buses that depart from COTRAN. The cost as of October 1, 1998 was C$27 (cordobas). Buses depart at 4:00 am (actually with this bus, it is best to pick it up at the Central Park, in front of the Cathedral), 4:50 am (microbus), 5:30 am, 6:00 am, 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 1:30 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. Please check with COTRAN regarding Sunday departures, they vary.

Going between Jinotega and Matagalpa:

Approximately 1.5 hours
To get to Matagalpa from Jinotega and vice versa, take the Non-Express buses that depart from COTRAN. They leave every half hour, Monday through Sunday and the cost as of October 1, 1998 was C$8 (cordobas).

Going to Esteli from Jinotega:

Approximately 3 hours
There is an Express buss that leaves from Jinotega to Esteli everyday at 2:10 pm.

Jinotega Municipal Market

The market is open everyday, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. You will find a wide variety of food items, fruits, vegetables, meats, etc… as well as, almost anything for your home or self.

Dining

There is a chain of restaurants called "El Tico", in Jinotega. They range from inexpensive, El Tico (de la Sanak, 1/2 cuadra al norte), to mid-range, El Tico (frente de La Salle), to expensive, El Tico Nuevo. All three are run by the same family, are very clean and use purified water, both for ice cubes and frescos. There is also an excellent yet expensive restaurant called La Colmena (del Banco Mercantil, 1/2 cuadra al este). They also use purified water.

Various "fritangas" can be found, the one de La Sandak 3/4 cuadras al norte is my favorite for tacos.

Lodging

- El Tico restaurant in front of La Salle is also a hospedaje and close to the bus station.
    - La Solentuna Hem is a nicer hospedaje and is located de la Kodak, 4 cuadras al norte, (look for the new sign). C$80 cordobas per night.
    - La Colmena is also a hotel and is the nicest in the city at $30 US dollars/night.

Miscellaneous

Jinotega is known as a very tranquil place, even at night. The only area of concern is the Calle Ocho, where gangs and more questionable nightlife abound. Stay away from here after sunset.