A fine place to immerse yourself in the collective-farming world of Miraflor, this small village is in the high zone, which means there are hundreds of orchid varieties here. It's also home to a women's farming cooperative. Guests are encouraged to wake up to the smacking rhythm of fresh, handmade tortillas; milk the cow; collect the eggs and work the farm before hiking into the nearby forests.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Monumento Nacional Cañon de Somoto
27.67 MILES
The Coco (or Wangki), Central America’s longest river, runs all the way to the Caribbean, but its first impression may be its most spectacular. Gushing…
23.36 MILES
A steep yet worthwhile hour’s hike from the cemetery and embedded in a boulder-crusted ridge is the town cross, originally placed here in 1703 by…
12.57 MILES
Be sure to stop by this moving gallery devoted to fallen revolutionaries, with displays of faded photos, clothes and weaponry. Check out the exhibit (with…
Templo Parroquial de San Rafael Arcángel
13.83 MILES
Beginning in 1955, the revered Father Odorico D’Andrea turned this antiquated cathedral into a labor of divine love. It’s impeccably restored, with a…
7.24 MILES
This destination for wildlife lovers is where you’ll find the best remaining patch of virgin cloud forest (although deforestation is a serious issue),…
19.3 MILES
Artist and naturalist Alberto Gutiérrez is, some might say, a bit of a hermit – but a welcoming one who loves showing off his orchid-studded property,…
16.88 MILES
Both coffee enthusiasts and nature lovers will be enamored with this fantastic private reserve with comfortable cabañas (dorm/room per person including…
16.87 MILES
In Tisey’s lower elevations, just 5km from Estelí, is the inspiring Salto Estanzuela, a gushing 36m waterfall that careens over a bromeliad-studded cliff…
Nearby Northern Highlands attractions
0.73 MILES
This friendly community is surrounded by coffee farms managed by three working cooperatives. Sontule families once worked for just four prominent…
3.17 MILES
There are not many activities for visitors in this village, but it has some fine homestay options and it's only a 30-minute walk from Cebollal. It's also…
3.8 MILES
The lovely lake that gives its name to the entire area has an attractive position surrounded by farmland. Sadly, however, the use of chemicals by some…
3.85 MILES
Best known locally as the birthplace of poet and revolutionary hero Leonel Rugama (to whom there is a small monument here), this small village has some…
4.05 MILES
The first settlement to cater to tourists, Cebollal remains the most popular. You can stay with one of many families or in more comfortable cabañas and…
4.14 MILES
The lowest settlement in Miraflor, Coyolito is also the warmest and closest to Estelí. It offers magnificent views, especially from the Mirador La Meseta,…
4.46 MILES
This lookout point near Coyolito is perched at 1100m in the dry zone and offers fine views down the valley.
5.37 MILES
A small layered waterfall feeds this lovely, round swimming hole enclosed by rock walls. The water flows from a local spring, so it's clean, and unlike…