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…
Getty Images/AWL Images RM
Estelí
Estelí has a multifaceted soul: it's both a university town with a large number of progressive students and the main center of commerce for the rural farming communities that surround it. On weekdays you can wake up with sunrise yoga before Spanish class; on Saturday you can mingle with farmers at the massive produce market, then see them again at midnight, dancing like mad in a ranchero bar.
Set on the Panamericana close to the Honduran border, Estelí was a strategic gateway that saw heavy fighting and helped turn the revolution and, later, the Contra War. It's no surprise, then, that Estelí has remained one of the Sandinistas’ strongest support bases. While it's not a particularly attractive place, its character and easy access to the surrounding mountains make it a popular place for backpackers to base themselves.
Explore Estelí
- GGalería de Héroes y Mártires
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…
- MMurals
You'll still see some murals around the streets of Estelí, and although many of the original revolutionary pieces have been lost to development, there are…
- CCatedral
The 1823 cathedral has a wonderful facade and is worth a wander. A number of interesting murals can be seen in the surrounding blocks, although most of…
- MMuseo de Historia y Arqueología
In a large, concrete, faux-indigenous pyramid on the north side of town, Estelí's museum has a small but interesting collection of pottery and petroglyphs…
- CCasa de Cultura Leonel Rugama
In the bullet-hole-marked former home of a high-ranking Somoza official, the Casa de Cultura offers a range of art, dance and music classes to locals …
- AAlcadía
A local reference point, the city hall sits across the park from the cathedral.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Estelí.
See
Galería de Héroes y Mártires
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…
See
Murals
You'll still see some murals around the streets of Estelí, and although many of the original revolutionary pieces have been lost to development, there are…
See
Catedral
The 1823 cathedral has a wonderful facade and is worth a wander. A number of interesting murals can be seen in the surrounding blocks, although most of…
See
Museo de Historia y Arqueología
In a large, concrete, faux-indigenous pyramid on the north side of town, Estelí's museum has a small but interesting collection of pottery and petroglyphs…
See
Casa de Cultura Leonel Rugama
In the bullet-hole-marked former home of a high-ranking Somoza official, the Casa de Cultura offers a range of art, dance and music classes to locals …
Guidebooks
Learn more about Estelí
Uncover the heart of travel and be inspired to see new sights with one of Lonely Planet’s in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.