Cruz de España

Southwestern Nicaragua


Ask your taxi driver to point out this monument, suspended from a gleaming half-arch above the traffic, which marks the spot where conquistador Gil González Dávila and Cacique Nicarao first met on October 12, 1523. Brightly colored statues of both men flank the monument.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southwestern Nicaragua attractions

2. Nuestra Señor de Rescate

1.13 MILES

The most striking church in town has been repainted a brilliant purple with a mix that uses huevos de amor (fertilized chicken eggs) donated by…

3. Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro

1.19 MILES

This 1863 church on the eastern side of Parque Central is worth a look for its attractive classical facade, and a lovely fresco in the cupola showing a…

4. Museo de Antropología e Historia

1.39 MILES

If you have some time to kill in town, this 200-year-old house is the place to go. Inside you'll find some moth-eaten taxidermy, a wall of myths and…

5. Iglesia San Francisco de Asis

1.51 MILES

Four blocks west of the Parque Central, this beautiful wooden church (1778) is notable for several well-carved saints and an underground tunnel running to…

6. Punta Jesus Maria

7.7 MILES

Just outside the town of Esquipulas, this well-signed sand spit stretches out into the lake for more than 1km at the height of the dry season, when lake…

7. Galería de Arte Casa de Artista

8.09 MILES

Near the beach, local artist Abel shows off his work – from nudes and still life to landscapes. Swing by and have a look; it's signposted from the main…

8. Museos El Ceibo

9.85 MILES

The excellent Museo Numismástico (Money Museum) documents the troubled history of the Nicaraguan economy through its coins and banknotes. Across the road,…