Jinotega Travelers Information

This information is from personal experience and is to be considered as one persons opinion.

JINOTEGA Introduction: The purpose for this paper is to assist the English speaking tourist during their visit to Jinotega, Nicaragua

I. Lodging;

A. Hotel El Café. Most like a US hotel. Knowledge of Spanish or interpreter required, NO English speaking staff. The rooms are equal to a Holiday Inn in style and type and the hot water is not always hot, but no pool. The hotel has a bar/restaurant where you can get a rum and mix or a beer. Don’t bother ordering any other drinks on the menu because the staff have not been trained and there is no real bartender. The restaurant is just below par with a bad Denny’s. Lack of service is typical for Nicaragua. Summary: Hotel and Restaurant are overpriced for the service you get when compared to equivalent hotels in Nicaragua.

B. Hotel Central. We chose not to stay here after seeing it. I have no personal experience with this hotel. This is the one next to the Esso Station near park Central.

C. Hotel Bosawas. This hotel is clean with a friendly staff. Knowledge of Spanish or interpreter would be good, NO English speaking staff. The hotel was clean but tended to be a little noisy from the room upstairs. No bar or restaurant on site. This hotel was for sale when we were there. The rate for the night was reasonable.

D. Hotel Sollentuna Hem. This hotel is clean with a friendly staff. Knowledge of Spanish or interpreter would be good, NO English speaking staff. No bar or restaurant on site. The hotel is quiet. The rate for the night here was reasonable.

E. Hotel Primavera. We chose not to stay here after seeing it. I have no personal experience with this hotel. It is close to the market and the unwed mothers home.

II. Restaurants:

A. La Colmena. This restaurant has a simple menu with beef, chicken, pork and fish. Most dishes are served in bottled sauces (sauces you can buy at the local grocery) with rice, French fries, and cold vegetables. Service is slow even for Nicaragua. No English speaking servers. Prices are about $4 and up. Bar serves rum and beer.

B. Restaurante El Tico. Simple menu with beef, chicken, fish and some pork dishes. Most of the food is served in sauces. The food and the service have been consistently good at this restaurant. You can order anything off the menu food or drink and you will get it. No English speaking servers. I would list them as the best in Jinotega.

C. Chaba’s Pizza. This restaurant was a disappointment. We had visited other pizza places in Nicaragua and the pizza was usually mediocre. This pizza was bad, from no sauce to bologna used as sausage. The pizza was more costly then the equivalent in the United States. A 9 in. cost $15.00 plus extras such as meat. No English speaking servers. This place is bad news.

D. Soda El Tico. This eatery is below par in cleanliness and food quality. I only include it to warn about it. No English speaking servers. Too many flies everywhere in the building for my taste.

E. Cocina Del Marias. This is a buffet style eatery. There is no menu just what is presented at the buffet each day. Actually the quality of the food has been good and a deal for about $2.50 a plate with beverage. No English speaking servers.

F. McGarry. A very interesting restaurant specializing in beef and garlic. The food is good and the price is reasonable. The restaurant is noisy and the locals like the place dirty table cloths and all. No English speaking servers. The unfortunate thing is it is in a rough area after dark.

G. Country Burger. This place is a pleasant surprise. They cook up burgers that are very close in flavor to the United States chain burgers. The place is closed Sunday and Monday. Be sure to bring your best Spanish and your patience. The place is clean and the prices are reasonable.

H. Roca Rancho. This place is a time capsule from the 80’s. What I mean by saying this is the place has not been cleaned or updated from the early 80’s and the poor quality of food proves it if you dare eat or drink here. When you are done ask for the bill and check it over well they like to pad the bar bill by $5 dollars or more. No English speaking servers.

I. La Perrera. This is a nice place about 3 Km south of town heading back to Matagalpa. The food and drinks are above Nicaragua standards and worth the taxi ride to get there. The owners have worked hard to maintain a clean kitchen and dining room. The service is good. English is spoken here.

III. Sites and activities in town

A. The Cathedral of San Juan on the east side of the park Central. The San Juan de Jinotega cathedral has true religious relics such as the “Flagellated Christ”. There are only three in the world, this is the only one in the Americas.

B. Pena de la Cruz “Cross of the rock” A moderate hour to hour and a half hike up Chirinagua mountain to the site of the present day cross. The original cross was erected in 1705 by Friar Antonio Margil de Jesus to ward off spells from the sorcerers of the chirinagua mountain.

C. Cerro de la Pelota “Hill of the ball” This is the mountain where Augusta Sandino kept his headquarters when the city was taken.

D. Soppexcca coffee union. A good place to start with a cup of coffee and to ask about the "Route of the coffee". Spanish is necessary, none of the staff speak English