The department of Jinotega is located in north central Nicaragua with much of its northern border adjoining Honduras. It is a little smaller than 10,000 square kilometers in area and has a total population of about 260,000. Cities include Jinotega, Cua-Bocay, La Concordia, San Rafael del Norte, San Sebastian de Yali, Santa Maria de Pantasma and Wiwili.

Much of Jinotega contains rainforest which is been protected by its inaccessability.