Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Jacinto
The only town of any size on this stretch of the Ring of Fire, San Jacinto is base camp for
climbs up Volcán Telica (1061m; six to eight hours), Volcán Rota (832m; three to five
hours), with great views of Telica, and
Volcán Santa Clara
(834m; three to five hours). If
you're up for it, you can walk to Cerro Negro from here.
Organized tours invariably stop at the famous
Hervideros de San Jacinto
(admission US$2;
7am-5pm)
, an expanse of bubbling mud puddles. They shift in size and location after a
good rain, so put more faith in your pint-sized
guide
(per child US$0.50 to $1)
than the rickety
fence. You can wash it off about six blocks away at the luke-warm
Aguas Termales San
Jacinto
(San Jacinto Hot Springs).
Buses leave for León (US$0.75, 40 minutes) every half-hour between 4am and 5:30pm.
Tours
Safari Nicarao
( 2266-1018; entrance to Hervidores San Jacinto)
This basic operator could take you to some
of the nearby attractions, but you are probably better off with a León-based operation.
TOUR
Sleeping
HOTEL
$
Turismo de Aventura
(entrance to San Jacinto; s without bathroom US$10)
This bargain-basement spot is the only horse
in town, and that horse won't pull.
TOP OF CHAPTER
El Sauce
POP 7600
Once a bustling and important link on the national railway, today scenic El Sauce is just a
sleepy mountain town cut straight from an Old West movie. The town bursts to life on the
third Sunday in January, when pilgrims from all over Nicaragua, Guatemala and beyond
make their way here to pay their respects to
El Señor de Esquipulas
(The Black Christ).
