Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's possible to visit Tisey on a day trip from Estelí; however, the park's attractions are
spread out all over its 9344 hectares and public transportation is limited so you'll see more
if you spend the night.
The main entrance is accessed from the dirt road beside Hospital San Juan de Dios in
Estelí. In the park's lower elevations, just 5km from Estelí, is the inspiring
Salto Estanzuela
(admission US$1)
, a gushing 36m waterfall that careens over a bromeliad-studded cliff, and
breaks into a half-dozen foaming threads that feed a perfect swimming hole. Locals des-
cend in hordes during Semana Santa. There have been reports of robberies recently on the
path to the Falls from the main Tisey road - travel in a group and don't take any valu-
ables.
After the Falls, the road begins to climb high into the mountains before arriving at the
Eco-Posada (
Click here
)
, where you'll find a handful of Spanish-speaking guides (US$20
to US$25 per day).
The nearby, 2km
Mirador de Tisey Trail
is absolutely spectacular. After meandering up
an oak- and pine-draped hillside, you'll reach a peak with 360-degree views that encom-
pass a dozen volcanoes, including mighty San Cristóbal, and the blue outline of a Sal-
vadorian peak.
A short walk further along the road is the entrance to Alberto Gutiérrez's singular
Galería del Arte el Jalacate
(entry by donation). Gutiérrez is an artist, a naturalist and, some
might say, a bit of a hermit. But he's a welcoming one who loves showing off his property,
studded with orchids, carpeted with coffee and accented with a dozen kinds of fruit tree.
But his pride and joy is a 40m stretch of cliff that he's carved into an ever-evolving mural.
You'll find animals from Africa, the Amazon and Nicaragua, an Aztec sun, Jesus on the
cross, his vision of downtown USA, Christopher Columbus and Sandino. It is the work of
a sweet and peaceful eccentric.
About 3km beyond the
galería
is the cute hamlet of
La Garnacha
, known for a chapel
that housed huddled refugees of a Contra invasion during the war, and a
dairy cooperative
(
8658-1054; garnachaturistica@yahoo.es; Comunidad La Garnacha)
that produces artisanal
Italian-style goat cheese.
The progressive cooperative organizes several interesting activities, including organic
agriculture tours (US$5 per person) and tortilla-making and soapstone-carving classes
(US$2 per person). It also rents horses (US$5 per hour) and organizes guides (US$10 per
person) for the rugged five-hour trail to the Cuevas de Cerro Apaguaji, three caves at
1580m teeming with bats. You'll also find the best beds in Tisey in this little town.
