Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
South to Managua
The smooth, paved road from Matagalpa to Managua slithers down the shoulders of stun-
ning peaks into prairies framed by distant volcanoes. It also passes an excellent museum,
among other intriguing diversions.
HACIENDA SAN JACINTO
It will take a history buff to appreciate this national monument (admission US$0.50; 8am-4pm
Tue-Sun) , a shadeless 3km walk from the closest bus stop. It commemorates the Battle of San
Jacinto, when William Walker's filibusters and León Liberals were met by stiff resistance from
the southern Conservatives. At one point Andrés Castro, a 23-year-old Granadino with an arm
cannon, ran out of ammunition and began throwing rocks instead, killing a filibusterer. Walker
lost the battle, and ultimately the war. This recently renovated early-1800s Spanish hacienda has
a couple of murals and a few busts depicting the event.
It's about 25km south of Ciudad Darío. Managua-bound ordinario buses can drop you off at
the spur, which leads to the hacienda.
Chagüitillo
You may miss the right turn into tiny Chagüitillo, just 20km south of Matagalpa and 4km
north of Sébaco. There's no Spanish grid or parque central, just a single brick road where
all pueblo life blooms. The main reason to visit is to check out the pre-Columbian mu-
seum and petroglyphs around town.
Sights
Museo Precolombino de Chagüitillo
( 8837-7535; Puente, 1c N, 2c O, 1c S; admission US$1; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-noon Sat)
This worthwhile museum has lots of Chorotegan pottery, and an exhibit on local hero
Domingo Sánchez Salgado, aka 'Chagüitillo,' one of the leaders of the early resistance
against the Somozas. Museum staff arrange guides (US$4) to visit the petroglyph sites.
MUSEUM
Santuario Salto El Mico
Don´t miss this incredible petroglyph site, 1.5km outside town, with a swirl of moons,
snakes and dancers 3m long and 2m high carved into rocks alongside a river.
ARCHAELOGICAL SITE
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