Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Villa Sandino
It doesn't get many visitors, but the tiny rural town of Villa Sandino on the Juigalpa-El
Rama Hwy is the gateway to two of Nicaragua's most important archaeological sites.
The main attraction here is
Parque Arqueológico Piedras Pintadas
(admission US$1;
8am-4pm)
, 8km north of town on a firm dirt road, where you'll find hundreds of petro-
glyphs carved into the mossy boulders, including deer, snakes, turtles, crocodiles and spir-
als, set among rolling green hills. There are also large stones with carved channels that are
said to have been used for ritual sacrifice, and an impressive bathing pool carved out of a
single massive boulder. The park is overgrown with thick scrub and high grass - bring
sturdy footwear. There are no explanation panels, so it's best to go with a guide. Buy your
entrance ticket and organize guides at the
Alcaldía
(
2516-0058;
www.villasandino.gob.ni
;
8am-4pm)
before leaving town. A round-trip taxi from town is
Iglesia Catolica, 1c O;
around US$12.
If you are feeling particularly Dr Jones-ish, consider the three-hour horseback ride to the
pre-Columbian pyramids
, the largest ruins of their kind in Nicaragua. What you see are the
partially buried bases of larger pyramids that once stood on the site. It's no Tikal, but it's
interesting to sit and contemplate how the area looked when the pyramids were complete
and the area was full of indigenous worshippers.
Villa Sandino is easy to visit as a detour between Juigalpa and El Rama, but if you want
to stay,
Hotel Santa Clara
(maisalar@hotmail.com; frente Alcaldía; s/d/tr US$20/25/30; )
has
comfortable air-con rooms and serves fine meals. Any Juigalpa-El Rama bus will drop you
here.
TOP OF CHAPTER
El Rama
POP 13,900
The Río Rama and Río Escondido converge at El Rama, turning an otherwise lazy tropical
river into an international thoroughfare that empties into Bahía de Bluefields. Roads
between El Rama and Managua are some of the best in the country thanks to the commerce
of Rama International Port, Nicaragua's only heavyweight Atlantic harbor.
While you are still 60km from the Caribbean sea, take a walk around town and you'll
notice plenty of Creole influence with booming reggae, braided hair and a plethora of Bob
