Perched at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet, the Cerro Arenal Natural Reserve is a biologically diverse world of wonders that's just a 20-minute drive from the city of Matagalpa. The expansive 1430-hectare reserve has dense cloud forests that are flush with bromeliads, orchids and giant ferns. Hikes give you the opportunity to spot colorful butterflies and exotic birds like toucans and quetzals, while monkeys swing through the treetops of the dense forest. For a spectacular view, trek to Cerro Partido. The lookout has soaring vistas of volcanic mountains that ripple across the verdant landscape.
Within Cerro Arenal you'll find Selva Negra. The protected reserve is one of the most-visited natural attractions in the area. Ancient rainforests give way to cool cloud forests in the biologically diverse stretch of nature that's home to nearly 300 wildlife species. One of the region's oldest hotel has an esteemed spot in Selva Negra. From there, visitors base hikes and horseback rides to organic coffee fields and into the surrounding mountains.
A 25-minute drive northeast of Matagalpa takes you to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country. The first cascade you'll come across is Santa Emilia, named after a nearby small town. Also known as Casa Blanca, the soaring waterfall dramatically spills into a wide swimming hole that's surrounded by lush vegetation. There's also a cave for exploring – but be on the lookout for elves that locals assuredly say inhabit the cavern. Continue down a riverside hiking path that passes several small waterfalls to the larger Salto Escondido falls. All along the way you'll find natural pools that are perfect for brisk swims.
Spread across about 15 percent of the country's total land area, the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve is a massive and largely unexplored expanse of nature. After the Amazon in Brazil, it's the second-largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. One of the most accessible and easily visited areas of the reserve lies just a two-hour drive from Matagalpa. The Peñas Blancas Massif is rich with both rainforests and cloud forests, and a visit rewards with trails that wind through dense jungle, along pristine rivers and green hills shrouded in misty fog that adds an element of magic. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys, pacas, jaguars and tapirs. No trip would be complete without a stop at the cliffs of Peñas Blancas. Rising hundreds of meters from a commanding hillside, the rock formations are home to waterfalls and offer splendid views of the sprawling landscape.
A one-hour drive from the town of Esteli, the Miraflor Nature Reserve offers 200 square kilometers of diverse wildlife, dense forests, impressive waterfalls and coffee plantations. Enveloped in low hanging clouds, the park offers a cool getaway and mist-filled setting that borders on the surreal. More than 200 species of birds call the reserve home, as does a diverse wildlife population that includes monkeys, armadillos and iguanas. Wander through a vast variety of orchids and visit organic coffee farms on your trip.
You need not stray far from city life to immerse in nature. Overlooking the town of Matagalpa, the Cerro Apante Natural Reserve offers a somewhat steep hike of three to four hours that winds through a tropical forest. Along the lush mountain trail you'll pass waterfalls and coffee farms. Rich with greenery and wildlife, the reserve's top attraction is a lookout point that affords magnificent views of the city of Matagalpa and its surrounding mountains.
Created by damming the Tuma River, Apanas Lake welcomes with a nature retreat just outside the small town of Jinotega. The forested area around the body of water is home to a wide variety of birds and small mammals. Horseback rides allow you to explore the lush land, while the cool waters are popular for fishing, boating and kayaking.
Near the Honduran border you'll find one of Nicaragua's most stunning natural rock formations. The towering vertical walls of Somoto Canyon run for about five miles. The Comali and Tapacalí rivers join to form the Coco River and carve a path through rock that varies from 10 to 15 meters, with swimming holes found along its route. If you're not up for the adventure of the challenging river path, you can take a small boat up the river and ease into an inner tube to float back down. Above, explore caves near the canyon's rim that overlooks deep ponds that are surrounded by lush greenery.
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