Location: Esteli
Top Things to do in Esteli
The 10 Best Things to Do in Esteli, Nicaragua
Esteli in Nicaragua, from Central America region, is best know for Nature & Wildlife Areas. Discover best things to do in Esteli with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Esteli
1. Reserva Natural Miraflor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 122 reviews
Reviewed By Tessa L
We had an amazing 3 days in Miraflor. We booked 3 different homestays/lodges and 2 day trips with a guide from the area. through UCA. An extremely helpful organisation that does a lot of different projects in Miraflor, including but not solely hosting visitors with families in the area. We stayed in both the middle and the high zone and saw amazing nature, landscapes, Waterfalls, different birds and even a coral snake! Also we heard a monkey but couldn't spot it. The guide thaught us a lot about agriculture, organic farming and coffee plantations. A volunteer from UCA accompanied us at the 2 trips and translated for us as our Spanish is solo un poco pequena.
If you like healthy vegetarian food we would definitely recommend staying at Cayo Verde. At Fuente the Vida we watched a beautiful sunset. At Posada Sonata we slept in a tree cabin. Super fun! But both the hut and bed are not made for people >1m80.
Please be advised that:
- it can get pretty chilly at night, especially in the higher zone. Bring a sweater and rain proof jacket.
- the homestays do not sell alcohol.
Thank you UCA for organising a great trip in Miraflor for us!
2. Drew Estate
Overall Ratings
5 based on 41 reviews
Take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Drew Estate’s Nicaraguan Cigar Factory and begin exploring the eco-tourism of Nicaragua. Visit our Esteli-based factory, La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, and blend your own cigars using some of our most sought-after tobaccos.
Reviewed By AndrewCern - Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Not a single aspect of the Cigar Safari with Drew Estates can be aptly described without the qualifying phrase, "Like Kings". We ate like kings, drank like kings, slept like kings, and smoked like kings. The only thing preventing the previous list from continuing is my earnest desire to share the breadth of the experience, even if it's just a taste of what was shared with my group. Though we were the last visitors of the safari season, not a single effort was spared in order to provide us with a superior experience; the reason I can only be sure that preceding groups weren't treated better than us, due to the fact that if they were, they never would have left.
Aside from the bountiful cigars, and luxuriously appointed lounges, our time spent at La Gran Fabrica was suffuse with the history of not only tobacco in the region, but the boundlessly beautiful Nicaragua, itself. The people accepted us with open arms, even accepting without reserve our prying eyes and flashing cameras as they went about their work. Yet, even with that understanding, you will be wholly unprepared for the level of consideration and service that the lodging staff provide you. The chefs created new, incredible samplings of regional cuisine for every single meal and were quick to explain dishes and accommodate whatever special dietary needs that visitors had. The housekeeping staff kept all public areas immaculate, and smelling beautiful, no easy feat considering the massive amounts of smoking; the only thing more impressive was there delicate treatment of sleeping quarters, every day the bed was freshly made, new towels were added to the room, ash trays were polished, and personal effects were organized without being intrusive (I mean, they folded clothes that I left out, where else does that happen)? Not to mention, the Subculture Studio worked overtime to customize a mountain of personal items brought to the premises and helped people select items to purchase locally if they neglected to bring anything.
The stand-outs are, of course, Henry, Edward, and Jessi. Along with sharing their incredible stories, and overseeing the tours of various facilities, Henry and Jessi brought their vast amounts of knowledge to bear to educate us not only about Drew Estates, but the cigar industry as a whole, from supply-side to marketing; and added a warm, casual attitude that instantly ingratiated them to the entire group I was with. Edward on the other hand, was our majordomo, making sure that our every need that fell outside of other staff responsibilities was met. Lighter not working? He's on it. Out of rum? Here's a new bottle. Haven't tried a cigar? I found you one. He even went into town on several occasions to acquire pharmaceuticals and items of special request almost every day. You can tell that it's this attitude of cooperation and customer appreciation that informs the company, and these three keep the staff in their areas reaching to continually greater levels of excellence.
Reading this review back to myself, I understand how unbelieveable it must sound, but I can't help but come away feeling like I am understating the absolute joy that my trip has been.
So please, eliminate "if" from your vocabulary as it pertains to this absolute adventure, do yourself a favor and come live this experience.
3. Highland Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 26 reviews
Many treasures of the North of Nicaragua remain undiscovered by the average tourist. At Highland Tours we aim to change that. We provide all inclusive day trips in Matagalpa, Esteli, Jinotega and everywhere in between. You will always have an English speaking guide and transportation, we want you to be comfortable. We now offer transportation to the rest of Nicaragua and are working with relocations to this beautiful country. Get in touch for more details. Come discover the hidden gems of the Highlands with us!
Reviewed By Lars_Bloch - Vejle, Vejle, Denmark
We did a 1 day tour of some of Esteli's parks, Waterfalls and surroundings. The viewpoints, Waterfalls was amazing but the best part was the guide (Benjamin). He is so invested in the tours and you as a turist. We spoke the whole day about the differences between our countries, the refugee problems, the revolution, the garbage problem, poverty. It really puts everything into perspective. The guide works also as a translater in different programs, and wants to improve the populations mindset against thrash, nature and general education.
The guide was really good at talking from a neutral standpoint and had a good knowledge of the country and its politics.
we also visisted an old stonemason in the outkirts of the city. He is really something, DONT MISS IT. He has made amazing rock murals on some cliff walls near his home. Hes personality and the stories (which change everytime) is really something that makes the experience unique.
The guide promised us that we would visit a factory tour in the end, but he forgot to tell us it was closed. Overall a really educating day dont miss out if youre going to Esteli !
4. Esteli Waterfall
Overall Ratings
4 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By Guido B - The Hague, The Netherlands
This could be such a great place, the waterfall and surrounding nature is truely remarkable, BUT.... Why pay 25 Córdoba entrance fee If the whole damn place is littered all over? This is a private property we were told by the neighbours and I would suggest to all future visitors that you make your entrance fee depending whether they cleaned up the place. So, DO NOT PAY AT ENTRANCE BUT BY EXIT and tell the owner why you do so. Have a look at an earlier similar posting from november 2016. These people do not do anything about it. Unfortunately we have to teach the owner If this potential gem about his responsibility re nature conservation.
5. Museo de Historia y Arqueologia Alejandro Davila Bolanos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By JCFondeur - Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Museum of History and Archaeology Alejandro Davila Bolanos is a small museum that shows some of the history of Estelí and the surrounding areas, artifacts from the aboriginals that lived there, carved stones, and photographs of the beginning of the town.
6. El Jalacate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Ricardo M - América, Managua, Nicaragua
I spend a exploration day with my family in San Nicolas, Estelí, we hike around 15 minutes to reach Jalacate Farm to know gallery stone carved by Don Alberto, you need some physical condition, because when you leave te place you have to climb a hill. But is something that you don't have to do!
7. Sonati - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Join the best outdoor guides in Esteli and explore our beautiful surroundings. We offer a wide range of activities that suit all needs, from the most rigorous to the more laid-back travelers: from stunning Waterfalls and nature walks to multi-night mountain treks. Come and see some of the most pristine, beautiful natural reserves in Central America! Sonati is 100% non-profit!
Reviewed By Asher F - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I went with Sonati Tours to the Miraflor reserve. Our guide was incredible. In fact he grew up in Miraflor, so his knowledge of the area was the definition of intimate. He explained the local flora and fauna in great and interesting detail, definitely more than just a "path guide". And he spoke excellent English, which was great for those in our group who's Spanish wasn't so great.
It was also really great to know that the money from our tour went to Sonati's local free environmental education programs for children. Almost wish the tour cost more! Since, it was such a low price to begin with!
Don't hesitate to book a tour with Sonati while you're in Esteli, you won't regret it!
8. Mujeres Ambientalistas
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Ourtrek - Calgary, Canada
We had heard the great story behind this small store and made plans to visit it while in Esteli. It was hidden well in within the struggling neighborhood but the journals, bookmarks, etc that they have are very beautiful and well crafted. It was a true pleasure to support this great project while also getting some wonderful Nicaraguan gifts. The inexpensive taxi ride here is very worthwhile!
9. Fabrica Joya de Nicaragua
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Joya de Nicaragua was born in the city of Estelí in 1968, now praised as the new tobacco capital of the world. We are a 100% Nicaraguan owned and operated company with around 300 collaborators who develop, manufacture and market more than 20,000 cigars per day.
Reviewed By Franco G
Joya de Nicaragua is the best place to learn the history of the Nicaraguan Tobacco Industry. Walking among those walls feels almost like traveling in time, with every worker (some of whom have been working there for 50years!!!) sharing amazing stories from the time they've dedicated to this amazing craft.
If you do their tour, you not only get a thorough explanation of the process of cigar making and the blending properties of each type of tobacco, you can also blend your own custom cigar!
Bottom line: A MUST stop for every Cigar Aficionado visiting Estelí.
10. National Reserve Tisey Estanzuela
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Chris M - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Went with a guide, who was knowledgable enough but seemed a bit lazy, we would have liked to hike a lot more because the area is beautiful, the visits to see the stone carver was excellent, the rest just a bit too touristy and contrived
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