Estelí Rock Wall, Full Day Tour

…a road trip to remember, if you like volcanoes, rock sculpture and local art, this tour is for you

Julio Tours Nicaragua will pick you up in a comfortable air conditioned vehicle from your hotel at 8am. Our journey will begin with a half hour drive to San Jacinto, a small town just outside of Leon located at the base of the Santa Clara Volcano where the gases from the volcano vent into the fields. A truly unique experience due to the ever changing landscape from rain and other environmental factors.

Upon entrance to the fields you will be amazed to see the locals selling artifacts for a very low price. These artifacts were made by the Chorotega Indigenous people and history tells us these people made clay disks, whistles, beads, rattles and various other objects and threw them into the earth during planting season as gifts for the “gods” to ask for a healthy crop. As well as the clay offerings, there are also axe blades made of various rock and other farming implements. If you are interested in spear heads there’s plenty to choose from.

A short walk will bring us to the hot mud where we will see different pools of bubbling mud as the gas escapes from the volcano above. Each day the pools change and at any given time a new pool can appear.

Back on the road continuing for another hour and a half we will arrive in the small community of La Garnacha. A comfortable little town with an outstanding view, peanut flower handicrafts, excellent goat cheese and an organic farm where we will learn how the locals are able to grow their crops without the use of harmful pesticides. There will also be time for a quick snack before heading to the main attraction.

Just south of Esteli, a small city known for its tobacco farms, we will reach the property of El Jalacatte. Here we will be greeted by the owner Alberto Gutierrez, sometimes referred to as the “Michael Angelo” of Jalacate. Together we will take an easy 30 minute hike down to his farm. We will arrive at the magnificent rock wall, one of Nicaragua’s most treasured attractions.

Beginning in October of 1977 Alberto began his incredible stone carving and continues today to meticulously chisel an entire world into the vast rock wall on his property. Working with only rebar, a metal blade and stone hammer, Alberto Gutierrez is a true artist and his work is sure to leave you inspired for many days to come.

After our hike back to the vehicle we will be ready for lunch at Tisey Farm, located in the Natural Reserve of Tisey, a mountainous region rich in flora and fauna.

Things to See and Do

We will visit the San Jacinto bubbling mud, stop in small communities, enjoy a local farming demonstration and visit the property of Alberto Gutierrez and discover the history behind this man’s impressive life’s work.

Your Tour Includes