When moving to Nicaragua in 2021 we had the same problem many have: where to settle? Since we had all our possessions with us in four large bags, traveling around the country and looking at different towns and regions was not an option. So we had to pick a spot.
In the end we picked León because of its colonial architecture and universities, which give the town really nice vibes. No one told us how hot it gets in León. I will never forget the many occasions where we literally took refuge in cafés that had air-conditioning. One of these cafés was the Pan y Paz next to the Basilica.
The hostel had a nice tropical courtyard where people could hang out and casually meet other expats. This is where we met Danielle, a woman with Mexican and German descent who had lived in Nicaragua for over ten years. We naturally clicked and she became a great hostel buddy over the next weeks. Basically, she introduced us to the Nicaraguan culture, which was a total lifesaver. When moving to another culture you are confronted with so many weird things and overwhelming situations.
She had also lived through the coup attempt in León as a foreigner and survived several potshots taken at her. She enjoyed the protection of locals, which might have saved her life. One day she asked us if we had ever heard of Matagalpa. All I thought was that the name sounded totally ridiculous. She also mentioned that it was very lush, higher up in the mountains, and a lot cooler than León. Me, being naturally a beach guy, wasn’t too impressed with mountains though. However, due to the hot climate in León we truly needed to look for alternative places.
A few months later we booked a hostel in Matagalpa, jumped on the express bus, and drove up into the mountains. We liked Matagalpa right from the beginning. The town is small enough to be walkable but large enough to have a lot of commerce and options. There are around 100,000 people living in town and 600,000 in the district.
After six months living in León we moved to Matagalpa. We lived in a hostel in Matagalpa for six weeks, and during that time we managed to find a nice and affordable apartment. We are still living in the same apartment four years later!
Matagalpa has a lot to offer. There are a few nice cafés and restaurants as well as tourist attractions like hiking trails and coffee farms. Matagalpa serves as a tourist location for Nicaraguans, but there are very few international tourists.
In my opinion Matagalpa is truly a hidden gem within Latin America!
