Tisey Estanzuela Natural Reserve, Mountain rainforest reserve near Estelí, Nicaragua.
Tisey Estanzuela Natural Reserve is a mountain rainforest protected area covering 9,344 hectares with pine forests, oak groves, agricultural areas, and multiple peaks up to 1,550 meters high. The varying elevations and ecosystems create distinct landscapes throughout the reserve.
The name comes from the Ulúa Matagalpa language meaning 'enchantress'. The area served as a key passage between Las Segovias and León during colonial times.
Local people in the reserve live according to traditions, producing crops, handicrafts, and regional food specialties that shape daily life and land use throughout the protected area.
Access the reserve via the Pan-American Highway from Estelí city, with regular transportation services departing from the municipal market. Visitors should prepare for hilly terrain and forest trails, with the dry season offering the best conditions.
The La Estanzuela waterfall drops 35 meters over a rock face covered in moisture-loving plants, creating a unique water system and microclimate within the reserve.
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