Nueva Segovia Department

Nueva Segovia is a department in northern Nicaragua covering mountainous terrain with twelve municipalities, where Ocotal serves as the administrative center. The region spreads across varying elevations that shape its geography and settlements.

Spanish colonizers arrived in Nueva Segovia during the 16th century and began extracting resources from indigenous lands. This early European presence shaped the region's demographic and economic trajectory.

Coffee farming shapes daily life here, with families tending plants and processing beans on hillsides around towns like Dipilto. The work connects communities to the land and to markets far beyond the region.

The region receives substantial rainfall between May and October, so waterproof gear is needed during those months. The varying elevations affect weather patterns, so plan according to your destination's altitude and intended activities.

The Dipilto-Jalapa mountain range contains natural hot springs that form warm pools within pine forests. These geothermal features developed from the region's geological activity and remain hidden from most visitors.

Location: Nicaragua

Inception: August 19, 1858

Capital city: Ocotal

Shares border with: Choluteca Department

GPS coordinates: 13.63329,-86.47639

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:07