Travel Guide Los Guatuzos

The indigenous people who inhabited the region before the Conquest were called «Maleku». They spoke a language near the nahuátl of the Pacific coast, but rather assimilated to the chibcha of the Matagalpas, Miskito and Sumus on the Atlantic coast. They called the present Lake Nicaragua Ucurriquitúkara ("where the river converges"). The Spanish affublèrent the Maleku the name of "Guatuzos" because they painted their face in red, a color reminiscent of that of the rodent guatusa (agouti). The exploitation of rubber from 1860 was the beginning of the end for these fierce indigenous people who never really subdued to conquistadors; they were used as slaves (then «workers») and sent to Chontales, the central region of Nicaragua.This life refuge extends over a 430 km ² area on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and accommodates many ecosystems: lagoons, humedales (wet meadows), dry and humid forests where jaguars of trees, monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, toucans, lizards… there have been nearly as many bird species as in the whole of Europe (about 370), which is one of the largest concentrations in Central America.More than twelve rivers cross the reserve, but the most popular is the Río Río, which leads to a fascinating community-village. The flora is absolutely magnificent: more than 315 species of plants, at least 130 species of orchids and primary forest trees that reach 35 m high! Unlike the San Juan River, so large that it is sometimes difficult to see the banks, these are small laces that wind in a lush vegetation: so say that the show is magical. In our view, this is the most beautiful reserve in Nicaragua, and perhaps even in Central America. The concentration of animals there is prodigious, and you are sure to see scream monkeys, white-headed monkeys, turtles, cayman (less obvious, but we see or at least we guess them), lizards…Birds form a real ballet (so beautiful that sometimes we have tears in the eyes). It is said (and we assure you that it is true) that it is possible to observe more animal life during a walk of a few hours than for a week in any other national park of the country. In short, you have understood us: It is an imperative visit for all lovers of nature.