Boaco is located in the mountains of central Nicaragua about 55 miles east of Managua. It has a population of about 24,300 people so it is quite small.
Boaco is made up of rolling hills, breathtaking landscapes, and large agricultural areas. It is known as “La Ciudad de Dos Pisos” or “The City of Two Stories” because of its rugged layout and uneven landscape. The only flat areas in the city are the Central Park and the baseball field.
The area is dedicated to agriculture with many cattle farms. Over 60% of all dairy products are produced from this region for all of Nicaragua. They are known for their dozens of varieties of beautiful, creamy cheese and gallons of fresh creamy milk.
Boaco is made up of rolling hills, breathtaking landscapes, and large agricultural areas. It is known as “La Ciudad de Dos Pisos” or “The City of Two Stories” because of its rugged layout and uneven landscape. The only flat areas in the city are the Central Park and the baseball field.
The area is dedicated to agriculture with many cattle farms. Over 60% of all dairy products are produced from this region for all of Nicaragua. They are known for their dozens of varieties of beautiful, creamy cheese and gallons of fresh creamy milk.
Other goods that are manufactured in the region are bricks, Panama hats, mineral water, soap and saw milling products.
Bit of History:
Boaco means “Town of the Enchanters”. The name has its roots in the Zumo and Aztec native languages. The region was once inhabited by the sumos and nahuas tribes, primarily in pre-Columbian time. With the arrival of Spanish conquerors, new towns were formed dedicated to agricultural and then to cattle raising activities. The ancient Boaco, or Boaco Viejo (Old Boaco) was located 15 miles east of the city. There are currently no remnants left of the ancient population.
Cool Stuff to See & Do:
At the beginning of July, Boaco has a huge Milk Fair. On July 25th, Boaco celebrates its regional parties in honor of the apostle Santiago.
Before entering Boaco, the road hits another municipality known as Teustepe (word in nahuatl meaning ‘hill of rabbits’). There is a huge petroglyph in the shape of an animal, carved on an enormous rock and considered to be one of the oldest in the country.
One of the must-see sights in or near Boaco is the Aguas Termales, which means "Hot Waters". The hot spring water comes from a crack in the ground and is said to be kept hot by an underground volcano. The hot waters have been channeled, using pipes, to a hotel and resort complex that has three large and two small hot pools for people to enjoy. Elder Hardy can see but not soak :)
Another cool attraction in the region is the hat workshops. They make hats from a material known as ‘cabuya’ (a part of a tree used to weave hats). They are produced throughout all Boaco.
There is also a large, colorful cemetery to see (Cementerio de Boaco). In town, there is a cathedral (Iglesia de Santiago/Boaco) and a charming central square (Parque Central de Boaco) where all the locals hang out on weekends to people watch, eat quesillos and watch the outdoor tv.