Teustepe: Valley of the Gods
Located in the Boaco Department, Nicaragua, is the quaint city of Teustepe, which is blanketed in historical buildings, a laid back atmosphere, and the subtle signs of modernization slowly creeping into the lives of locals. It is situated approximately ninety kilometers from the city of Managua. It only has an estimated population of three thousand five hundred and locals maintain their livelihood through the agricultural sector. They are well respected for the livestock farming, which produces more than twenty thousand units. Small scale tourism operations are also now beginning to thrive.
The city’s name of Teustepe likely stems from the language of the indigenous people who established the settlement and means “Valley of the Gods”. It is uncertain when the settlement was founded, but it is known that due to the Malacatoya River flooding often, the settlement was moved to site that was called Camoapilla before it was renamed to Teustepe.
The city was first mentioned in documents in 1548, while under Spanish rule. Historically, Teustepe is noted for bravery and courage shown by its inhabitants in the fight against invading pirates and personas such as William Walker. In 1861 General Tomas Martinez created the Military District of Teustepe, which was far reaching and included San Jose de los Auctions, Boaco and San Lorenzo.
28 February 1970 was an important date for Teustepe and its local communities, as efforts made by Congressman Manuel Valle Urbina finally paid off and the settlement was officially recognized as a city. Today the city is a mixture of history and development. Visitors will be able to find a wonderful range of modern and historic buildings and breathtaking churches to visit, which are amongst the attractions of the city. The landscape and walking trails surrounding this destination also lure nature enthusiasts to Teustepe.
If visiting during the months of February and May, visitors will be able to participate in two local festivals. The festival that pays honor to Virgen de la Candelaria takes place in February. Between the 18th and 23rd of May, a festival to pay tribute to Saint Rita of Cascia is held. Both festivals are accompanied by music, dances and traditional rituals.
