Cerro Apante Nature Reserve

Cerro Apante rises to around 1,442 metres immediately south of Matagalpa and is protected as a reserve because it supplies much of the city's water, its forest holding the springs that feed the town below. The walk starts from the edge of the built-up area and climbs through coffee farms into cloud forest, taking two to three hours to the summit, with howler monkeys, motmots and a good bird list along the way and a view over Matagalpa and the surrounding hills from the top. It is the most accessible cloud forest in the region, requiring no transport or guide beyond directions, and it is used by residents as much as visitors. Trails are informal and can be confusing where farm tracks branch off.

What you actually see

• The climb from town - a walk starting at the city edge.
• Coffee farms and forest - the transition from cultivation to cloud forest.
• The summit view - Matagalpa and the highlands below.
• Howler monkeys - troops in the forest on the upper slopes.

When to go

December to April for dry trails; the summit is often in cloud, which is what keeps the forest wet. Early morning is best for birds and for beating the heat on the lower section.

Honest expectations

Trails are unmarked and branch into farm tracks, so getting lost is easy without directions or a track download. The climb gains around six hundred metres. There are no facilities. Walking alone on the lower section near the city is worth thinking about.

Nearby

Matagalpa is at the foot; Selva Negra lies north.