Exploring the City of Rivas in Nicaragua

With spectacular views of nearby volcanoes and colorful streets, the city of Rivas in southwestern Nicaragua is well worth exploring.

The city of Rivas, the capital of the department of the same name, is located approximately 40 miles south of Granada in southwestern Nicaragua. With the Pan-American Highway cutting right through the city, it serves as a convenient stop for travelers from the north who are heading toward the Peñas Blancas border crossing in Costa Rica, heading west to San Juan del Sur or east to San Jorge, which offers ferries to Ometepe Island.

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Although the city of Riva was officially recognized in 1835, it has a past that dates back almost 200 years. According to the Institute of Nicaraguan Tourism, the Rivas region was first settled by a number of indigenous tribes in 606 A.D. but was visited by the Spanish explorers in the 1520s. The city is mostly known as the site of notorious William Walker's defeat in 1856, which eventually led to the end of his self-imposed reign on Nicaragua and his demise.Today, the city thrives off of its proximity to some of the country's most popular tourist attractions in addition to its local agriculture that includes crops of corn, rice, beans and tobacco. Often overshadowed by the surrounding attractions, this relatively quiet city consists of charming colonial streets, historic structures and a colorful plaza, which makes it well worth exploring.

Transportation to Rivas in Nicaragua

The main bus terminal in Rivas is located 10 blocks west of the Pan-American Highway, right next to the busy main market. Buses leave approximately every half-hour for the city of Managua beginning at 5 a.m., which takes three hours. Express buses to Managua leave every hour and makes fewer stops. Buses to Granada leave every 45 minutes and takes up to two hours. Buses to San Juan del Sur leave every 45 minutes and only takes one hour. In addition to these major cities, regular service is available to many other smaller towns within the department such as Tola, Nancimi, Belen, Potosi, Buenas Aires, Salinas and San Jorge. Any questions about bus schedules can be answered at the kiosk in the market. Do keep in mind that regular bus services end at 6 p.m., so plan ahead or take a taxi during the evening hours.

Exploring Rivas, Nicaragua

The city, like many other Central American cities, is designed in a grid pattern with a parque central and a large cathedral as its centerpiece. Each of its attractions are within walking distance or for those who prefer being shown around, there are many horse-drawn carriages available for a small fee.

• Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro - Located one block east of the Parque Central, it was built in the 18th century and includes a beautiful painting inside its dome depicting Catholicism (as a Spanish fighting vessel) battling against and defeating Protestants as well as the Communists and Freemasons. Although the church itself appears worn down on its surface, it only adds to the historic aspect of the structure, which still offers daily mass.
• Iglesia de San Francisco - Located four blocks west of the Parque Central, this church was built in 1776 and it is the most visited church between the two major ones in Rivas. In front of the church there is a large cross that was erected in 1997, which makes a dramatic entrance to the location.
• Museo de Historia y Antropología - Located three blocks north of the Iglesia de San Francisco, this is the city's museum. It includes a collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and paintings of Nicaraguan myths as well as the early works of the Rubén Darío, the country's favorite poet. In its past, the building served as a plantation house where William Walker once claimed for his own during the Battle of Rivas.
• Rivas Cemetery - Located southeast of the city, it includes the decorative graves of several nationally known figures in Nicaragua. As ViaNica states, "Within the cemetery, there is a hilltop called the Hill of Carazo that offers nice views of the region and a spectacular view of the sunset."

With easy access to the country's major highway, the city of Rivas is not only a convenient stopping point on the way to other destinations such as the beaches of San Juan del Sur or the Island of Ometepe, but it is also a charming historic city of its own.