Lake Apanás

Description

By trapping the water of the Tuma River into the Apanas Valley, engineers were able to create Nicaragua’s first artificial lake. The Apanas Lake is the most important provider of hydroelectric power in Nicaragua, and the huge lake offers some interesting activities for tourists as well.

The lake can be reached in ten minutes from Jinotega, but it is so big that it takes more than an hour to reach the other side of the lake. The forested area around the lake provides superb scenery, and the many birds and other animals living here make it an interesting site for hiking. Horseback riding and fishing are other activities that can be undertaken, and kayaking in Lake Apanas is also possible.

The hydroelectric power plant is located a couple kilometers southwest of Lake Apanas. This plant, called the Centroamérica Power Plant, is situated at a much lower level than the lake, in the bottom of a valley. The plant can be seen from above, but visiting it is not possible.

Because the area is not visited by the masses, there are no standardized tours offered. To undertake some activities here, it’s best to inquire at a hotel in Jinotega about the possibilities.

Getting There

Apanas is surrounded by roads, which makes it easy to reach its coasts and multiple locations. When traveling by private transportation, one has three options. The first one is the one that connects Jinotega with San Rafael del Sur, which is paved and in good conditions.

You find the second option while being on the first paved road, after you leave the city. You will be constantly headed to Asturias and will drive along one of the shores of the lake. The third option is also found while driving on the paved road, a little bit before reaching San Rafael, and it takes you to the town of Mancotal. It is not necessary to drive a 4X4 vehicle, but is not recommended to travel with a low car.

There are also buses that you can take at Jinotega. These ones pass by the communities that border the lake. You can take public transportation to San Rafael del Norte, Asturias, Mancotal o Pantasma.