Juigalpa Fiestas Patronales

Juigalpa’s fiestas patronales, August 11–18, attract visitors from the entire nation and even Honduras and Costa Rica. Much of the festivities takes place on the north side of town, in Juigalpa’s Plaza de Toros, but you’ll find parties all over. It’s a rowdy cowboy festival of bull riding, rodeo competitions, and horseback games. In one of these, called the carrera de cinta, mounted riders gallop underneath a wire from which is suspended a small ring. If a rider successfully puts a pencil through the ring at full gallop, he can present it—and a kiss—to the woman of his choice from among the contestants vying to be queen of the festival. The woman who receives the most rings is crowned the queen.

  During the rest of the year, you can test your merit as a cowboy on Nicaragua’s only mechanical bull at La Quinta for $1.50. It’s not always available for public use, so you should stop in and ask while you have a meal.