San Juan de Limay Soapstone Carving
San Juan de Limay
A mountain town in the west known for soapstone carving, where visitors can watch artisans carve animals and figures in workshops and buy pieces.
San Juan de Limay lies in the mountains about 30 km west of Estelí. Local craftsmen carve sea turtles, birds and rounded human figures from soapstone (talc) sourced nearby. Once polished, the stone takes on a warm lustre, and such pieces can be found in handicraft markets throughout Nicaragua.
Several family workshops in town welcome visitors, where you can watch the carving process and buy directly. The dirt roads are bumpy, and the bus takes about 1.5–2 hours, making it suitable for visitors interested in handicrafts.
Opening hours
Workshop open during the day
Nearby sights
- Estelí Murals
- Gallery of Heroes and Martyrs
- Estelí Cathedral & Central Park
- Estelí Cigar Factories
- El Avión Viewpoint, Condega
- Tisey-Estanzuela Nature Reserve
- Somoto Canyon National Monument
- Estanzuela Waterfall