Bluefields and its wide-open doors to the Caribbean
The town was founded in the early 17th century by Mr. Blauvelt, a Dutch pirate, whose Bluefields was his headquarters for the departure of buccaneering expeditions and a storage base for his booty. Bluefields or the blue fields is the translation of the Dutch surname of the master of the place at the time.The history of the town was more marked by the shipwreck of a Portuguese vessel off the coast of Bluefields. In 1641, African slaves were stranded on central American territory, lost in the ebony trade triangle of the time.
1861 marked the creation of the protectorate, with the Caribbean zone of Honduras and Nicaragua under British rule. The architectural style of Bluefields can still be seen today. Victorian-style houses made of colorful wood can still be seen in town. Here, you’ll find a wealth of historical anecdotes.
Bluefields: a cosmopolitan city
Bluefields is the capital of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region, between Kukra Hill and San Juan del Norte, the Caribbean Sea and El Rama.
It’s a municipality where more than 6 ethnic groups converge, a real ethnic mix has taken place here, between Africans, mestizos, Spaniards, English and natives, a Caribbean community of almost 50,000 people. Creole is spoken here, and the atmosphere is very « local » and rustic.
Wooden houses adorn the village, without any logic or respect for the layout. There’s an air of the Caribbean, the music is omnipresent, the sun, the palm trees, it’s another Nicaragua all over again!
May Pole: a traditional festival in Bluefields
Stemming from its history and British customs, the town of Bluefields celebrates the first day of May every year. This date corresponds to the arrival of spring in Europe and the start of the rainy season in Nicaragua. Festivities are held throughout the month in the town’s streets, with dancing to the rhythm of trumpets and drums, a culinary competition, parades and the crowning of the queen at the end of the month.
What to see and do in Bluefields
The town has no particular charm and is not one of Nicaragua’s must-sees. However, you can enjoy strolling through the streets of Bluefields, discovering the old buildings and the local population.The town’s most important sites are
- catholic and Moravianchurches
- the central park, el parque de Reyes, opposite the municipal palace, where you can relax in the shade of its trees
- the Atlantic CoastResearch and Documentation Center (BICU-CIDCA), where you can learn more about the history, culture, marine biology, ecology and demographics of the Caribbean coast
- the atlantic coast historical museum
How to get there
From the capital, Managua, you can reach Bluefields by air, with daily flights operated by Nicaraguan Airlines.
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