El Coyotepe, which in Nahuatl language means land of coyotes, surrounded by exuberant bushes and trees, was built in 1893 by president Zelaya. This old fortress, full of history, is situated on top of a hill in the outside of Masaya downtown and along the Managua-Granada Road. The fortress is easily seen from the city. Most of Masaya downtown, Masaya volcano, Laguna de Masaya, Mombacho volcano, Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua can be seen from the summit of the hill where El Coyotepe old fortress is located. The fort was built with military purposes in the eighteenth century and was used through the years for decades and decades alternately as a military base and prison by the governments in turn. At the present El Coyotepe is a live interesting museum managed by the Municipality and the Nicaraguan Tourist Institute. The Coyotepe Fort can be reached by walking up the hill or by car. There is a paved road from the Road to the top. In the early mornings hours and late afternoons hours people can be seen, jogging, walking up and down the hill. El Coyotepe is part of the afternoon excursions included in the Spanish immersion courses in Nicaragua Spanish Schools for the students registered in the full Spanish immersion courses in our language school in Granada.
