Altamira is one of Managua's more pleasant residential districts, popular with expats, NGO workers, and the Nicaraguan middle class. It clusters around a main roundabout south of the old centre and has a good concentration of restaurants, cafes, and small hotels. The streets are shaded, quieter than much of the city, and relatively walkable.
The neighbourhood is useful as a base for exploring Managua and is well positioned for the Carretera Masaya, which runs south toward Granada and Masaya. Several of the city's better restaurants are within walking distance of the main roundabout. It is also close to several embassies and international organisations, which gives it a slightly cosmopolitan character unusual in a city that can feel quite provincial.