Jinotepe (Spanish pronunciation: [xinoˈtepe]) is a city and municipality in the Carazo department of Nicaragua.

Jinotepe comes from the Nawat language, and is named after the Nahua chiefdom of Xinotepet, which was located in the present-day department of Carazo.

[2][3][4] Jinotepe, like much of Western Nicaragua except for the Sierras, has a tropical climate with constant temperatures averaging between 28 and 32 °C (82 and 90 °F).

A distinct dry season exists between November and April, while most of the rainfall is received between May and October.

Temperatures are highest in March and April, when the sun lies directly overhead and the summer rainfall has yet to begin.