Nicaragua Travel Tips.
Nicaragua is not hard to get to with multiple flights to Managua daily from Miami, Atlanta, Houston and a number of connecting flights from Central America.
Before going it is best to plan your trip as much as possible to allow for easy transition. Many of the smaller towns have limited supplies compared to what North Americans are used to. On your way out of Managua or Granada stop off at the local grocery store (food supermarket) to pick up supplies, our favorite was La Colonia. Foursquare is a great resource to find locations of supermarkets along with reviews of restaurants and hotel, another favorite is TripAdvisor.com that we continuously used for reference.
In Nicaragua you will have very limited Wi-Fi access so best to download anything you need beforehand. Some of the restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, more so in the cities but less other places.
Many of the private home rentals, B&B’s and hotels will offer a pick-up service at the airport (for further away locations a fee is charged) for you if you prefer not to drive/rent a car. Note it is recommended not to drive at night so plan accordingly when arriving and departing.
Travel Tips:-
- Download free GPS maps for your Garmin (openstreetmap) or smart phone (OsmAnd or Navigator).
- The Nicaraguan are extremely friendly and honest but the average pay is $1 to $5 a day so best not to put temptation in the way. Leave valuables and jewelry at home, lock your bedroom doors, lock your suitcase, leave nothing in the car, stay away from non-lighted areas, stay off beaches at night, and use your common sense.
- In Granada and Managua you can either use dollars or Cordoba but in smaller towns the Nicaraguan Cordoba is used.
- You can find ATM at the blue Uno gas stations.
- You can rent beautiful homes for about the same price as B&B’s or Hotels. For these listings and to read the reviews go to TripAdvisor, HomeAway, VRBO and airBnB. Many of these websites have guarantee payment programs to help you book your time away.
- To rent a car at the Managua airport you can check out the airports website full of useful information in Spanish and English …. http://www.eaai.com.ni/
For Travelers health information and vaccines go to:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/nicaragua
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/nicaragua.html
Ask Your Host:
-Directions on the way out of Managua or Granada do all your food shopping before leaving.
-The highways are paved but most of the roads to the homes and side roads are not ask your host if you need a 4*4.
-There are many rural schools just a few miles outside of town for the farmer’s children, these children are very poor and the school barely have the basics so if you can bring toys, school supplies, etc.
Other useful websites:
http://www.nicaragua-guide.com/
For more travel reviews and helpful hints read the forums at TripAdvisor, Redweek, Tugbbs and other travel websites.
Pochomil Beach, Nicaragua, low tide.
Pochomil Beach, local just stopping off for lunch.
Masachapa, Nicaragua Fisherman.
Fresh Fish every morning at Masachapa Village, Nicaragua
View of Pacific from Highway 1&2 just outside of Juan Davila, Nicaragua.
Masachapa sunset over Pacific.
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