Links:
• Ministerio de Turismo de Nicaragua
www.intur.gob.ni
•Tierra Tours: Leon Tour Operator
www.tierratour.com
•Travel Writer Randy Wood, co-author of The Moon Handbook Nicaragua
www.therandymoon.com
•Travel Writer Josh Berman, co-author of The Moon Handbook Nicaragua
www.joshuaberman.net
•Information about living in Nicaragua
http://www.nicaliving.com
• Ministerio de Turismo de Nicaragua
www.intur.gob.ni
•Tierra Tours: Leon Tour Operator
www.tierratour.com
•Travel Writer Randy Wood, co-author of The Moon Handbook Nicaragua
www.therandymoon.com
•Travel Writer Josh Berman, co-author of The Moon Handbook Nicaragua
www.joshuaberman.net
•Information about living in Nicaragua
http://www.nicaliving.com
Best time to come:
Nicaraguan air and water is always warm, so there is no really bad time to come if that is what you are looking for. The rainy season is off and on from late May to early November. From the moment rainy season ends in early November, it gets hotter and drier as “winter” goes on, so a great time to come is from late November through February when it is not rainy or too hot, but still green and beautiful. Nicaragua is in the northern hemisphere, but they still call their seasons opposite of ours because of the rain.
Nicaraguan air and water is always warm, so there is no really bad time to come if that is what you are looking for. The rainy season is off and on from late May to early November. From the moment rainy season ends in early November, it gets hotter and drier as “winter” goes on, so a great time to come is from late November through February when it is not rainy or too hot, but still green and beautiful. Nicaragua is in the northern hemisphere, but they still call their seasons opposite of ours because of the rain.
Cheap Airfare:
Airfare to Nicaragua from the U.S. is generally between $400 and $700 r/t, and can be as low as $350. Tickets from the east coast are always cheaper. There are direct flights from Houston (Continental), Atlanta (Delta), Miami (AA), and Fort Lauderdale (Spirit). Search spots to try include Travelocity and Expedia, as well as sidestep.com, exitotravel.com and kayak.com. The only place to fly into is Managua (MGA). When you book your tickets, keep in mind that if you get in late and leave early, you may have to spend your first and last nights in Managua - not great, but not the end of the world.
From Europe there are no direct flights; it is necessary to connect through Miami, San Jose, or San Salvador.
Airfare to Nicaragua from the U.S. is generally between $400 and $700 r/t, and can be as low as $350. Tickets from the east coast are always cheaper. There are direct flights from Houston (Continental), Atlanta (Delta), Miami (AA), and Fort Lauderdale (Spirit). Search spots to try include Travelocity and Expedia, as well as sidestep.com, exitotravel.com and kayak.com. The only place to fly into is Managua (MGA). When you book your tickets, keep in mind that if you get in late and leave early, you may have to spend your first and last nights in Managua - not great, but not the end of the world.
From Europe there are no direct flights; it is necessary to connect through Miami, San Jose, or San Salvador.
What to pack (Just our ideas):
Midsize Pack (3000-4500 c.i.) or any bag really
Day Pack or Shoulder Bag
Toiletries
Clothes (*see below)
Flashlight
Camera
Reading Mats
Sunscreen
Bug Repellant
Light towel
Sandals, FlipFlops & good walking/hiking shoes (sneakers, cross trainers, or light hikers)
Money belt or passport holder kind-of-thing: with passport, immunization card, cash
ATM debit card (no trav. checks; ATMs are everywhere)
Clothes for males (just to give an idea)
Socks (few - you will almost always be in your open shoes)
Underwear
Pants – one lightweight for during day and one you would go out in (or another lightweight)
Shorts – one reg, one swim
Mix of T-shirts & Collared Tees
One long sleeve shirt – may not use
Belt if needed
*Note: in the cities local men never wear shorts. On the beach, most anything goes. Women are fine in knee length skirts and capris anywhere. Spaghetti straps are fine.
Optional:
Music player
Earplugs
Certain things you will only need if you are camping/hiking: e.g. rain shell, beanie, sleeping bag, etc…
Midsize Pack (3000-4500 c.i.) or any bag really
Day Pack or Shoulder Bag
Toiletries
Clothes (*see below)
Flashlight
Camera
Reading Mats
Sunscreen
Bug Repellant
Light towel
Sandals, FlipFlops & good walking/hiking shoes (sneakers, cross trainers, or light hikers)
Money belt or passport holder kind-of-thing: with passport, immunization card, cash
ATM debit card (no trav. checks; ATMs are everywhere)
Clothes for males (just to give an idea)
Socks (few - you will almost always be in your open shoes)
Underwear
Pants – one lightweight for during day and one you would go out in (or another lightweight)
Shorts – one reg, one swim
Mix of T-shirts & Collared Tees
One long sleeve shirt – may not use
Belt if needed
*Note: in the cities local men never wear shorts. On the beach, most anything goes. Women are fine in knee length skirts and capris anywhere. Spaghetti straps are fine.
Optional:
Music player
Earplugs
Certain things you will only need if you are camping/hiking: e.g. rain shell, beanie, sleeping bag, etc…
Arriving/Departing:
You need to pay a US$10 cash entrance fee at immigration. There is a $35 exit fee to be paid in U.S. cash, though it is usually included in the price of your plane ticket.
There is only one small baggage claim room. In an emergency, the pharmacy just after the exit has a phone that you can ask to use, and they will let you pay in US dollars. There are also banks machines in the central atrium of the airport where you can withdraw cordobas with your ATM card.
How long should you come for, and should you get a car? If you get a good airfare and/or flight-path, it is not unreasonable to come for as little as a long weekend. The flight from Florida is only 2+ hours. You could visit Leon (60 miles away) and the beach (10 miles more) pretty easily. On the other hand, if you have the time, one to two weeks or more would be better.
Those with the money often prefer to rent a car. If you plan on it, try to get rental car insurance from your insurer at home (you may get it automatically if you have/use an Amex). Most people rent through Budget. Long distance taxis and newish shuttle services are also good options, as are the buses if you have the time and energy and are up for the adventure.
You need to pay a US$10 cash entrance fee at immigration. There is a $35 exit fee to be paid in U.S. cash, though it is usually included in the price of your plane ticket.
There is only one small baggage claim room. In an emergency, the pharmacy just after the exit has a phone that you can ask to use, and they will let you pay in US dollars. There are also banks machines in the central atrium of the airport where you can withdraw cordobas with your ATM card.
How long should you come for, and should you get a car? If you get a good airfare and/or flight-path, it is not unreasonable to come for as little as a long weekend. The flight from Florida is only 2+ hours. You could visit Leon (60 miles away) and the beach (10 miles more) pretty easily. On the other hand, if you have the time, one to two weeks or more would be better.
Those with the money often prefer to rent a car. If you plan on it, try to get rental car insurance from your insurer at home (you may get it automatically if you have/use an Amex). Most people rent through Budget. Long distance taxis and newish shuttle services are also good options, as are the buses if you have the time and energy and are up for the adventure.
Where should you go in Nicaragua?
Leon and nearby beaches and volcanoes could easily be enough to fill a week-long trip. After that, the obvious stops on the small but growing tourist trail would be Granada (beautiful colonial city) and San Juan del Sur (beach town and epicenter of coastal tourism; getting touristy). Other good stops are Laguna de Apoyo (super chill volcanic lake with great swimming), Ometepe Island (more rustic; in the middle of the giant lake; cool hikes), or, for the more adventurous with more time, the higher altitude coffee lands up north – interesting cities and a few destination farms/reserves.
Nica is known as the poorest mainland country in the Western Hemisphere (second overall after Haiti), but you wouldn’t know it unless you got off the beaten path. You can have a very rugged trip or a very luxurious trip.
Leon and nearby beaches and volcanoes could easily be enough to fill a week-long trip. After that, the obvious stops on the small but growing tourist trail would be Granada (beautiful colonial city) and San Juan del Sur (beach town and epicenter of coastal tourism; getting touristy). Other good stops are Laguna de Apoyo (super chill volcanic lake with great swimming), Ometepe Island (more rustic; in the middle of the giant lake; cool hikes), or, for the more adventurous with more time, the higher altitude coffee lands up north – interesting cities and a few destination farms/reserves.
Nica is known as the poorest mainland country in the Western Hemisphere (second overall after Haiti), but you wouldn’t know it unless you got off the beaten path. You can have a very rugged trip or a very luxurious trip.
Other
• You can get by without much Spanish at all, but that doesn’t mean you should try to speak English or plan on it. In the very least, you should learn a few basic phrases, and start interactions by asking in Spanish if you can speak English.
• You don’t need a visa from the US, Canada and many other countries. You can stay up to 90 days.
• You don’t need any special shots. Malaria pills are up to you. Most expats who live down there don’t take them.
• Expats drink the water in Leon, Managua and Granada, but do not in other places. It may not be worth it if your trip is short. You can buy bottled water or bring drops.
• You can get by without much Spanish at all, but that doesn’t mean you should try to speak English or plan on it. In the very least, you should learn a few basic phrases, and start interactions by asking in Spanish if you can speak English.
• You don’t need a visa from the US, Canada and many other countries. You can stay up to 90 days.
• You don’t need any special shots. Malaria pills are up to you. Most expats who live down there don’t take them.
• Expats drink the water in Leon, Managua and Granada, but do not in other places. It may not be worth it if your trip is short. You can buy bottled water or bring drops.
End Note:
Just a final word about Nicaragua… it does not have the ecotourism of Costa Rica, the white beaches of Panama, the scuba diving of Honduras, or the colorful indigenous culture of Guatemala, but it is an unbelievably special place with its own magic. Life moves pretty slowly here. The people are kind, wise, and almost always honest. The “popular” education that was born before and during the revolution left its mark. The best way we can sum it up is to say that it has the potential to feel amazingly like home, especially here at our beloved Tortuga. People treat each other here like family, as if life were meant to be a ride worth enjoying even in less than idyllic circumstances. Come with low expectations, slow down, soak up the human kindness, drink lots of rum, and we think you’ll love it too.