Nicaragua Travel Guide

Prepare for your travels to Nicaragua

Use this guide to help you prepare for your travels to Nicaragua.

Below are topics and categories that are important for travelers going to Nicaragua. Browse the topics and submit links, comments, ideas, and information wherever you can to assist other travelers in Nicaragua.

Map of Nicaragua

Nicaragua Country Overview

Nicaragua is a Central American country located between Honduras and Costa Rica. It is a little over 130,000 square kilometers. The East coast borders to Caribbean Sea and the west coast borders the Pacific Ocean. The geography is marked by volcanoes, lakes and field lands. There are over 5,500,000 people living in Nicaragua. It is a republic with a capital of Managua. The national currency is the Cordoba. The main language is Spanish and the predominant religion is Catholicism.

Budget Travel Tips for Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a cheap country to travel in. When flying to Nicaragua, it is generally cheaper to fly in to San Jose, Costa Rica and take a bus to Nicaragua, if you don’t mind the long bus ride. Food is cheap, a full meal at a restaurant might cost $3-$4.  Hospedajes or Casa de huespedes are usually cheaper than hotels and hostels, a bed ranges from $6-$10 a night.  Everyone travels by bus, so it is cheap and they come relatively frequently.  Expect to spend $20 a day, traveling on a budget.

Recommended Destinations

I would skip Managua if possible. Leon and Granada, however, are enchanting, beautiful colonial cities. Leon has a Sandinista background and is an easy bus ride from the beach. Granada is on Lake Nicaragua and is a nice city to walk in. The island Isla de Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua is really beautiful, formed by two volcanoes, it is a really nice place to lay in a hammock and sip that flor de cana rum. San Juan del Sur is a popular beach destination in southern Nicaragua.

Topics for Travel to Nicaragua

Nicaragua Travel Essentials

• Food
• Cheap Accommodation, Hotels, Hostels
• Bus Taxi Train Travel in Nicaragua
• Air Travel to Nicaragua
• Good Places to Travel

What to do in Nicaragua

• Find Work
• Search for Volunteer Opportunities
• Archaeology Fieldwork in Nicaragua
• Teach English
• Study Abroad
• Study a Foreign Language
• Tattoos in Nicaragua
• Ride a Bike
• Go Hiking
• Hitchhike Across Nicaragua

Know what you are getting into

• What is Nicaragua Culture Like?
• Check the News, Politics, and Current Events
• Is it Safe to Travel in Nicaragua?
• Travel Blogs, Forums, Websites about traveling in Nicaragua

Practical Matters for Travel in Nicaragua

• How much money does it cost to travel in Nicaragua?
• Visa Questions
• Nicaragua Border Crossing
• Clothing in Nicaragua
• How to Stay Healthy in Nicaragua
• Find Doctors and Medical Care in Nicaragua
• Find a Travel Companion
• Plan your travels to Nicaragua

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