Nicaragua Country Quickfacts | Goway Travel (2024)

Area: 30,370 square kilometres/50,336 square miles

Capital:Managua

Country Code:505

Country Population:6,200,000

Entry Information: Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union require just a passport to enter Nicaragua and may stay for up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry.

Credit Cards: All major credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants except the very inexpensive ones. Credit cards cannot be used for taxis or at most attractions (museums, parks, etc).

Currency:Cordoba. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Nicaragua and can be used to pay for taxis, hotels, restaurants, and stores. However, do keep some Cordobas on hand just in case.

ATMs: ATMs are becoming increasingly available. There are plenty in the main cities such as Managua, Granada, Leon, and Rivas. Many ATMs also accept Visa and MasterCard.

Departure Tax:When leaving Nicaragua, you must pay a C700 airport tax, which must be paid in cash in either U.S. dollars or Nicaraguan Cordobas. this is sometimes included in the price of your airline ticket. There is also a tourist entry fee of C100 that must be paid upon arrival into the country.

Drives on the:Right

Electricity:110 volts, 60 Hz, the same as the United States and Canada. However, three-prong grounded outlets are not universally available. It is helpful to bring a three-to-two-prong adapter.

Ethnic Groups: The Nicaraguan population is basically mestizo, a mixture of white and Amerindian. Estimates are mestizos 69%, white population 17%; black population 9% and Amerindians 5%.

Location: Nicaragua is sandwiched between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south in Central America

Official Language(s):Spanish

Religion:Roman Catholic (73%), Protestant and others (27%)

Time Zone:7 hours behind GMT

Tipping:A 10% tip is expected at cafes and restaurants. This is often added to the bill automatically even though the waiter/waitress may never see it. If you are worried your tip is not getting into the right hands, give a little extra to the waiter directly. You are not obliged to pay the automatic tip if the service was bad.

Nicaragua Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Nicaragua.

Learn about the history and culture of Nicaragua, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Nicaragua's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Nicaragua for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Nicaragua tours today!

Extend Your Trip

After your Nicaragua vacation packages, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours? These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Costa Rica vacation packages. Panama, vacation packages, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises and Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours.

Book your Nicaragua tour with Goway!

LATIN AMERICA by Goway is an exclusive division that specializes in planning and organizing Nicaragua tours, vacations and experiences. Choose from a simple city stopover, enjoy a small group tour, a Holiday of a Lifetime, an independent travel module and much more. We want to be your first choice when next you go globetrotting to Nicaragua.

Nicaragua Country Quickfacts | Goway Travel (2024)

FAQs

What do I need to know before traveling to Nicaragua? ›

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Carry sufficient food, water, and communication equipment. If you travel to remote areas, hire a reputable local guide. Nicaraguan law requires tourists hire a local guide for several volcanoes, including the two volcanoes on Ometepe Island (Maderas and Concepcion).

What are the requirements to travel to Nicaragua? ›

Unvaccinated travelers —both children and adults — will require a negative test that should be made within 72 hours prior to arrival. Those who are flying from Asia, Oceania, and Africa will have 92 hours before arriving to make their test. The only test accepted is RT-PCR.

Why do tourists go to Nicaragua? ›

Nicaragua is a Central American star. Picture-perfect beaches, colonial towns, lush rainforests, and an interesting local culture make it a diverse destination.

Is it safe for Americans to travel to Nicaragua right now? ›

Nicaragua - Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Reissued with updates to information on arbitrary enforcement of laws. Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of wrongful detention, and limited healthcare availability. Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime.

What can you not bring into Nicaragua? ›

Fresh food is one of the categories prohibited by Nicaragua customs (or, Aduanas). For travelers, that means you cannot enter the country with fruits, vegetables, or any other perishable foods or beverages in hand. Instead, pack pantry goods like roasted nuts or granola bars to snack on.

What is the best way to travel in Nicaragua? ›

Nicaragua's buses are cheap and safe, but if you're in a group, in a rush, or want to travel later in the day you may want to consider a shuttle – cars or minibuses that head between the tourist hotspots.

Are US dollars accepted in Nicaragua? ›

Currency: Cordoba. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Nicaragua and can be used to pay for taxis, hotels, restaurants, and stores.

What vaccines do I need for Nicaragua? ›

Courses or boosters usually advised: Hepatitis A. Other vaccines to consider: Rabies; Tetanus; Typhoid. Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Hepatitis B.

Why is Nicaragua so famous? ›

Known as the "land of lakes and volcanoes", Nicaragua is also home to the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve, the second-largest rainforest of the Americas. The biological diversity, warm tropical climate and active volcanoes make Nicaragua an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Why Costa Rica is better than Nicaragua? ›

Tourism: Costa Rica has a more established tourism industry, with more accessible National Parks and guided excursions. Nicaragua's tourism is far less developed. Especially intrepid travelers will enjoy forging paths and creating unique adventures.

Is Mexico or Nicaragua safer? ›

Violent Crime. Nicaragua has the lowest violent crime rate in Central America with far less violent crime than the more popular tourist destinations of Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Mexico, or Guatemala*. In fact, Nicaragua has a violent crime rate considerably lower than the average in urban areas of the USA**.

Which is safer, Costa Rica or Nicaragua? ›

Both Costa Rica and Nicaragua are relatively safe countries. Nicaragua is statistically safer than Costa Rica, in terms of crime rate that is officially recorded. According to records, Nicaraguan crime rate has been declining over the past couple decades, whereas Costa Rica's crime rate has been increasing.

What to know before traveling to Nicaragua? ›

Nicaragua has a high crime rate, including armed robbery, assault and express kidnapping. There aren't many police outside major urban areas. Avoid remote locations. Don't go out alone or at night.

How much is the entry fee to Nicaragua? ›

3- Border Crossing: Enter Nicaragua

Someone will come to you and charge $1 municipality tax. Once it's your turn, the immigration officer will ask for your passport, and check your Costa Rica exit stamp. You will have to pay another $12 entrance fee to the immigration officer.

Is it cheap to travel in Nicaragua? ›

Is Nicaragua expensive to visit? Nicaragua is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

How long can you stay in Nicaragua as a tourist? ›

Nicaragua is very welcoming to foreigners. Most travelers do not require a visa to enter the country; however, staying longer than the generally permitted stay of approximately 90 days requires an extension of stay of up to 90 additional days.

Is it worth going to Managua? ›

For most travellers, Managua is a springboard for the rest of the country but it does house a few points of interest: some museums, crumbling churches and reportedly the world's oldest human footprints.

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