Nicaragua Travel Guide

Nicaragua is one of the largest and most beautiful countries in Central America. It has coastlines on both sides. The Caribbean Sea is on the east, and the Pacific Ocean is in the west. Nicaragua borders with Costa Rica to the southeast and Honduras to the northwest.

Nicaragua contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua or Cocibolca. It is also the least densely populated. The capital city (and the country’s largest) is Managua. Roughly one-quarter of the nation’s population lives in the Nicaraguan capital, making it the third largest city and metropolitan area in Central America.

The multi-ethnic population of Nicaragua includes indigenous peoples, Europeans, Africans, and Asians. The primary language is Spanish. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century, and Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821. So, the mixture of cultural traditions has generated substantial diversity in art, poetry, and literature. Native tribes on the eastern coast also speak their own languages. 

The biological diversity, warm tropical climate and active volcanoes make Nicaragua an increasingly popular tourist destination. Many tourists compare it to Costa Rica, but without large tourist crowds. The Northern Pacific region has some of the highest volcanic activity on Earth and is also home to two national icons: the rum Flor de Caña and the poet Rubén Darío.

The official currency is Nicaraguan Gold Cordoba. The approximate exchange rate is 30 Cordobas for 1 US Dollar. The exchange is available at the airports, banks, and bureaus de change. However, it may be unnecessary, as US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the country. Credit cards are acceptable in hotels, restaurants, and big shops. Traveler’s cheques may be difficult to exchange. Nevertheless, ATMs are available in most tourist areas and can withdraw both Cordobas and US dollars.

You don’t need to bring an electric adapter, if you come from the USA, as there are sockets of A type in Nicaragua. The standard voltage is also 120V.

There are many companies providing car hire service in Nicaragua. People drive on the right side of the road. Main roads are in good condition. However, small roads can be hard to drive on, and some of them can even be inaccessible during the rainy seasons.

July 11, 2016 12:00 am Published by Neha Rizal 1 Comment