Nicaragua

  • America,  Around the world,  Country Guides,  During the World Tour,  El Salvador,  Guatemala,  Mexico,  Nicaragua,  Panama,  TDM,  Tips

    Border crossing in Central America – Entry fee, Exit ticket: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama

    Here is a summary of the entry and exit fees for Central American countries. These countries like to use the US dollar very much. Some of them use ONLY US dollars, so plan on using dollars before coming here (or get some from distributors who also offer dollars). Some countries require proof of exit from the territory (Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama), it is better to think about it in advance. A bus ticket will suffice. Mexico Entry: When you enter Mexico, you will be asked for your proof of exit. You can simply buy a bus ticket on the ADO website (e.g. to Guatemala) and exchange it afterwards. You can…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  El Salvador,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Tips

    International Bus: from Leon (Nicaragua) to San Salvador (El Salvador): Timetable, Fares

    If there are many shuttles proposed by the hostels going from Leon (Nicaragua) to the different beaches in El Salvador, we had a lot of trouble finding buses connecting Leon and San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. There are two companies providing this service: Platinum Tica Bus You will not necessarily see this information on the two respective sites because the buses all leave from Managua and Leon is just a stop on the way. Here are the departure times and fares for November 2019: Platinum : departure around 3am. Arrival around 2pm-3pm. Rates : 50$US Tica Bus: departure around 11am. Arrival around 11 pm. Fares : 45$US The…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Tips

    Practical Travel Guide 2020: Transportation in Nicaragua (Chicken bus, Microbus, Shuttles, …)

    Nicaragua is a country where the majority of its inhabitants travel by local transport. They are very cheap and allow you to reach the whole country without difficulty. There are also private transportation such as cabs, private shuttles or international bus companies. The latter are more expensive but can save you a lot of time. Let’s go for a little practical guide! Local transportation tips and tricks In the majority of the buses, you will find a driver and a “cobrador”. It is the latter who is on the side of the road, shouting out the cities where the bus stops, telling the driver when to stop and asking you…

  • America,  Around the world,  Country Guides,  Digital nomad,  During the World Tour,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Tips

    Being Digital Nomad in Nicaragua (Managua, Granada, Leon): Reviews & Speedtests

    If you have followed us on the blog, you can see that this year we have chosen the two “dangerous” (in the collective imagination) of Central America to spend the fall: Nicaragua and El Salvador. These two countries are often avoided by tourists crisscrossing Central America (who visit Guatemala and then hop, hop, hop, go directly to Costa Rica). I admit (and I wish to be honest with you), the idea of going there scared me too. I already imagined blocked roads, stray bullets, civil war. Without the very reassuring advice and feedback from Lauriane, an expat who has been living in Central America for 2 years, I wouldn’t even…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Tips

    Getting to and from Nicaragua by Land

    The Nicaragua borders Costa Rica to the south and Honduras to the north. It is possible to enter and leave Nicaragua from both countries. There are 2 border posts in the south: – Penas Blancas– San Carlos / Los Chiles And 3 border posts in the north:– Guasaule (Somotillo)- El Espino-Las Manos Arriving in Nicaragua, customs formalities You will first have to go to the customs post of exit from Honduras or Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, you will have to pay a land exit tax of US$10, which you can pay at the bus terminals in San José or directly at the border. Afterwards, you will be able to…

  • America,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    León (Nicaragua): the city of students

    After 2 weeks in Granada, we move to spend 2 weeks in Leon, 2h30 drive away. Leon is a colonial city even more lively than Granada, it is here that thousands of students come to study. As usual, practical advice can be found at the end of the article. Part 1: Travel Diary Part2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Granada – Leon in shuttle We could have made the trip by public transportation (134 cordobas = 33 cordobas to Managua, then 71 cordobas by expreso (it is an air-conditioned bus that does not stop on the way to pick up clients, it leaves when it is full) to Leon,…

  • America,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Granada (Nicaragua): A Charming Colonial City

    Granada is the most touristic city in Nicaragua, thanks to its beauty (incredible colonial city) and its ideal location (near several volcanoes, Lake Nicaragua). This is where we chose to spend 2 weeks between work and learning Spanish. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Granada is really the type of city you visit in a single day and regret not staying overnight. So I’m thrilled to stay there for 2 weeks. Central square The microbus from Managua drops us off right in front of this beautiful central square. Like all colonial cities in Nicaragua, the central square consists of a beautiful church (or cathedral)…

  • America,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Managua, First days in Nicaragua & micro-bus to Granada

    A small article to tell you about our first days in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. We left Panama City where we spent 2.5 days. At the check-in, we were not asked for an exit ticket, but the yellow fever vaccine booklet(fiebre amarilla). Fortunately we have it (done in 2016 before the departure of the round-the-world tour). When we arrive in Managua, someone checks us with a machine to see if we have a fever or not. The yellow fever(fiebre amarilla) vaccination booklet is requested when we leave the plane (this is because we come from one of the countries affected by this disease). We pass in front of immigration,…

  • America,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    1 day at Las Peñitas & Turtle Conservation Project (Nicaragua)

    This weekend, to our great delight, Lauriane, an expert on Central America and theorganization of trips for the mentally and physically handicapped – came to visit us in Leon. As a reminder, we got to know each other through a Facebook travel group (when I was looking for information about Nicaragua) and the trend went well right away. She proposes us to accompany her to Los Brasiles (where she spent three months in a turtle conservation association) and to Las Peñitas, the famous beach at only 1 hour from Leon. As usual, practical advice is at the end of the article. Part 1: Travel Diary Part2: Practical Tips Part 1:…

  • America,  Nicaragua,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    3 days in Ometepe (Nicaragua) by Scooter

    With San Juan del Sur, Granada and Leon, the island of Ometepe is an essential stop in Nicaragua. The idea of spending 3 days on an island – located in the middle of a huge lake – with two volcanoes (one of which is active) is particularly appealing. Part 1: Travel Diary Part2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary How to get to Ometepe from Granada I will write a full article but to summarize, there are two methods: The 1st method called “lazy” consists of paying a tourist shuttle to the ferry in San Jorge (15$/person) and from the port, take the first ferry that goes to Ometepe (50…