Hotels in Nicaragua are quite numerous and very inexpensive. Accommodation options are varied, including a simple hammock in a common room (55-85 NIO), a bed in a hostel dorm (150-250 NIO), and boarding houses with accommodation rates up to 150 NIO. There are also many quite decent three-star hotels in the cities, where a room with breakfast will cost you an average of 1650 NIO, and in Managua there are even five-star hotels where you can stay for about 2500 NIO.
In the capital, the most budget hotels are located in the areas of Marta Quesada and the TicaBus bus station, but these same areas, alas, are considered one of the most unsafe in the evening.
Money
The monetary unit of the country is Cordoba (NIO), in 1 gold cordoba there are 100 centavos. Current exchange rate: 10 NIO = 15.96 RUB (1 USD = 36.11 NIO, 1 EUR = 37.98 NIO).
Climate of Nicaragua
According to wholevehicles, the climate of Nicaragua depends on the landscape: it is much hotter in the lowlands. During the dry season (November to April), the Pacific coast can get very hot. From May to October, there is a rainy season throughout the country (on the same Pacific coast, it usually manifests itself with high cloudiness). The mountainous regions are cool and also often cloudy, regardless of the season. And the Atlantic coast of the country is different in that every season it is sure to be hit by a hurricane, the appearance of which can never be predicted in time. Current weather forecast for the main resorts of Nicaragua for the coming days.
Shopping and stores
If you choose any one souvenir from Nicaragua, it must be a hammock. Nicaraguan hammocks are considered one of the best and most comfortable. The best of the best are made in Masaya, where you can take a taxi (ask to take you to the hammock factory, the Old or New Market – “mercado viejo” or “mercado nuevo”). A simple hammock for one will not cost more than 550 NIO. You can also find good hammocks at the Huembes market in Managua, the only large marketplace in the capital that also sells local products and handicrafts.
If you choose two souvenirs, the second, of course, should be the Flor de Caña rum, of exceptional quality. It comes in four years (“Extra Light”, “Extra Dry” or “Negra Etiquette”) or seven years (“Gran Reserve”) and costs about 100-170 NIO per bottle.
Also worth a visit for authentic handicrafts is Pueblos Blancos, a series of settlements of artists and craftsmen half an hour from Granada and 40 minutes from Managua. Of particular interest to tourists is San Juan de Oriente, a pottery center with dozens of studios and shops.
Cuisine and restaurants
The strongest side of the local cuisine is beef steaks with chimichurri sauce made from oil, garlic and herbs. Steak restaurants can be found throughout the country, one of the most popular chains is Los Ranchos.
The most popular fast food in Nicaragua is “quecillo”, a corn tortilla wrapped in cheese with sour cream, onion and salt. Another local delicacy is nacatamales, the Nicaraguan version of tamale.
Entertainment and attractions in Nicaragua
The flow of tourists to Nicaragua is growing every year, and no wonder: this is a real paradise for those who are interested in budget ecotourism, beach and water sports holidays. Attractive destinations for nature lovers and hikers are Ometepe Island and the Mombacho Volcano, the mountainous coffee-growing region of Matagalpa, and the isolated and “wild” Caribbean coast and Corn Islands. The Rio San Juan region has the most extensive rainforest north of the Amazon and is a booming ecotourism destination with a huge variety of wildlife. And the San Juan River itself is great for sport and trophy fishing. The Silvestre Privada Montecristo Nature Reserve in Boca de Zabalos is also worth a look.
Distracting from outdoor recreation, in Nicaragua it is worth exploring the old colonial cities of Nicaragua – at least the beautiful Leon and Granada.
The best world-class surf beaches are located on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. At the same time, the North Pacific region, which is located at the junction of two tectonic plates, is considered one of the places with the highest volcanic activity on Earth. In addition, it is also the birthplace of two national icons: the poet Rubén Darío and the Flor de Caña rum. The southern part of the Pacific coast is a narrow strip of land between the ocean and Lake Nicaragua with the iconic island of the Two Mountains (Ometepe). There are numerous surf spots and the beautiful resort of San Juan del Sur.
Spanish is spoken in Nicaragua. Don’t expect to meet many English-speaking Nicaraguans outside of the larger, more expensive hotels.
