Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING TO SAN CARLOS, NICARAGUA
Although there's a 14km dirt road between Los Chiles and San Carlos, Nicaragua, using
this crossing requires special permission generally reserved for federal employees. Most
regular folk go across by boat on the Río Frío, which is easily arranged in Los Chiles. You
must first get an exit stamp in your passport at the
migración
(Immigration; Calle 4 & Av 0;
8am-noon & 1:30-4pm), about 100m east of the dock and directly across the street from
Hotel Tulipán. If you are coming from Nicaragua, you must make themigraciónyour first
stop.
Los Chiles municipality charges a US$1.10 exit and entry fee; after getting your pass-
port stamped at themigración, walk down to the docks and pay the exit fee at the yellow
Recaudador Municipal office. Reverse this procedure if you are arriving here from Ni-
caragua.
Regular boats (US$12, 90 minutes) leave Los Chiles at 12:30pm and 3:30pm daily, with
extra boats at 11am and 2:30pm if demand is high. Boats leave San Carlos for Los Chiles
at around 10:30am and 4pm, with extra boats scheduled as needed. Of course, the Ni-
caragua-Costa Rica border is not known for its reliability, so confirm these times before
setting out. Your boat will make a stop at the actual border post about halfway through
the trip. Nicaragua charges a US$7 entry fee and US$2 exit fee.
When you hit the confluence of the Río San Juan, consider keeping your fingers and
toes in the boat as there are river sharks (seriously!). Sharks are one of several euryhaline
species that are able to survive in both fresh- and saltwater conditions. Every year, sharks
that have been tagged by scientists in the Caribbean Sea are later found swimming in
Lago de Nicaragua. Although the rapids of the Río San Juan are a deterrent for most spe-
cies of marine fish, sharks are apparently able to negotiate the river without problems,
and presumably head for fresh water in search of food.
Tours
Los Chiles is a convenient base to organize your tours to Caño Negro. The port is also a
good jumping-off point for exploring the islands of Lago de Nicaragua, and if you miss the
early boat, private transportation to San Carlos in Nicaragua is available.
Just head to the dock, where you can hire boat captains to take you up the lovely,
chocolaty Río Frío during the dry season and all the way into Lago Caño Negro during the
rainy season, as well as to San Carlos, Nicaragua, if necessary. Three- to four-hour trips
