Survive Guide - Nicaragua - page 622

Ineter (Nicaragua Institute for Territorial Studies; www.ineter.gob.ni ; frente Dirección de Migración y
Extranjeria, Managua) Has the best selection of detailed maps in the country. Many are out of print, but
bring a flash drive and they'll upload the files.
International Travel Maps & Books ( www.itmb.ca ) Publishes a detailed road map (US$12.95), but
don't trust it completely for secondary roads.
Mapas Naturismo ( www.mapas-naturismo.com ) Has the most current road map on the market
(US$9).
Money
Nicaragua's currency is the córdoba (C$), sometimes called a 'peso' or 'real' by locals. Córdobas come
in coins of C$0.25, C$0.50, C$1, C$5 and C$10, and bills of C$10, C$20, C$50, C$100, C$200 and
C$500. The plastic bills are flimsy and tear easily. Bills of C$100 and larger can be difficult to change;
try the gas station.
US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, but they will be rejected if they are even slightly
marked, ripped or damaged. Córdobas are usually easier to use, particularly at smaller businesses and
anywhere off the beaten track - always keep at least 200 córdoba on you, preferably in smaller bills.
The córdoba is devalued according to a fixed plan against the US dollar. All prices in this guide are
given in US dollars (US$), as costs in córdoba are more likely to fluctuate with the exchange rate.
ATMs, Banks & Traveler's Checks
ATMs (cajeros automatícos) are the easiest way to access cash in Nicaragua. They are available in
most major towns and tourist regions. Most ATMs charge around US$2.50 per transaction on top of
whatever your bank charges. It's also possible to organize a cash advance over the counter in many
banks. Traveler's checks are inconvenient and may be changed at only some banks, for a steep fee but
it may be worth bringing a small amount for an emergency stash.
Branches of the following banks have reliable ATMs:
BAC Visa/Plus and MasterCard/Cirrus.
Bancentro Visa/Plus.
BanPro Visa/Plus and MasterCard/Cirrus.
Banco ProCredit Visa/Plus.
Black Market
Moneychangers (coyotes) are regularly used by locals to change córdobas for US dollars at about the
same rates as the banks. Coyotes in cities and towns are generally honest, but you should know the ex-
change rate and how much to expect in the exchange. Coyotes may also exchange other currencies, in-