Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Information
Intur
(Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism; 2222-3333;
www.visitanicaragua.com/ingles
)
, the govern-
ment tourism office, has branches in most major cities. It can always recommend hotels and activities
(but not make reservations) and point you toward guides.
Alcaldías
are your best bet in small towns without a real tourist office. Although tourism is not the
mayor's primary function, most will help you find food, lodging, guides and whatever you might need.
In indigenous communities, there may not be a mayor, as many still have councils of elders. Instead,
ask for the president (or
wihta
in Miskito communities)
,
who probably speaks Spanish and can help
you out.
Travelers with Disabilities
While Nicaraguans are generally accommodating toward people with mobility issues, and will gladly
give you a hand getting around, the combination of cobbled streets, cracked sidewalks and stairs in
pretty much every building can make life tough.
There are few regular services for disabled travelers and because of difficulties in finding suitable
transport, it's easiest to go through a tour company.
Kool Tour
(cmejia@kool-tour.com; Ciudad Jardin
q-12, Managua) are specialists in arranging tours for travelers with disabilities.
There are very few wheelchair-accessible toilets and bathrooms in Nicaragua, so bringing toilet-seat
extensions and wall-mountable mobility aids are highly recommended. For general mobility-impaired
advice, go to
www.able-travel.com
.
Visas
Visitors from most countries can stay in Nicaragua for up to 90 days without a visa, as long as they
have a passport valid for the next six months, proof of sufficient funds (US$200 or a credit card) and
an onward ticket (rarely checked).
Citizens of some parts of Eastern Europe and Latin America and many African and Asian nations
need visas to enter Nicaragua. Check the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry website
(
www.cancilleria.gob.ni/servicios/visas.shtml
)
for the full lists.
Nicaragua is part of the CA-4, a regional agreement covering Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and
Guatemala. Officially, you can only stay for 90 days maximum in the
entire
CA-4, at which point you
can get one extension of 90 days from the
Migración (Immigration) office
(Dirección de Migración y
Extranjeria; 2244-3989;
www.migob.gob.ni/dgme
;
semaf Tenderí, 200m N) in Managua for around
US$10 per month. After those 90 days, you must leave the region (this means going to Costa Rica, ba-
sically) for 72 hours, which automatically renews your visa.
