Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Purchase
Buying a bike is easily done; even the smallest towns will have somewhere selling them. The price-to-
quality ratio is not great - expect to pay a little under US$100 for a bottom-of-the-line model. So-
mething fancy will probably cost more than it would back home. Selling your bike when you leave is a
matter of luck; places like Granada, León and San Juan del Sur all have notice boards in travelers'
cafes, which would be your best bet. As a last shot, try selling it to a bike-rental place, but don't expect
to recoup much of your investment.
Boat
Many destinations are accessible only, or most easily, by boat. Public
pangas
(small motorboat) with
outboard motors are much more expensive than road transport - in general it costs around US$6 to
US$8 per hour of travel. In places without regular service, you will need to hire your own private
panga
. Prices vary widely, but you'll spend about US$50 to US$100 per hour for four to six people;
tour operators can usually find a better deal. It's easy, if not cheap, to hire boat transport up and down
the Pacific coast. On the Atlantic side, it's much more difficult. While it's not common, boats
do
sink
here - please wear your life jacket, or at least keep it handy.
Following are the major departure points with regular boat service.
Bluefields
To Pearl Lagoon, El Rama and Corn Island. Regular boats run between Great Corn and
Little Corn Islands.
El Rama
To Bluefields.
Granada
To Isla de Ometepe and San Carlos.
San Carlos
To Granada, the Islas Solentiname, the Río San Juan, the scenic border crossing to Costa
Rica and several natural reserves.
Waspám
The gateway to the Río Coco.
Bus
Bus service in Nicaragua is excellent if basic. Public transport is usually on old Bluebird school buses,
which means no luggage compartments. Try to avoid putting your backpack on top of the bus, and in-
stead sit toward the back and put it with the sacks of rice and beans.
Pay your fare after the bus starts moving. You may be issued a paper 'ticket' on long-distance buses
- don't lose it, or you may be charged again. Some bus terminals allow you to purchase tickets ahead
of time, which should in theory guarantee you a seat. While buses generally cruise around town before
getting underway, you're more likely to get a seat by boarding the bus at the station or terminal.
