It's important is to keep only a small amount of money in your pocket with your license. It’s illegal to talk or text on a mobile phone whilst driving in Nicaragua unless you have a hands free kit. I plan to drive from Dallas to Nicaragua in a week just me and my car, but have not been able to find anyone who has driven from the US to Nicaragua recently. I am wondering if it will be safe for us to drive around in Nicaragua especially since my wife will be coming on the trip with us. Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime. If you're renting a car the minimum age is 25. Even in daytime it’s best to park where your car and you are visible or use an attended garage. I drove between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? More trip calculations. Nicaragua has a lot going for it! Travel writer, social media guru, Chloe keeps our readers and customers up to speed with all the car rental and travel trends on our blog. More details Is there a direct bus between Liberia and Nicaragua? The scenic Pan-American Highway is the longest road in the world stretching around 15,000 miles from Alaska in North America all the way down to Argentina in South America.. Last year we finally ditched our comfortable lives in LA and set out on a journey of a lifetime to travel across the Pan-American Highway for 15 months. Though my time there was very brief, Guatemala is a place I would someday go back to explore more. Q: Is safe to drive alone, or should you have a partner? Driving slow is the best advice for driving at night in Costa Rica. A minimum of third party insurance is compulsory in Nicaragua and must be purchased in the country. Is Nicaragua safe to visit right now? ha! Is driving at night in Nicaragua safe? You should simply ensure that it is securely attached and that you have good visibility whilst other road users know that the vehicles are engaged in towing. Related: What are the most popular tours in Nicaragua? And NO, there are not many gringos doing this. Having said that, Nicaragua is a poor country and there is more common theft. You don’t want to lose your passport. Requirements for travelers to and from Nicaragua. Driving in Nicaragua can be dangerous. The only issue I had was that they were doing construction on one of the double lane roads and they didn't place signs or road blocks... the lane just suddenly ended in a big pile of rock and dirt. We rented a small 4 door car from Alamo in Granada, and it worked out really great for us. Paid parking is infrequent in small towns and villages and more often found in the bigger towns and cities. Latest travel advice for Nicaragua, including how to stay safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information on returning to the UK. Nicaragua is quickly becoming a noticeably popular spot for expats looking to retire abroad. It’s no wonder, with great real estate investment opportunities, low taxes, and a low cost of living. Answer 1 of 8: We will be visiting Nicaragua the end of June 2010 and we were thinking about renting a car to get around. The border with Nicaragua is also littered with unmarked minefields. The speed limits for Nicaragua are as follows: Whilst there are no fixed cameras in Nicaragua, hand held speed cameras used in mobile speed traps are common and certainly are part of the many checkpoints. The quickest way to get from Liberia to Nicaragua is to drive which costs $20 - $30 and takes 3h 12m. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26611955', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nicaragua. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. 10 Quick Tips for Retiring in Nicaragua. We were told in Spanish that we had committed an "infractione" ( could it be driving too slowly?) Fortunately the speed limit was so slow that there was plenty of time to stop if you were paying attention to the road. A guide to Safe Driving In Nicaragua, including Speed Limits, Alcohol Limits, Emergency Telephones numbers all to help your visit to Nicaragua go smooth. Thanks to the advice posted here we survived! All car hire customers have to buy local insurance specific to them when they collect their vehicle. Couple that with narrow, curvy roads with no guardrails, and it can be downright scary to drive … 7 replies; Must See and Do in Nicaragua? There are no legal requirements for the carrying of documents in Nicaragua but you’d be advised to make sure you have your driving licence, insurance document and registration documents. Copyright © 2021 rhinocarhire.com. Traveling in and out of Nicaragua- July 2020, All-inclusive vacation Resorts in Nicaragua, How safe is it to travel in Nicaragua now (2011), Tranportation from Liberia CR to Granada or Managua. http://nicaragua.typepad.com/las_penitas_poneloya/homepage/. You don't need a rental car other than for reaching the beaches around SJDS, as the nice ones north and south of town, and most lodging is above town. If anyone has been there recently and has any information/tips to share we would greatly appreciate it!! I avoided driving in San Salvador centre as the traffic is generally very congested by day and its not really safe to drive at night unless you know where you’re going. The car gets 30 days period. Statistically, it is the safest country in Central America. There are farm animals, cars without lights, pedestrian and bicycles which can cause roads hazards. Excuse me, I’m lost – Por favor, estoy perdido…, Turn left – ‘Toma el giro a la izquierda’. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26654339', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nicaragua in December 2009. Foreign tourists are sometimes seen as a source of cash for hard up police units but if possible to do so safely you should ask for a ticket if you’re accused of any offence. If you limit your driving to daylight hours you should enjoy the trip. Driving style is fairly laid back and non aggressive, though I noticed an increase in speed and urgency when approaching San Salvador from around 15 km from the Capital. If you have an accident, call 911 if there are injuries and contact your car rental company immediately. It is safe to drive in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I just kept on telling him that was all I had. Violent crime is pretty much non-existent. Drive Smart St Vincent and the Grenadines. However, I recommend avoiding night driving if possible. The Milenium Fund laid a new paved road from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? ken. We have heard that you can cross from Costa rica – Nicaragua but not the other way around. Be careful in border areas – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Don’t drive at night at all, Most of the roads don´t have light so they are really dark and many horses or cows can be on the road. I did not feel as safe as I did driving at night through Guatemala. I know he was full of it so I just continued to play dumb and eventually I wore him down and gave him 100 cordobas ($5). No,It can be very dangerous driving in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? **Please note that as of March 18, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the land crossings between Nicaragua and Costa Rica is closed. Never drive on rural roads at night. With our Drive Smart guide you're fully prepared to hire a car in Nicaragua and stay safe on unfamiliar roads. No specific regulations exist for towing another vehicle or trailer. ? Nicaragua is a peaceful and safe country; however, theft and other occasional criminal activity can occur. The biggest issue of my concern is the entrance of vehicles to the US. San Juan del Sur, for example, Nicaragua’s main beach town and tourist/expat Mecca, experienced no violence. In much of Nicaragua, parking is unregulated and it’s wherever you can find a convenient space, simply make sure you don’t cause an obstruction or inconvenience others. Yes, Nicaragua is safe to travel. Originally he said that he was going to take my license and it would cost $80 or I could pay the ticket right there for "only" $60. Keep valuables locked in a safe – room robberies can happen. How safe is it to travel in Nicaragua now (2011) 14 replies; Is it safe to drive through Nicaragua? I did my first trip alone and loved it. If they do take your license, they will issue a ticket that is also acts a temporary license good for 30 days. You’ll usually only find traffic lights in the big cities like Managua, elsewhere it’s take your chances at junctions. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. We had no trouble except getting hassled by the police just outside of Masaya. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26967186', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Leon andchinandega both are beautiful Esteli is nice and tobacco country best cigars better than cuban granada is great sanjuan del sur o. k. the counntry is beautiful the people wonderful the country is very safe but like every where use good judgement . Is Nicaragua travel safe? Also keep an eye out. Indeed, in many places in the U.S. I played dumb and acted like I didn't speak or understand much Spanish. We were pulled over ( I gather there is a windhield sticker that identifies a rental car?). The driver, from Nicaragua, makes 3 to 4 ‘hauls’ a year from the U.S. to Nicaragua where he now lives. All locals drive by without even slowing down. We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Nothing is computerized and they have no way of enforcing past infractions, Here in California you can get a replacement license for $22. There are farm animals, cars without lights, pedestrian and bicycles which can cause roads hazards. Services depart five times a day, and operate every day. To drive in Nicaragua, you'll need either: an International Driving Permit (IDP) an Australian driver's licence; You must get the IDP before arriving in Nicaragua. | After we exited the immigration, we were officially in Nicaragua, and the next task was to get to our first destination in Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur. We will be visiting (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Get answers to your questions about Nicaragua. – ¿Donde es la gasolinera la más cercana? 2 replies; One Day in Puerto Corinto - What to do? We use common sense such as using taxis after dark, not driving at night, etc. Rentes cars cannot cross the border into Nicaragua, what you can do is rent another one on the Nicaragua side in places like Budget Rent a Car. Safety camera warning devices are not illegal in Nicaragua but, given the standard of the roads and local driving skills in the country, it is wiser to stick to the limits. In general, Granada, Nicaragua is quite safe. Tickets for speeding offences should be issued on the spot but beware of being asked to pay there and then. I assume you mean Playa Roca in Las Penitas?! Seat belts are mandatory by law in Nicaragua for all occupants of a moving vehicle. Crime in Nicaragua "It is relatively safe and we have experienced less crime here than in the states. Traveling Upstream. Please visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on entry/exit requirements related to COVID-19 in Nicaragua.. Yes, it is quite safe to go around in a rental car, although I would avoid driving in Managua.The roads were in great condition for the most part, and driving was not too difficult during day. For that reason, don’t drink and drive at all, especially given the quality of accommodation in Nicaragua’s prisons and the fact that any arrest for driving under the influence results in a minimum 48 hour spell in prison. Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to COVID-19, limited healthcare availability, and arbitrary enforcement of laws. I never ran into any problems or got pulled over. There are no toll roads in Nicaragua although there are plans to introduce tolls to help fund road maintenance. 3. .We were asked for the driver`s licence and car papers, which walked away for a while ,and then we were asked where we were going. Driving at Night. 11 replies; Car Rental At Penas Blancas Border Crossing 7 replies; beach huts/houses 4 replies; Getting married in Nicaragua 8 replies Alamo should allow you to pick up in Granada and drop at MGA. I'd agree that you have to be careful and there are a lot of bikes and the roads can be a bit confusing in the towns so you might want to limit your after dark driving and maybe just use the car between towns/cities if possible. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26673491', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car and were stopped at on of those police checkpoints where they put out the orange cones on the way from Granada to San Juan del Oriente. In fact, I did say no way, even though many parts of Nicaragua stayed safe during the worst of the violence. At night it’s even more important and you should park somewhere well-lit and as close to your destination as possible, even if that means paying. You also need to carry your current passport and tourist card. Re: Is it safe to drive through Nicaragua? Favourite destination: Dubai. Where you encounter traffic lights they tend to follow the US system which should be readily understandable by all. Where is the nearest petrol station? Road travel. Disabled drivers are left to their own devices and this usually means trying to find a spot close to where you are going or asking for assistance at an attending parking garage. In Nicaragua, children under the age of 12 cannot sit in the front of a vehicle. Understand that you can drive through Guat in about 6 hours, El Sal in about 5, Hon in 2, Nicaragua in 5 and to San Jose in another five. This equates to around one drink meaning that depending on other factors, one drink could take you over the limit. I had my license, $8 in cordobas and a credit card. We did (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Latest travel advice for Nicaragua, including how to stay safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information on returning to the UK. Nicaragua in the south is extremely hot and humid. living abroad in nicaragua is a great book to look at before going. Generally, there are plentiful buses heading to the capital Managua or to Rivas, Nicaraguan transportation hub where every traveler will end up at least once while in the country. Some people will try to approach and help you but use your common sense. Elisha & Gordon MacKay We're Gordon and Elisha. Q: I will be traveling northward from Nicaragua where I’ve lived for the past couple of years back to the US. We’ll let you be the judge of that! Make sure to eat at Suyapa on the beach, one of the best seafood restaurants on the Pacific Coast, a stones throw from Playa Roca. how much i would spend in tolls and fees, how long i would take, and its safe? The emergency number in Nicaragua is 118 for all emergency services. I am wondering if it will be safe for us to drive around in Nicaragua especially since my wife will be coming on the trip with us. You need to have an international drivers licence too if you’re from outside of South and Central America. Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Bomba Liberia and arriving at Managua. Until you’re comfortable driving in Costa Rica, avoid driving long distances at night. You have to drive it back into Mexico or Coasta Rica for at least 72 hours to import it back into the CA-4 area. Follow these tips for staying safe Nicaragua: Avoid political demonstrations they can become violent. It’s even known to be the safest country in Central America. It shares borders with Guatemala to the northwest, El Salvador to the south and Nicaragua to the southeast. The drink driving laws in Nicaragua state that you must have no more than 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in your body. Since the 2018 civil unrest, Nicaraguan authorities have denied entry to or expelled foreigners, including NGO workers, academics, and journalists, for political reasons, including perceived support of pro-democracy or human rights … You’ll usually receive some assistance but there is no official stance on disabled parking. Street lighting is used less frequently than what you’re probably used to. We "tried" to talk only in English, produced a map to show Masaya, played as dumb as we could , were smiling and always polite... and finally wore her down . All Rights Reserved. Taxes in Nicaragua There are very few taxes on expats in Nicaragua. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. You are supposed to pay the fine at a bank and then you have to go to the police station to get your license back. In Managua there are controlled parking bays along the roads in the business district as well as parking garages, covered and uncovered. Legally issued tickets can be paid at a police station with 14 days of issue. i have been going nica for 4 years after the first year i hire a driver my house is in masachapa on the pacific having a driver makes life easy ihave been to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? more. Driving permit. We always remind visitors to use good judgement to prevent unfortunate situations. What to Do if You Have an Accident Or Get a Ticket. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26614812', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Leon a few months back so good drive but as the previous poster says, I wouldn't drive it at night. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. Instead they should be sat in the rear where those under four years old must be securely fitted into an age appropriate seat system. 7. If you limit your driving to daylight hours you should enjoy the trip. We drove about 600km on our last trip to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 4. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-26609901', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nicaragua the end of June 2010 and we were thinking about renting a car to get around. How to cross the Costa Rica/Nicaragua border? It is safe to drive in Nicaragua.However, I recommend avoiding night driving if possible. A: It is safe but can be boring. 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