Essential Information on Nicaragua Travel, Travel Information

There is so much to see and do in Nicaragua but there are a few things you will likely want to know before booking your ticket and packing your bag. Information regarding seasonal changes, food and health concerns and currency are essential to find out before you are about to embark on a trip to another country. For this reason we have provided you with some essential Nicaraguan information.

Nicaragua’s climate varies since the country is quite big and has different altitudes. The Pacific side of the country tends to be very hot with good rains from May to November and dry dusty winds between December and April. The Caribbean cost tends to be much hotter and wetter while the mountains in the northern half of the country are much cooler. In general the country enjoys an average year-round temperature of 27°C with a high level of humidity. The two main conditions you can expect to encounter are either rainy or dusty and dry. You can enjoy some of the most pleasant months between June and January. Pack accordingly.

When it comes to food and drink, you should view all water as being potentially contaminated. It needs to be boiled before it can be consumed or used for things such as brushing your teeth. Not all water is harmful to your health but it is difficult to tell which is and isn’t. Better quality restaurants can be counted on to use only clean water when it comes to cooking. If you are unsure you can always ask management before sitting down to order a meal. If you are heading out to rural areas, avoid milk and milk products as the milk is usually not pasteurized and needs to be boiled before being used. Also, it is a good idea to make sure that your meat is well cooked and served hot, whether it is red meat or white meat. Mayonnaise and salads also carry potential health risks. If you eat vegetables, make sure that they have been cooked properly. Fruit should be peeled before consumption.

When it comes to your health, look out for signs of unhealthy conditions and stay away from them. Managua has a hospital that should be able to treat most conditions, but more chronic cases are usually flown out the country. Make sure you get immunized against everything you possibly can. This will help prevent some of the more common diseases experienced in the country, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, hepatitis A, cholera or parasitic infection while visiting Nicaragua.

When visiting cities, be sure to keep an eye on what is happening around you. Some cities may have a crime problem, so it is best to keep your wits about you and stay away from areas with a bad reputation. Lock your valuables away when leaving your hotel room for the day and don’t carry a lot of money. Also, avoid driving between towns and cities at night. You really shouldn’t encounter too much of a problem – just use your common sense.

The local currency is the córdoba which is much lower than the US dollar, but dollars are accepted at most establishments. Visa, MasterCard and American Express can also be used extensively. However, if you plan to visit artisan villages and markets, you might do better with some of the local currency. Tellers are found only in Managua, Granada and Leon and Travelers checks are not widely used. No foreign currencies other than the US dollar are accepted in Nicaragua.

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