Nicaragua requires advance visa arrangements for citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Citizens of 134 countries receive automatic tourist entry at airports and land borders for stays up to 90 days. The official government immigration website is www.migob.gob.ni. United States citizens pay a 10 USD tourist card on arrival. Departure requires a 2 USD municipal tax and 33 USD exit tax, though some airlines include these in ticket prices. Extensions beyond 90 days require application through Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería offices in Managua.
The córdoba oro is the official currency, abbreviated NIO. Exchange rates in January 2025 average 36-37 córdobas per US dollar. US dollars circulate widely and most businesses accept them alongside córdobas. ATMs dispense both currencies depending on the machine, with withdrawal limits typically 5,000-10,000 córdobas or 200-400 USD per transaction. Banks include BAC, Banpro, and Lafise Bancentro. Credit cards work in major hotels and restaurants in Managua, Granada, León, and San Juan del Sur, but cash remains necessary throughout the Caribbean coast, rural areas, and small towns. Currency exchange operates at banks, authorized casas de cambio, and airport counters. The black market exists but offers minimal advantage over official rates.
Managua Augusto C. Sandino International Airport handles international connections through Panama City, San Salvador, Houston, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Liberia Costa Rica Guanacaste Airport sits 90 kilometers south of the Peñas Blancas border crossing. The Peñas Blancas-Sapoa crossing between Nicaragua and Costa Rica processes land traffic daily from 06:00 to 22:00. The El Guasaule crossing connects to Honduras on the Pan-American Highway. The Las Manos crossing serves traffic between Estelí and Tegucigalpa. Land borders require payment of 1 USD to Nicaraguan immigration, 12 USD municipal tax, and often 1-2 USD for vehicle fumigation. Wait times at Peñas Blancas routinely extend beyond two hours during holidays and weekends. No railway system operates in Nicaragua. The San Juan River provides boat access from the Caribbean port of San Juan del Norte through the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve and Solentiname Archipelago to Lake Nicaragua, but service remains irregular and primarily serves cargo.
Intercity buses depart from multiple terminals in Managua. Ordinary buses cost 50-150 córdobas for routes up to 150 kilometers. Express microbuses charge double but cut travel time by 30-40 percent through limited stops. Managua to Granada takes 50 minutes by express microbus for 35 córdobas. Managua to León takes 90 minutes for 50 córdobas ordinary or 90 minutes for 80 córdobas express. Managua to San Juan del Sur requires four hours and costs 120 córdobas. Chicken buses, retired United States school buses, serve rural routes for 10-30 córdobas but operate without fixed schedules. Private shuttle services connecting tourist destinations charge 15-35 USD per person. Car rental through international agencies in Managua costs 35-70 USD daily for compact vehicles with mandatory insurance adding 15-20 USD per day. Roads on the Pacific side maintain paved surfaces between major cities. The Carretera Panamericana runs from the Honduran border through Managua to Costa Rica in generally acceptable condition. Roads to the Caribbean coast deteriorate significantly during rainy season from May through November. The highway from Managua to Bluefields requires 6-8 hours and includes unpaved sections prone to flooding. Four-wheel drive becomes necessary for coastal access and mountain routes. Gasoline costs approximately 5.50 USD per gallon for regular. No ride-sharing apps operate reliably outside Managua.
Internal flights connect Managua to Bluefields on the Caribbean coast via La Costeña airline. Flights depart three times daily and take 90 minutes for 120-150 USD round trip. La Costeña also serves Corn Islands from Managua daily, requiring 70 minutes for 140-180 USD round trip. Boats from El Rama reach Bluefields via the Escondido River in four hours for 150 córdobas. Panga boats from San Jorge on the mainland reach Ometepe Island in one hour for 50 córdobas. Ferry service operates the same route twice daily carrying vehicles for 60 USD. Water taxis between Little Corn Island and Big Corn Island run twice daily for 6 USD, requiring 30 minutes. Schedules shift with weather conditions and boats cancel during high winds.