Nicaragua Resource... · 2019. 5. 8. · Taxes in Nicaragua Local I.D. Obtaining your Driver’s...

Nicaragua

Resource Guide

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 Welcome to Nicaragua Nicaragua History & Culture

5 Country Details Currency Taxes in Nicaragua Local I.D. Obtaining your Driver’s License Purchasing a Car

9 Home Finding Utilities

11 Education English Schools Recommended Timeframes to Enroll

13 Banking Opening a Bank Account ATMS Credit Cards

14 Medical System Emergency Contacts

16 Transportation Transportation & Commuting Airports

18 Embassy & Consulates Embassy & Consulates

19 National Holidays

20 The Local Flavor Food Eating out


TABLE OF CONTENTS

21 Landmarks & Tourist Spots

22 Entertainment Arts & Culture Museums

Entertainment Shopping

24 Helpful Tips Safety Dialing In/Out of Country

25 Weights & Measurements Charts

26 Notes

LARM - NICARAGUA RESOURCE GUIDE


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As part of our Latin American Relocation Management (LARM) family, you can rest assured that we have your relocation needs covered. Our focus is making sure you experience a smooth transition, from start to finish. We have put together this guide with important information and resources that will help ease your relocation process as much as possible. We want to remind you that we stand by, ready to support and guide you whenever you might need it. If you have any questions or feed-back, please feel free to contact us directly.

LARM USA Headquarters 1961 NW 150th Avenue, Suite 103

Pembroke Pines, FL 33028

Phone: + (954) 239-4081Email: [email protected]

LARM Nicaragua Serviced by LARM Costa Rica

PO Box 6540-1000San Jose, Costa Rica

Office: + (506) 2219-8943Fax: + (506) 2253-3389

Email: [email protected]


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Welcome to

Nicaragua

Nicaragua, also known as the land of “Lakes and Volcanoes”, is the largest country in Central America. The Nicaraguan lake named “Cocibolca” is the largest body of fresh water in Central America. There are three geographical districts in Nicaragua, the central mountains, the Pacific plains and the Caribbean plains, also known as “La Costa Mosquito”. Managua, the capital is located on the Pacific area and has been the capital since 1852. The country is well known for its colonial cities that stand very well preserved until today. Granada is one of the most beautiful representations of the colonial architecture and the oldest city in the western hemisphere.



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History & Culture

Nicaragua’s name is derived from Nicarao, the name of the Nahuatl-speaking tribe which inhabited the shores of Lake Nicaragua before the Spanish conquest of the Americas, and the Spanish word Agua, meaning water, due to the presence of the large Lake Cocibolca (or Lake Nicaragua) and Lake Managua (or Lake Xolotlán), as well as lagoons and rivers in the region.

When the Spanish arrived in western Nicaragua in the early 16th century, they found three principal tribes, each with a different culture and language: the Niquirano, the Chorotegano, and the Chontal. Each one of these diverse groups occupied much of Nicaragua territory, with indepen-dent chieftains who ruled according to each group’s laws and customs. Nicaragua was first discovered by Europeans when Christopher Columbus arrived from Honduras and explored the eastern coast on his fourth voyage in 1502.

In 1522, the first Spaniards entered the region of what would become known as Nicaragua. Gil González Dávila with a small force reached its western portion after a trek through Costa Rica. He proceeded to explore the fertile western valleys and was impressed with the Indian civi-lization he found there. The land was parceled out to the conquistadores. The area of most interest was the western portion. It included a wide, fertile valley with huge, fresh- water lakes, a series of volcanoes, and volcanic lagoons.

In 1538, the Viceroyalty of New Spain was established, encompassing all of Mexico and Central America, except Panama. By 1570, the southern part of New Spain was designated the Captaincy General of Guatemala.

The history of Nicaragua remained relatively static for three hundred years following the conquest. There were minor civil wars and rebellions, but they were quickly suppressed. The region was subject to frequent raids by Dutch, French and British pirates, with the city of Granada being invaded twice, in 1658 and 1660.Nicaragua became a part of the First Mexican Empire in 1821, was a part of the United Provinces of Central America in 1823, and then became an independent republic in its own right in 1838.

In 1909, the United States provided political support to con-servative-led forces rebelling against President Zelaya. U.S. motives included differences over the proposed Nicaragua Canal, Nicaragua’s potential as a destabilizing influence in the region, and Zelaya’s attempts to regulate foreign access to Nicaraguan natural resources. Following the evacuation of U.S. Marines in 1925, another violent conflict between liberals and conservatives known as the Constitutionalist War took place in 1926.

After many years of Civil War (1926-1927) – (1927-1933), with U.S. support, Anastasio Somoza García outmaneuve-red his political opponents, including Sandino and took over the presidency in 1936. The Somoza family would rule until 1979, establishing a permanent dictatorship.

The Sandinistas were victorious in the national election of November 4, 1984, gathering 67% of the vote. The FSLN lost to the National Opposition Union by 14 points in elections on February 25, 1990. At the beginning of Violeta Chamorro’s nearly 7 years in office the Sandinistas still largely controlled the army, labor unions, and courts. Her


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government made moves towards consolidating democratic institutions, advancing national reconciliation, stabilizing the economy, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and reducing human rights violations.

The October 20, 1996 presidential, legislative, and mayoral elections also were judged free and fair by international observers and by the groundbreaking national electoral ob-server group Ética y Transparencia (Ethics and Transparen-cy) despite a number of irregularities, due largely to logis-tical difficulties and a baroquely complicated electoral law. This time Nicaraguans elected former-Managua Mayor Arnoldo Alemán, leader of the center-right Liberal Alliance, which later consolidated into the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC). Alemán continued to privatize the economy and promote infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, and wells, assisted in large part by foreign assistance received after Hurricane Mitch hit Nicaragua in October 1998. His administration was besieged by charges of co-rruption, resulting in the resignation of several key officials in mid-2000. Alemán himself was subsequently convicted of official corruption and sentenced to twenty years in jail.

Presidential and legislative elections were held on No-vember 4, 2001, the country’s fourth free and fair election since 1990. Enrique Bolaños of the PLC was elected to the Nicaraguan presidency, defeating the FSLN candidate Daniel Ortega.

In November 2006 the presidential election was won by Da-niel Ortega, returned to power after 16 years in opposition.

Having been in power since the Sandinista revolution in 1979, Ortega has a history of ignoring complaints about the election process. In the 2008 municipal elections there were allegations of fraud against the Sandinistas.

After the civil wars and several nature disasters that have affected the country, Nicaragua has partly rebuilt its eco-nomy; however poverty remains a problem, as well as high unemployment and underemployment levels.



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Full country name: Republic of Nicaragua

Capital: Managua

Area: 130,373 km²/ 50,173 sq. mi

Population: 6,038,652 (2011)

Official Language: Spanish

Currency: Cordoba (NIO)

Government: Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic

Religion: Catholic 71% - 25% Evangelical Protestant

Area Code: 505

Location: It borders to the north with Honduras, to the south with Costa Rica, to the east with the Caribbean Sea and to the west with the Pacific Ocean.

Climate: Nicaragua has a diverse climate, due to the mountains chain that runs diagonally through Central America from northwest to southeast. Nicaragua’s climate varies according to altitude. The Pacific lowlands are always extremely hot, but the air is fresh and the countryside green during the rainy season (May to November); the dry season (December to April) brings winds which send clouds of brown dust across the plains. The Caribbean coast is hot and wet; it can rain heavily even during the brief dry season (March to May). The mountains of the north are much cooler than the lowlands. The average annual temperature is 27C.

General Economic Information: The economy is based on agriculture, principal exports items being coffee, cotton, su-gar, bananas, beef, tobacco, sesame seed, rice, corn, beans and sorghum. Nicaragua is primarily an agricultural country, but construction, mining, fisheries, and general commerce also have been expanding during the last few years.

Business Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Shopping Centers & Malls:

Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Country Details


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Currency

• Official Name: Córdoba Oro (NIO)

• Exchange Rate: NIO C$27 = USD $1.00

**Confirm current rates before making any transactions*

Money Denominations: Paper notes come in denomina-tions of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Córdobas.

Taxes in Nicaragua

Fiscal system-taxes: The Ministry of Finance (MHCP) regulates taxes and fiscal policy. The administration and collection of national taxes is the responsibility of the General Revenue Department (DGI).

Main national taxes:

• Income Tax (IR)

• Value Added Tax (IVA)

• Selective Consumption Taxes (ISC)

• ITF-Stamp Taxes (ITF)

Municipal taxes:

• Municipal Income Taxes (IMI)

• Real Estate Taxes (IBI)

• Registration Taxes

• Service Taxes

• Utilization Taxes

Individual Taxation: National and resident individuals, regardless of their nationality, are taxed on their income earned in Nicaragua. Income taxes are calculated through a progressive tax rate as income increases. Foreign-source income is not taxed. Married couples are required to file separate income tax returns.

People making less than 100,000.01 córdobas a year are not subject to income tax. After that, it is a progressive tax scale. Annual employment income in excess of C$50,000 is taxable, including salary, pensions, bonuses, premiums, commissions and allowances (for example, housing and educational allowances). However, the 13th month salary (aguinaldo), labor indemnification (up to five months’ base salary) and indemnification are exempt from tax.



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Local I.D.

The Nicaraguan Residence card is called “Cédula de Residencia”. This is granted once the residency permit is approved.

To enter Nicaraguan territory, there is no an entry visa required, except for cases stipulated by law, which must be approved by Nicaragua’s General Direction of Migration.Foreign Citizens requiring consular visas to enter Nicaragua are subject to meet the law requirements; once in natio-nal territory, at border crossings by sea, air and ground, a one-time fee for the amount of the visa and tourist card, pursuant to the Convention for the Creation of American Single Visa for the free movement of foreigners.Nicaragua keeps visa-free agreements with other states, the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS).

In accordance with Law No. 153 “Migration Act” of April 22, 1993, it corresponds to the Ministry of Interior, throu-gh the General Direction of Foreignness and Migration (DGME), process, deliver and establish resident status in Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan residency requirements:• Form, with personal information

• Original Passport, valid for at least six months

• Copies of all used pages of the passport

• 2 passport photos

• Birth Certificate, Nationalization papers, duly au-thenticated by the competent authority of country of origin, the Nicaraguan Consulate of country of origin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicaragua.

• Health certificate of country of origin or the country where you resided for the last 3 years, duly authen-ticated by the competent authority of country of origin, the Nicaraguan Consulate of country of origin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicaragua.

• Criminal record certificate of country of origin or the country where you resided for the past 3 years, duly authenticated by the competent authority of country of origin, the Nicaraguan consulate of country of ori-gin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicaragua.

Types of residences:• Temporary Residence: Valid for one year, and must

be renewed annually. After three years of Temporary Residence abroad, you may apply for Permanent Residence.

• Permanent Residence: Valid for five years, and must be renewed every five years.

Sub-categories of residences:• Temporary Residence: a)Work contract, b) Journalist,

c) Student, d) Religious, e) By extension link.

• Permanent Residence: a)Investor, b) Renter, c) Pen-sioner or retired, d) By extension links.

The Nicaraguan residency identification card is required by public and private institutions to perform different procedures.


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Obtaining your Driver’s License

In accordance to Law those who hold driver’s license from other countries may drive during the period for which it was issued. If this license expires, you must process the national license for driving.

The general requirements to apply for a driver´s license in Nicaragua are:

• Copy of your Nicaraguan Resident Card

• To be Older than 21 years old

• Certificate of approval of the theoretical- practical exams realized by the Transit Police Station Office and/or any Center authorize by them

• Vision exam and certificate of blood type, issued recently by the Nicaraguan Red Cross

• License Insurance Policy

• BANPRO (Bank of Production) deposit’s slip of pay-ment of the license

• Valid driver’s license or with less than a year of expiration

• Psychological test (if first time applying for a driver’s license)

Purchasing a Car

The general recommendation is to purchase a car, whether it is used or new in a renowned car dealer.

• You must be a citizen or resident to register a vehicle in Nicaragua

If you decide to purchase a used car the basic steps to get the registration and license plates from the transit police office (División de Tránsito de la Policia Nacional) are the following:

• Bill of sale

• Receipts from Administración de la Renta (transfer tax)

• Copy of your cédula (resident permit)

• Old circulation permit

• Emissions test form

• Mechanical inspection checklist form

• “Sticker de Rodamiento” a municipal tax

• Insurance policy (is mandatory)

• The required items in the car: two reflective trian-gles, jack, fire extinguisher



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Home Finding

The real estate sector in Nicaragua has been booming and the growth is expected to continue. With prices that are below Central American levels and a wide array of beau-tiful beach, mountain, rural, and other types of properties Nicaragua is transforming into a great real estate market.

Nicaragua offers a variety of residential areas where there are houses, apartments and condominiums furnished and unfurnished with all the comforts and basic services and communication at different price ranges.

Renting is affordable, but of course prices will fluctuate depending on the location you choose to live.

The rental costs for a reasonable apartment/condo in Managua are:

• 1 bedroom apartment: USD $1,000 - $1,800

• 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartment: USD $1,500 - $2,800

• 3 bedroom apartment: USD $2,000 - $3,500

The best expatriates neighborhoods in Managua are Santo Domingo (La Estancia de Santo Domingo, Mirador de Santo

Domingo, Altos de Santo Domingo, Notre Dame, Alameda, Los Balcones, Santa Monica, among others), Jean Paul Genie (Las Cumbres, Puntaldia), Villa Fontana, Al Sur del Colegio Centroamérica, Las Colinas and Carretera Sur.

Other Country Specific:

• Gated communities are in high demand but there is reasonable availability

• Towers are not yet popular in terms of choice among expats

• Scarce availability of furnished houses but fair availability of furnished apartments

• Market moves so fast that properties are sold and rented within days

• Houses in gated communities are more expensive because of the high demand

• Broker´s fee is equivalent to 1 month rent and it is paid by the landlord to the broker

• Lease agreements are usually signed for one year. It is hard to find short term rentals in standard homes

• The security deposit is typically the equivalent to 1 month rent; however, there are landlords that might request 2 or 3 months


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Utilities

Water and Sanitation: Deficiency of water service is a serious concern in Managua. The existing water supply in Managua cannot meet current demand due to high rates of leakage and wastage. Interruptions in service may occur during the dry season. Installing a water tank can overcome or limit this problem. When renting a property, it is highly recommended to check this aspect with the Landlord.

Electricity and Gas: Nicaragua has one of the lowest electrification rates in Central America, approximately 65%of the population compared to 99.2% coverage in Costa Rica. However Expatriates areas do have electricity service.

In Nicaragua there is not access to piped natural gas. Liquefied Petroleum Gas is used for cooking.

Garbage removal: In most urban areas, there is a trash service whereby a truck comes by once or twice per week to pick up from homes and take it to the landfill.

Telecommunications:

Cable & Internet• Utility services arrive on a monthly basis and all of

them can be paid through internet or telephone.

• Internet can be installed by different providers: Claro and Movistar main providers.

• Cable TV is provided through Claro. Satellite TV can be installed by Claro or Sky. Sky has a wider range of channels but does not have services of internet or phone.

Television SystemsThere are 9 local channels and TV Cable service.

Telecommunications• Telephone, Mobile network, radio and Internet are

easily found.

• There are 2 main cell phone providers: CLARO and MOVISTAR.

Technical Information• Voltage: 110 -120 volts

• Plugs: Standard, American



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Education

Nicaragua has a rate of literacy of approximately 96.7 percent. National educational system is divided into Preschool (3 years), Elementary School (6 years) and High School (5 years). The academic programs for public and private schools are developed by the Ministry of Education.

The basic education (elementary education) provided by the state is free and compulsory, but the facilities are very poor and limited, especially in the suburbs of the city and rural areas. The private schools charge high fees but they have better conditions and educational materials.

There are many bilingual private schools to choose from such as German, English, or French. Most of them offer an educational program from kindergarten through high school.

Some of the schools operate with the U.S. school calendar (from August/ September to June); while others operate with the Nicaraguan calendar (from February to December).

English Schools

American Nicaraguan SchoolFrente al Club Lomas de Monserrat. Managua, NicaraguaPhone: +(505) 2252-7310 / 2252-7311Web: www.ans.edu.ni

Lincoln International AcademyLas Colinas Sur, Base Militar 600 mts al sur. Managua, NicaraguaPhone: +(505) 2276-3000Web: www.lincoln.edu.ni

St. Augustine Preparatory SchoolDel Club Terraza, 2km al Sur. Managua, Nicaragua.Phone: +(505) 2271-1941Web: www.colegiosanagustin.edu.ni

Saint Dominic SchoolReparto Las Colinas, calle Vista Alegre, de la Embajada de España 70 mts al este. Managua,Nicaragua.Phone: +(505) 2255-0174Web: www.saintdominicschool.info/

Nicaragua Christian AcademyKm 11 Carretera Vieja a León. Managua, Nicaragua.Phone: +(505) 2265-2277Web: www.nca.edu.ni

The Notre Dame SchoolsKm 8 1/2 Carretera a Masaya. Managua, Nicaragua.Phone: +(505) 2276-0353Web: www.notredame.edu.ni


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Recommended Timeframes to Enroll

The basic documentation that will be required to enroll at any school:

• Fill out the application form

• Official Transcripts of the previous school (not photocopies or faxed copies) if it is in another language other than English, please provide translation

• Letter of good conduct from the previous school

• Teacher recommendation

• Recent results of standardized tests ( Iowa, ERB, etc) if available

• Copy of the birth certificate

• Two recent photographs (passport size)

• Fill out the health record form

• Immunization record (only Elementary)

• Registration contract



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Banking

Nicaragua has both national and private banks. The Central Bank of Nicaragua regulates and controls the financial sector. The three major banks are: BAC, BANCENTRO and BANPRO.

The Córdoba is the official currency of the country. Nicara-guans often refer to córdobas as “pesos”. American dollars are also used. It is difficult to exchange other currencies. You can generally exchange currency at the airport, major hotels and the banks. You will find money changers on the street; however, you may or may not get the correct exchan-ge rate. For safety it is suggested you use the banks.

Hours:Mon – Fri: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Opening a Bank Account

• Personal interview

• Request of account opening

• Format profile of the client

• Two letters of references

• Original identification (passport or residence card)

NOTE: Accounts earning interest with balances equal or greater than $5,000 or the equivalent in córdobas including incoming-earning financial instruments of less than four years are taxable by Nicaragua. This means that 10% of the interest will be given to the government automatically by the bank.

ATMS

You can get cash from the ATMs which are usually located in banks and gas stations. ATMs will dispense dollars or córdobas, your choice though your originating bank will probably charge a currency exchange fee. Make sure that the ATM you’re using is part of the networks listed on the back of your bank card.

Credit Cards

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants in most important cities like Managua, Grana-da, Leon, San Juan del Sur, Masaya, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Chinandega, Estelí, Rivas, Bluefields and others. It is recom-mended carrying some local cash in low nominations for small purchases. Some souvenirs shops, little restaurants or bars are sometimes not able to accept credit cards.


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Medical System

Nicaragua’s provision of care is comprised of a public, social security and private sector.

Health services in Nicaragua are mainly provided by the public sector and financed by general taxes. The primary health provider is the MINSA, officially covering about 70% of the population. The Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS), which covers formal sector workers, finances health care for about 10% of the population. Only a small percen-tage of the population receives private health care services.

The Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS) delivers medical services to beneficiaries via Medical Service Companies. It is funded through premiums determined by the INSS. These are made up of a 6.25% of monthly salary worker contribution and 17% employer contribution.

The best and highly-specialized healthcare centers are in Managua area. The two most recognized hospitals in Managua are the Hospital Bautista and the Vivian Pellas Metropolitan Hospital.

Things You May Not Have Known about Nicaragua Healthcare:

• Many people report that the cost of doctor visits, routine treatments, and services such as X-rays and mammograms cost less than a typical co-pay in the United States or Europe.

• Vivian Pellas Metropolitan Hospital, a private hospi-tal in Managua that opened in 2004, is considered one of the finest hospitals in Central America. You can find any type of medical services: gynecology, cardiology, orthopedics, pediatric, internal medicine, neurology, urology and ophthalmology.

• Pharmacies and medical laboratories are fairly plen-tiful and can generally be found in any town.

• Health care in Nicaragua is high quality and costs much less than in the United States or Europe.

• All major hospitals or private clinics have English speaking staff.



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Emergency Contacts

• Fire Department: 120 / 2268-2320

• Emergencies: 115 / 911

• ENACAL (water): 127

• UNION FENOSA (electricity): 125

• National Police: 118

• Emergency and prevention: 2280-9910 - 14

• Cruz Roja: 128 / 2265-2081

• Traffic Safety: 2278-1369 / 72

• Claro (Telecommunication): 121

• Long distance calling: 110

• National / International info: 113


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Transportation

Transportation & Commuting

All of Nicaragua’s main roads lead to Managua, and there are good public transportation connections to and from the capital. There are four main highways that lead into Managua. The Pan-American Highway enters the city from the north, connecting Managua to Nicaragua’s northern and central departments. This highway is commonly referred to as the Northern Highway.

The Southern Highway, the southern part of the Pan-Ame-rican Highway, connects Managua to southern departments Carazo, Rivas and others.

The Carretera a Masaya connects Managua to the de-partments of Masaya and Granada and Carretera a León connects Managua with León.

All of these highways are in good condition, with little traffic congestion. Infrastructure on the highways is well maintained.

BusesManagua is the main transportation hub for the country. Bu-ses are the most economical way to get around the city and thus contribute to high numbers of ridership. Managua has express (Expresso) and Local (Local) routes. Express buses

tend to be rather expensive compared to their local coun-terparts. Local buses are also used frequently to transport goods and large items to central markets. Recently, with the assistance of the Japanese government, Managua has commenced operating new modern Mercedes-Benz buses on several bus routes with the intention of modernizing the city’s transport system.

Taxis In Managua, those who commute to and from work genera-lly travel by bus or taxi. Taxi tends to be the transportation method of choice for tourists. Taxi cabs may be hailed or called over by radio dispatch. Street cabs, those that can be hailed without calling a dispatcher, are widely available and cost somewhat less than their counterparts. Howe-ver, some taxi cabs operate as collectives, and do pick up passengers as the first customer goes on their journey. Usually, passengers that wish to opt-out of such practice do so by advising the driver not to pick up additional passengers. This is usually done as a sa-fety precaution. Taxi cabs do not have meters. By custom, many Nicaraguans and tourists alike agree on a fare before embarking on the vehicle.

Taxi cabs in Managua follow no standard uniform color. Decals can also be of a variety of colors as well.



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Airports

The Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (formerly Managua International Airport) is the largest and only inter-national airport in Nicaragua. It serves as the primary hub for connections at both domestic and international levels. AVIANCA Regional member La Costeña operates flights to local destinations like Bluefields, the Corn Islands and San Carlos among others. The airport is located near the northern highway and is about 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) east of the city’s downtown. Hotels, restaurants, and commer-cial centers are all accessible by car, taxi, or bus. It is the only one with the appropriate infrastructure and capacity to handle international flights. Eleven airlines operate international flights at MGA. Popu-lar destinations include Miami, San Salvador, Panama City and Atlanta.

DestinationsHavana, San Pedro SulaSeasonal: Montréal-TrudeauMiamiSan Salvador, Miami, San José (CR)Bluefields, Bonanza, Corn Island, Greytown, Ometepe,Puerto Cabezas, Rio San Juan, Rosita, San Carlos, Siuna, Tegucigalpa, WaspanCaracas, Panama CityGuatemala City, Panama City, San José (CR)AtlantaSan José (CR)Fort LauderdaleHouston -Intercontinental

Airlines and destinations:

Airlines Aero Caribbean Air Transat American AirlinesAvianca Avianca Nicaragua

Conviasa Copa Airlines

Delta Airlines Nature Air Spirit Airlines United Airlines

Facilities within the airport include a tourist information desk, bank, restaurants, bars, post office, souvenir shops, duty-free shops, lounges and more.


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Embassy & Consulates

Embassy & Consulates

Germany 2255-6920

Argentina 2255-0062

Brazil 2265-1729

Canada 2268-0433

Chile 2278-0619

Colombia 2255-1742

Korea 2267-0777

Costa Rica 2276-0314

Cuba 2276-0742

Ecuador 2268-1098

El Salvador 2276-0712

European Union 2270-4499

Spain 2276-0966

United States 2252-7100

France 2264-8970

Libya 2266-8540

Guatemala 2279-9834

Honduras 2270-2347

Iran 2276-1010

Italy 2266-6486

Japan 2266-8668

Luxembourg 2268-1881

Malta 2265-1510

Mexico 2278-4919

Palestine 2276-0239

Panama 2277-0501

Peru 2266-8678

Dominican Republic 2276-2029

Russia 2276-0462

Sahrawi Arab 2276-5732

Switzerland 2266-3010

China 2277-1333

Uruguay 2276-2363

Holy See 2265-8052

Venezuela 2276-1759



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National Holidays

• January 1st: New Year

• March or April: Easter week

• May 1st: Labor Day

• July 19th: Sandinista Revolution

• September 14tth: Battle of San Jacinto

• September 15th: National Independence day

• December 8th: Celebration of the virgin Mary

• December 25th: Christmas


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The Local Flavor

Food

Nicaragua food and drink is representative of the diversity of its residents. Spanish, Creole, Garifuna and Indigenous Nicaraguan cuisines all influence modern Nicaragua food, which most travelers find delicious and exceptionally inexpensive.

The majority of Nicaraguan meals are founded upon tradi-tional Nicaragua foods like corn, beans, plantains, yucca and peppers.

Eating out

Managua has a wide range of food, restaurants, and dining available to anyone.

Top 5 steakhouses

• Los Ranchos

• Factory

• El Churrasco

• Porterhouse Steakhouse

• Don Cándido



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Landmarks & Tourist Spots

Nicaragua offers immense tourist attractions and a wide array of sporting activities. Adventure and natural resources are abundant in the country for visitors to enjoy such as:

• Surfing in Pacific Beaches

• Take walks by volcanoes and beautiful lakes where you can observe hundreds of animals and plants species, excellent for ecotourism.

• Kayaking in the magical islands of Granada, the beautiful Rio San Juan and the beautiful island of Ometepe, deport that you will practice in touch with the fauna and flora of our country.

• Visit colonial cities such as León and Granada which also have archaeological treasures.

• Diving in the crystal waters of both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

• Canopy in destinations like Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve, San Juan del Sur and Laguna de Tiscapa; an activity in which you can observe Nicaragua abundant flora and fauna.

• Sand skiing has become increasingly famous in Nicaragua as this extreme sport can only be practiced in certain areas of the world, including the internationally known Cerro Negro


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Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Nicaragua is a country rich in culture and traditions inherited from indigenous people, European and African elements. The influence of these different elements is reflected particularly in Nicaraguan Meals, dances and traditional costumes, handicrafts, national festivals and religious celebrations.

Nicaragua is also known for being the birthplace of Rubén Dario, the father of Modernism. Among Nicaragua cultural contributions is the Güegüense, a literary work declared by the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization (UNESCO) as a Cultural heritage of Humanity. This work is an art and represents for Nicaragua a symbol of national culture.

Nicaragua is full of Neoclassical and Baroque art style. Live example is The Cathedral of León, the largest Cathedral in Central America situated in the city of León. Its historical value is priceless in as much as it was seat of the first diocese of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. In the church there are also the remains of the immortal father of moder-nism and prince of Castilian Literature, Rubén Darío.

The legacy of Nicaragua´s colonial history is evident in the architecture of its cities as virtually all departments of the

country are still marked by characteristics buildings of the era. The Ruins of León Viejo and the Cathedral of León, both in the city of León, are recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO, as they are also one of the oldest Spanish Colonial Settlements in America and confirm the country´s historical wealth.

Museums

• National Museum of Nicaragua – Managua

• Acahualinca Footprints Museum – Managua

• Julio Cortazar Museum – Managua

• Alfabetización Museum – Managua

• Casa Hacienda San Jacinto - Km 39.5 Carr. Norte

• Tenderi Museum – Nindiri

• Ruben Dario Archive-Museum – Leon

• Nicarao Museum of Anthropology and History – Rivas

• Gregorio Aguilar Barea Museum – Chontales

• Ruben Dario House - Museum - Ciudad Dario

• Masaya Volcano Museum – Masaya



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Entertainment

Nicaragua is stuffed with interesting places, where anyone can very easily pass many hours enjoying the entertainment which can be found in major cities of Nicaragua. Managua features many bars, casinos, theaters and cinemas, and prices are relatively inexpensive. There are cinemas in all major shopping centers. Foreign embassies in Managua also sponsor film festivals.Managua boasts a vibrant night life. Nightclubs and bars are abundant in Managua, particu-larly, in the popular areas called “Zona Hippos” behind the Hilton hotel near Metrocentro and “Zona Rosa”. Aside from these activities, Managua has a wide selection to offer in luxurious shopping malls, boutiques and department stores as well as local markets.

Shopping

Shopping Centers and Malls: Most of the major shop-ping areas are in Managua and a few in the smaller cities of León, Granada, Rivas and Masaya. Also, in Nicaragua is common to find a pulperia on every block of most towns and they have the essentials such as milk, eggs, bread, razors, cigarettes, drinks, etc.

The upscale shopping centers are:Galerias de Santo Domingo and Multi Centro Las Ame-ricas: are the two newest of the five modern shopping malls in Managua offering international chain store shopping in a setting similar to the nicer malls in the states. The prices are high in the shops but this is where you can buy quality goods. The cinemas are excellent and offer English language movies though the popcorn and drinks are more expensive than the tickets so you will feel right at home. Excellent restaurants surround the malls and inside the mall are food courts with local food chains such as Burger King, Subway and McDo-nalds. Wireless Internet is available as you eat.

Centro Comercial Managua: This center consists of individual stores like a large strip mall and offers a variety of products. Go east from Rotunda Centro América from Ca-rretera Masaya to reach. In this center you can buy clothing, art supplies, party supplies and decorations.

Metrocentro Mall: Next to the new Hotel Intercontinental Metrocentro right on the Carretera Masaya is the newest and largest mall offering international chains, a food court and cinemas. The food court is packed at lunch and is consi-dered the place to be if you have money. Everything from the departments stores to specialty shops.

Plaza Inter: Next to the pyramid-shaped Hotel Interconti-nental Managua and near Barrio Martha Quezada, this mall includes a department store, small novelty shops, a food court, cinemas, Internet access.

Supermarkets and Grocery Stores: Supermarkets and convenience stores are the way most people get their su-pplies in Nicaragua. In tourist spots and hotels you can find convenience stores and mini-marts, but they’ll usually mark up their prices a good amount.

Supermarket Chains: Several supermarket chains operate throughout the country. Their prices are pretty standard between chain stores. Most of these chains are listed on Google Maps, so you can search there to find where they’re at relative to your current location. Some of these Supermarkets Chains are: Pali, Maxi Pali, La Unión, La Colonia & PriceSmart.

Pulperías, Abastecedores and Mini-super: These are essentially convenience stores, located in every neighbor-hood all over the country. They usually have a very basic selection of bagged products, and sometimes produce and meats. Their prices don’t follow any specific pattern, and can sometimes be higher than those in supermarkets.


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Helpful Tips

Safety

• Always be aware of your surroundings.

• Keep your belongings close to you at all times.

• Do not provide personal information to strangers.

• Do not take public transportation during night time.

Dialing In/Out of Country

• Dial In : + (505) Country Code

• Dial Out : 0 + country code + phone number



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Weights & Measurements Chart

Scan for a free Conversion appiPhone only

TemperatureoF oC130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

-30

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

Length1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (cm)1 foot = 0.305 meters (m)1 foot = 12 inches1 yard = 3 feet1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)1 meter (m) = 3.281 feet1 furlong = 660 feet1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)1 kilometer (km) = 0.62137119 miles1 mile = 5280 ft1 mile = 1.61 kilometers (km)1 nautical mile = 1.85 kilometers (km)

Area1 square foot = 144 square inches1 square foot = 929.03 square centimeters1 square yard = 9 square feet1 square meter = 10.76104 square feet1 acre = 43,560 square feet1 hectare = 10,000 square meters1 hectare ≅ = 2.47 acres1 square kilometer = 100 hectares1 square mile = 2.59 square kilometers1 square mile = 640 acres

Speed1 mile per hour (mph) = 1.467 feet per second (fps)1 mile per hour (mph) = 1.61 kilometers per hour1 knot ≅ = 1.15 miles per hour1 foot per second = 0.68 miles per hour (mph)1 kilometer per hour = 0.62 miles per hour (mph)

Volume1 US tablespoon = 3 US teaspoons1 US fluid ounce = 29.57 milliliters (ml)1 US cup = 16 US tablespoons1 US cup = 8 US fluid ounces1 US pint = 2 US cups1 US pint = 16 US fluid ounces1 liter (l) ≅ = 33.81 US fluid ounces1 liter (l) = 1000 milliliters (ml)1 US quart = 2 US pints1 US gallon = 4 US quarts1 US gallon = 3.785 liters

Weight1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 grams (g)1 gram (g) = 0.001 kilograms (kg)1 gram (g) ≅ = 0.035 ounces1 ounce = 28.3 grams (g)1 ounce = 0.0625 pounds1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces1 pound (lb) = 0.45 kilograms (kg)1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams1 kilogram (kg) = 35.27 ounces1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)1 stone = 14 pounds1 short ton = 2000 pounds1 metric ton = 1000 kilograms (kg)


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Notes



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Notes


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Notes



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AddressServiced by Larm Costa Rica

PO Box 6540-1000San Jose, Costa Rica

Contact Office: + (506) 2219-8943

Fax: + (506) 2253-3389Email: [email protected]

www.larmgroup.com

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