Land and People
Nicaragua is an unbelievably special place with its own magic. One has to take a moment to adjust to the slow rhythm of life here. But mind you, slow does not mean lazy. Most people are early risers and work extremely hard to make a living. Yet most of them will smile at you and enjoy any interaction with a "chele", as tourists are called rather affectionately.
Nicaragua's colonial cities are full of charm, which is why we chose to open La Tortuga Booluda in León, the city that is home to Central America's biggest cathedral. The landscapes around the city, dominated by the Maribios chain of volcanoes are simply spectacular.
Yet we believe that the country's greatest asset are its people. We can only encourage you to get to know the authentic Nicaragua off the beaten track. Where people are hard-working, modest and warm. The “popular” education that was born before and during the revolution has left its mark. Take the time to talk to people, practice your Spanish and mingle and you’ll soon feel at home here, especially at our beloved Tortuga. Come with low expectations, slow down, soak up the human kindness, drink lots of rum, and we think you’ll love it too.
Best Time to Come
If warm weather is what you’re looking for, there’s not really a bad time to come. The rainy season (or winter, as Nicaraguans call it) is off and on from July to November but it will stay dry for entire days, especially along the Pacific coast. The hottest months here are February to May with peaks around 37 °C. If that’s too hot for you, you should envisage an escape to the ocean (30 minutes away) or to the Northern towns of Matagalpa or Estelí, both about 2 hours from León by bus.
From the moment rainy season ends in November, it gets hotter and drier, so a great time to come is from late November through February when it is not rainy or too hot, but still green and lush. Nicaragua is in the northern hemisphere, but they call their seasons opposite of ours because of the rain.
Currency
Nicaragua’s official currency is the cordoba. However, US dollars are also widely accepted. Smaller bills are recommended! You can change dollars into cordobas and vice versa in every larger town.
Language
You can get by without much Spanish at all, but that doesn’t mean you should try to speak English or plan on it. In the very least, you should learn a few basic phrases, and start interactions by asking in Spanish if you can speak English.
Where Should I Go?
Leon and nearby beaches and volcanoes could easily be enough to fill a week-long trip. After that, the obvious stops on the small but growing tourist trail would be Granada (beautiful colonial city) and San Juan del Sur (beach town and epicenter of coastal tourism).
Other good stops are Laguna de Apoyo (super chill volcanic lake with great swimming), Ometepe Island (more rustic; in the middle of the giant lake; cool hikes), or, for the more adventurous with more time, the higher altitude coffee and cigar lands up North – interesting cities and a few farms/natural reserves well worth a visit!
If you’re looking to enjoy the even more relaxed vibe of the Caribbean coast, the easiest option is to fly there with La Costeña. The trip to Bluefields can be done by land/river – for those who have the time and patience.
Nicaragua is one the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, but you wouldn’t know it unless you got off the beaten path. You can have a very rugged or a very luxurious trip – the choice is yours.
Arriving/Departing
You need to pay a US$10 visa fee at airport immigration (visa is valid for 90 days).
There is only one small baggage claim room. In an emergency, the pharmacy just after the exit has a phone that you can ask to use, and they will let you pay in US dollars. There are also ATMs in the central atrium of the airport where you can withdraw cordobas with your debit or credit card.
Getting Here
Airport pick-up
Our driver can come and pick you up and drop you off at the airport in Managua at any time of the day. We charge you 70 $ for the journey. Please contact us for more information!
Shuttles
There is a daily shuttle service to Managua airport, Granada, Rivas and San Juan del Sur, leaving from the hostel at 9 am. You can book it through us the day before your departure.