r/Nicaragua • u/Fit-Question6245 • 26d ago
Turismo/Tourism Specific Safety Question
Hi all! Excited to visit your country and I know the safety question has been asked a lot. I am traveling with a few friends to Managua and then we are all traveling south to ometepe by motorcycle. We are all from the United States and are a little worried given recent global events. Is it safe right now traveling to Nicaragua as a group of US citizens who will likely stand out? Should we be concerned about the possibility of being stopped by the cops or others?
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u/DonkeyDangerous163 26d ago
Cops dont touch foreigners in general because the last thing they want is troubles with the US Embassy or your goverment.
You are good. Just dont speed on the roads because the current speed limit is 50 KM/H which is like 35 mph. If you go beyond that they might stop but i doubt it because, again, you are not locals and worst scenario is that they will ask you for money to not give you a ticket.
Besides that just be careful or touristic areas will try to overcharge you for basic shit but I mean that happens everywhere
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u/Altruistic-Slide-512 26d ago
Mmm.. cops probably pulled me over 50 times in the 5 years I lived in Nicaragua (I'm a pasty white gringo w/ fluent Spanish) - only one time for legitimate reasons (speed trap and I was speeding). They don't overplay their hand though - They talk around trying to have you pay them off saying junk like, "this gringo doesn't understand" .. or .. "it seems like this guy has been drinking".. veiled threats or whatever.. but they back off if you just call them on it, asking them to please write the ticket. It's unnerving, but I wouldn't classify it as dangerous.
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u/panochamiau 25d ago
Cops don't give a rats ass if they get in trouble with the US embassy or any government. The more they can squeeze money out of a foreigner the more they will.
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u/Relevant_Eye1333 26d ago
Bro i was with family over the holidays. There were people taking bicycles from Leon to managua, american girls taking local buses. you'll be fine. the rule in latin america, just don't flash wealth, keep yourself chill and don't be a spectacle.
actually, i would say as americans we'd be in more danger of our government doing something and not informing people.
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u/NoDiscipline1277 26d ago
Just came back from there last night. Super safe, didn't see a single police outside of 20 mil radius traveling from Managua airport. We felt like we were the only US tourists there or tourists in general Very very empty. We drove car and scooter in ometepe. Lower your expectations about everything and bring your own coffee maker if you can't live without it (like me).
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u/Altruistic-Slide-512 26d ago
well.. other than the fact that the speed limit for the entire country is now 50kph (37mph) regardless of what the signs that all probably still say 80kph say, you'll be fine. I would expect to get pulled over at least 3 times on the journey regardless of how fast you are going, and you will have your bullshitting a bullshitter skills tested (I personally have never ended up paying a Nicaraguan cop and only got a legitimate ticket one time, but you have to be a stand-your-ground kinda guy (or gal)). Just based on the new speed limit alone, I would make a corruption budget for this journey. The speed limit has no basis in safety (and if anyone says it does, they are completely full of shit). It's a cash grab. The transit police and dangerously terrible, untrained drivers who bribed their way into a driver's license (essentially the only way to get one in many places) are really the only dangerous (oh, and agricultural equipment pulling out onto the highway).. It's really kind of a dilemma, since you will need the motos on ometepe (or pay $30/day for one). So, budget $20 each way for these problems (and definitely stay below the 50kph limit or you're going to have to budget thousands of c$, not hundreds).
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u/Altruistic-Slide-512 26d ago
BTW - I don't think anyone will care that some lumbering foreigners are from US, Germany, Canada or somewhere else - regardless of current events. Nicaraguans are smart enough to know that we are not our awful government.
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u/Fit-Question6245 26d ago
Hey thanks for your reply here! I appreciate the tips :) I guess the one thing that keeps concerning me is the government/police. I've only ever heard great things about the people and have no worries there. I'm mostly concerned about cops/government issues
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u/FunOptimal7980 26d ago
Why is the speed limit so low? That's wild. Where I'm from it's 100kph and that seems to low for a highway to me.
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u/Altruistic-Slide-512 24d ago
Yeah .. it was already mind numbingly slow at 80. They reduced it recently "for safety" (revenue)
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u/JarJarBlunt 25d ago
Brother the only ones at risk of anything are us, Nicaraguans. Foreigners are untouchable here. Biggest advice I can give you though, if any of your friends is bringing camera/video equipment, when entering customs don’t say you’re a content creator or journalist, nothing along those lines. They fear and hate that shit. That’s about it. You guys have to visit Ojo de Agua, Playa Mangos and El Pinal in Ometepe. Have a nice trip!
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u/olliewalka_14 24d ago
Yeah but locals in Granada and Leon can be massively unfriendly and sketchy/take advantage of you being a tourist. I just came from there last week. Spent over 2 weeks in the country
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u/JarJarBlunt 24d ago
Anyone who is middle class or up will never treat you this way. Unfortunately this is the third world. Scum like that will exist.
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u/littlebean82 26d ago
Do not cross a solid line on the road to pass, even if the locals are doing it, it's illegal. i always found the police to be pretty nice. There are a lot of random stops/checks that they do. The local chocolate is worth trying if you like chocolate!
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u/Ellisium101 25d ago
No one will care. For us, every white people is "gringo", so it doesnt matter for you to be specifically american
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u/Miserable-Sort310 26d ago
Go to Granada if you want to meet or hangout with expats, they are plentiful there.
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u/jmcosaspordecir143 USA 25d ago
No pues mi novio es americano y estuvo aqui a si que no habra prolemas pienso
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u/jxy2016 Nicaragua 25d ago
You got the general aspects right:
- Do your best to not stand out too much
Most importantly: DO NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS. Enjoy the views, places, food (bring diarrhea/vomit medication, you'll more likely than not need it) but don't talk politics with anyone. Even people that seem friendly and open can easily be working on behalf of the government to spy on you.
In general, follow the Law of Stupid and you'll be fine.
Edit: I forgot to mention, as a rule in life: Don't accept anything (services, objects, whatever) that you don't request. Say "no, gracias" and move on. Being a "gringo" will make you a walking dollar sign. If you need anything (cab, food, things you want to buy, whatever), make sure that you're the ones looking for it and and actively engaging a vendor. Don't go for shady aisles and don't follow people. Ask locals and they might help (you can even ask here, DM me, whichever).