Travelers entering
Nicaragua must have at least six months' validity remaining on their passport. Travelers from most western countries do not need to arrange a visa prior to entry. Tourist cards are granted on arrival for $5 and are good for stays up to 90 days for travel among any of the C-4 countries (Nicaragua,
Honduras,
El Salvador and
Guatemala). An onward or return air ticket may be required.
Americans: Americans require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
UK nationals: UK nationals require a valid passport, but
a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Canadians: Canadians require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Australians: Australians require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
South Africans: South Africans require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Irish nationals: Irish Nationals require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
New Zealanders: New Zealanders require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for tourist stays of up to 90 days.
Health
Medical facilities are only found in major towns, the best of which are in
Managua. Rural communities lack modern hospitals and equipment. If a hospital is needed, travelers should indicate they desire a private hospital. Insect repellent should be used to avoid malaria and dengue fever, both of which are carried by mosquitoes. They should take choloroquine, for two weeks before travel through four weeks after, to prevent malaria. Hepatitis A and B, and Typhoid vaccines are recommended for travelers and rabies vaccinations for travelers in contact with animals. The most common affliction is traveller's diarrhoea which is preventable by safe water and food consumption. Travelers should not drink tap water and use common sense when addressing uncooked foods. Visitors from a yellow fever infected area in the Americas or
Africa are required to prove they have had vaccination before entry.
Safety
Although rural areas are particularly void of police, recently crime has increased mostly in urban areas. Theft and violent crime are becoming more common in the usually safe country. Travelers should be careful of muggings in taxis and only use official taxis with a red license plate. Buses should not be used after dark. Resulting from poor road conditions, highway driving is especially dangerous during night and should be avoided. Despite these risks, Nicaragua is still one of the safest countries to travel in the region.
