Hello
I have a trip booked with a few stopover in Central America. We, a young couple are staying 24 hours in Managua. Arriving at the evening.
Can you give my any suggestions what we can do? We both fancy exhitment, natura, driving. Can you recommend a hotel, people, tour guide. My dream would be a apartment rental with one day tour by local. Paid. Drop off at the airport at the end.
Thanks!
Hey heroz
You can't really rent an apartment for one day. They'll ask for a damage deposit and it's way too much work for what it is worth.
Most travelers go to the backpackers inn and enjoy it there. It's located near the metrocenter mall. It'll be your best bet to arrange tours and what not. You want to drive in this city?! You'll need to take a bus to the nature close to the city. Laguna Apoyo is a nice place to spend a few hours.
There are cabs everywhere so you won't have a problem getting a ride to the airport. (no more than 10$)
Check out travel advisor for things to do in and around Managua.
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowForum-g294478-i3764-Managua_Managua_Department.html
Unless you have some very odd airport arrival and departure times, I would still recommend investing only a bit more time, effort and expense and base yourself in Granada for the most of the 24 hours. You are talking too short of time of course to really do things and it depends on how much money you feel comfortable spending, but you could visit the San Francisco, Church and Convent Museum for what little Nicaragua has been able to keep in pre-Colombian statues (some have liked visiting the church catacombs, which I have not done-check visiting hours), and other churches in town, eat well enough in various palaces there and just hang out around the plaza. If money is no issue, hire a recommended cab to go back to the airport via Masaya market and Vulcan Masaya park to look inside the crater.
If you pay me you can stay at my place in managua and I'll drive you around during the day wherever you wanna go since its only 1 day.
Thanks @all for quick and quality reply, I will check out Granada, a little travelling is no problem for us. I will PM you likeeveryoneelse. Thanks again. Keep posting ideas.
Also consider Masaya, it is 1 hour from Managua and it is a beautiful spot! Stunning markets and a beautiful lake. Granada is stunning, you may not be able to leave!
when was the last time you were in managua, mrmcgoo? i have spent a considerable amount of time there and to say "gringos are targets for crime" is not true. you just need to aware of your surroundings as in any place.