First of all sorry if this is a dumb question, I just wanted to know if traveling solo and staying in Rivas, Nicaragua is safe. I am a young adult male and am noticeably caucasian. I speak some Spanish, and would like to know if there are any areas to avoid or things I should or should not do. Currently considering going elsewhere because of safety concerns and little information available to me to prove otherwise, thanks for your help!
Brett
Nicaraguan cities don"t have no-go areas like in some cities in the U.S. Maybe Managua has some. At night some parts of cities might be scary if you are walking alone and nobody is around. Stay in the centre at night where there are people, walk with others or take a taxi.
Rivas is just a smalltown with hardly anything to do/see except watching daily life go by without lots of tourist, which can be charming. You might have other reasons to go there (?)..
Thanks for the response, I know this is a repetitive topic. That's good to know! I'm going there to work for a surf tour company.
I consider it safe enough. Keep in mind there are different degrees of safe. I hesitate to use the word unmodified lest someone interpret "absolutely safe" which a b.s. concept.
I would disagree with #1, as Granada has safety issues for foreigners down by the lake, or at night on side streets, there are random muggings/robberies, though compared to about everywhere in Central America, par for the course.
That said, Nicaragua is pretty safe in the scheme of things, and no more, or no less, then most other places.
Rivas is a hub town, its mainly a place that serves the locals needs in commerce, farming and transport. Its is hot as hell, a hard working type place, and at night is really a local affair and everything is low key and closed after 10 ish outside weekends.
SJDS on the other hand has a vibrant nightlife, and has a lot of gringos/tourist, like Granada.
I would not want to spend much time in Rivas, but at least the beach is 40 minutes away....
Hi Brett,
I'm planning a solo trip to Nicaragua this December and Rivas was initially on my list. After about 4 months of research, it seems to me like it's not the safest or even the most exciting place in Nicaragua. I've since taken it off my list, along with Managua and San Juan del Sur, after reading about some safety issues in those areas.
Let me know if you end up going and need a travel buddy!
-Rachel
haha sometimes there is a "i don't look the part but could fit in" factor. wanted to make it explicit this was not the case.
Foreigners/Gringos traveling to and from Costa Rica, have to go through Rivas, so it is not like you will be the token, as this small town has been seeing gringos for decades. Some do call it a night there after the border or before the border for a early morning crossing. Its main purpose for a traveler would be the access to a ATM for Cordobas. The other is you can get on/off the Tica bus here that goes between the Capitals of Managua and San Jose CR.
It is also the provincial head of ministries, courts, police and public services.
The most alarming fame it received was in a case where a Gringo was dating a local Nica and she was murdered, and he got pinned with the crime, but it was a hocus pocus prosecution and a kangaroo court/trail. The emotions of locals flared to a hostility, due to their resentment of gringos and land grabs and development all around SJDS and the Pacific coast. he was a scapegoat of sorts, and had a wild ride in a notorious prison for year until it was all sorted out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Volz
And then there was this poor chap that may have had his hands in drugs on some level, but it was ugly. It also didn't help that he was perceived as Afro. There is a racism in these parts, and even amongst the people of each country towards each other, Costa Ricans (Ticos) always point fingers at Nicaraguans (Nicas) as thieves and no good bums. Both countries peoples hold contempt for afros that are mainly on the caribe coast, or in the case of Nicas, Miskitos.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/18/jason-puracal-freed_n_1893827.html
Other than that, Nicaragua for the average Joe is just fine, and the people of this country are salt of the earth, hard working and honest, and very sweet IMO.
To be fair, I can count how many Expats/Gringos have been murdered in Costa Rica...but it aint pretty either.
Get the MOON Nicaragua guidebook if you are considering a move to Nicaragua, it gives a great introduction and history lesson of what the Nica have been through, what makes them tick, and why the country is at the point it is today, the people have been thru hell, no help and thanks to foreign policy and covert operations from the US Military and CIA.
What surf school/Camp/tour? I have been surfing in CR for 15 years...
