Which is best- changing USD in Nicaragua or before?

you can use dollars all day long in nicaragua, at an atm you have your choice of cordobas or dollars.

Thanks Steve, I figure it will be easier to use cordobas since I wont have to deal with calculating the exchange rate and all that. Do you know if the rate is better in the US or there?

wait till you get there, take some dollars with you and there is an atm in the airport. dollars are widely accepted and sometimes when you ask the price of something you will quoted in dollars.

yes, since the first time i visited 13 years ago! i hope it never turns into the "new costa rica"!

Steve, that sure has changed huh? Nica becoming a new CR.

Steve, sad to say but it already has. Can you believe in 1995 there was almost no place to eat or stay in Granada or SJDS?

yep, like others have said, you can use dollars and cordobas interchangeably in Nica. We found we paid slightly less for things when paying in cordobas however.

We're Canadian, so withdrew a bunch of money in Seattle before flying out. That got us through the first 6 days and then when we got to Granada, used the bank machines there to withdraw both dollars and cordobas. We never felt like we were being ripped off either way.

Thanks truenic, what about the ATM fees and bank fees associated with taking out money? At least $10 USD per withdraw, right?

Thanks for the reply on this topic :)

Leaving tomorrow for Nicaragua, looking forward ! :)