Nicaragua - General Questions

Hey folks,

shortky before our trip to Nicaragua, I still have a few open questions that you guys ight be able to help me with:

• Does anyone know if there's is any way to make collect-calls to Europe in case of an emergency?

• How do you guys take care of your passports? Is it best ot have them locked in by hostel staff? Do Nicaraguan authorities accept copies the way Costan Rican authorities do?

• Is it likely that when crossing the border, we will be asked for an airline ticket etc. to prove that we will leave the country within 90 days?

Any help is highly appreciated!

Kind greetings,

alemantico

For collect calls just go through the international operator..

Have copies of your passport as this will facilitate you greatly should you lose the original. Tourists are rarely casually stopped by police but yes it is a legal requirement to have photo ID. If you are in trouble a copy will not do. If they don't care about you it probably will...

Although the same rules apply, land borders do not seem as strict generally although recent reports suggest this is changing. Its a crap-shoot...

There plenty of Internet cafes as well. Have a Skype account set up prior.

The border formalities may be starting to get sticky as of recent reports....but who knows.

1. Depends. If you are in a little village in the middle of nowhere, contact will be different. If you get a local phone you can make international calls, otherwise most towns of a decent size have cybers where you can mqke calls through the internet.

2. You can use copies sometimes for minor things like a police checkpoint, but i personally have been denied entry to departments when driving through the country because i didnt have my original passport on me. I never carry my actual passport with me, only when i cross borders or have to do official paperwork. I dont even bring copies around with me anymore either. Just use my license/picture ID from the states for any identification when asked. Although if you have any bank dealings, like exchanging money, etc. They require your original passport. But to use a credit card, etc. at a gas station, you can just use a picture ID.

3. Depends on your place of entry. If you come through on a plane, it is likely the airline company may require that from you. If you drive in, it depends on who you get, etc. Ive had friends been asked for proof when traveling from the states by vehicle, but ive never personally been asked for it when travelling across borders myself.

I never worry about carrying the passport. I haven't heard of anyone having their passport stolen. I would give a drivers license or a copy of the passport for any police checkpoint. You will need the original at the bank and when purchasing boat tickets or flights within Nicaragua.

I have NEVER been asked to see an ongoing ticket and I live here so I have passed through to Costa Rica more than once Last time was in June) and come in on flights from the US dozens of times. The airline is the one that wants the on going ticket.

Thanks a lot, your comments were very helpful.

I have been asked for an outgoing ticket when i came in by plane from the US. Its the Airline that asks for it at checkin. In my case a ticabus ticket was sufficient, I had it sent to me by someone in Nicaragua. Its a bit of a hassle but the ticket is only 25bucks and I didnt want to risk not being let on the plane. They dont ask if you come in over land.