Excellent gift giving practices Scott. Gifts are given everyday. Even a smile is a gift these days. In order to enjoy Nicaragua for a short two weeks visit I recommend having a car. For example Casa Luxemburgo in Pochomil two hours drive to Laguna San Martin Matagalpa. Two different worlds within a couple of hours.
Scott, thank you for answering my question. It totally addressed my concerns, particularly regarding the bus system. I'm sure you understand the hesitation when bringing kids to the area. I feel much more confident now, and yes, we are indeed travelling to see if Nicaragua can be home for us. We had to laugh when you sneezed ahead of your answer. I was just talking to my wife about dealing with my hay fever and ridiculous sneezing fits. I appreciate the empathy sneeze, lol.
One foreign resident tried to drive a car in Granada and said it was like driving in a video game. She sold the car. I've thought about getting a car but then get a taxi and remember why it's wise to leave the driving to pros. Cabs in Jinotega are 20 cordobas per person, no problems with sharing. Nights and out of city limits cost more.
I don't find the driving to be THAT bad. I've been driving here a long time. But it's stressful and a lot to adapt to if you are on vacation. If you live here, it's onet hing. But when visiting, it's hassle best avoided.
This topic is also bringing me to the question about bringing an International Driver's License with to Nicaragua... is there any real merit in doing so? Or will our Canadian drivers licenses always be sufficient?
IDL isn't used here. So you don't need it. No harm in having one, but they are a joke and if they aren't required, no need to bother. Canadian DL or US DL are sufficient. I believe that this is the case in all of North America as it is all under a single driving treaty. South America... totally different story.
I figured out that if I rented a car and driver once a month for $100 a day, in ten years that it would be cheaper than buying a car. Anyone living out of a town probably will need a car unless your country house is on a route between main cities. Look for a neighborhood with many things in walking distance. Managua is the only city that has some thefts in shared taxis, but use street smarts on which taxi and other passengers you'll ride with. No problems anywhere else.
Glad you covered this topic! Wondering now about rental cars.... we are coming soon and plan to rent a car for the first 3 weeks to month or so until we know where we want to settle in for at least a few weeks. Is there a car rental company that people can recommend? Preferring Nica owned and a company that would offer a discounted rate for renting for an extended period of 3 weeks to a month. It's really not clear to find this online...but we do need to book before we come so we have it soon after arriving for travelling around with ease for a little bit to get a feel of where we would like to set up for a longer period. We have 2 children and will have luggage, so don't want to bus at first.
Hello! I have a friend who speaks English and is a driver out of Granada. He's great and reasonable! I'll share his info if you're interested. He'll travel alllllll over the place. I use him when I'm in Nicaragua. He'll even pick up at the airport during the early hours
@@kristiorcutt534 thanks! we definitely want a rental car for the first few weeks so we have complete freedom with travelling around the country. However, I'd be open to obtaining your friends contact incase we needed a driver in future. If he's only I'm and around Granada it may not be applicable though as we will spend very minimal time around the cities...we prefer rural communities
If I'm going to the clinic, I want to be driven, not to drive. Having a car means, in theory, that you drive yourself. Not having one means you have a driver take you. As I get old, the less I want to be driving when something is wrong. I want that taken care of for me.
Also, an ambulance here is like $30 expected donation if you can afford it. Free if you can't. And nothing anywhere is 72 miles, That's crazy far. That's most of the country reaching the capital.
Well, I will need a car, because of my condition in case I have an emergency. But there is a taxi option that is good option. If I go for a car I will buy a second hand toyota. Maybe you can tell us about second hand cars.
Other option for this is get a couple of cabbies' phone numbers. If you're in a town, taxis can be found fairly to very quickly. Second hand cars are available, especially after coffee pickers run out of money for the year.
I've hired a car for a day for $100, plus lunch. Half day $40 to $50. From Jinotega to Managua and back, $100 (recently). Leon to Esteli has vans doing that run, and it's not a huge distance. Granada to Matagalpa should be around the same price as Jinotega to Managua, about the same distance.
I've never had any problems with taxis even in Managua (women I was sharing the cab with recommended that I put my phone in my bra). One drunk in Matagalpa, but not a real problem. I didn't go to Granada until after I'd been to Leon. Non-tourist places are more interesting than fake "Nicaraguan coffee culture" places with 98% tourists and AeroPresses. Interlocales -- those are passenger vans, right? Pickpocketing is a misdemeanor here, be cautious with phones on buses. I have a neck pouch that goes under clothes for my phone and a waistband with a pouch for passport and cash.
Excellent gift giving practices Scott. Gifts are given everyday. Even a smile is a gift these days. In order to enjoy Nicaragua for a short two weeks visit I recommend having a car. For example Casa Luxemburgo in Pochomil two hours drive to Laguna San Martin Matagalpa. Two different worlds within a couple of hours.
Scott, thank you for answering my question. It totally addressed my concerns, particularly regarding the bus system. I'm sure you understand the hesitation when bringing kids to the area. I feel much more confident now, and yes, we are indeed travelling to see if Nicaragua can be home for us.
We had to laugh when you sneezed ahead of your answer. I was just talking to my wife about dealing with my hay fever and ridiculous sneezing fits. I appreciate the empathy sneeze, lol.
One foreign resident tried to drive a car in Granada and said it was like driving in a video game. She sold the car. I've thought about getting a car but then get a taxi and remember why it's wise to leave the driving to pros. Cabs in Jinotega are 20 cordobas per person, no problems with sharing. Nights and out of city limits cost more.
I don't find the driving to be THAT bad. I've been driving here a long time. But it's stressful and a lot to adapt to if you are on vacation. If you live here, it's onet hing. But when visiting, it's hassle best avoided.
This topic is also bringing me to the question about bringing an International Driver's License with to Nicaragua... is there any real merit in doing so? Or will our Canadian drivers licenses always be sufficient?
IDL isn't used here. So you don't need it. No harm in having one, but they are a joke and if they aren't required, no need to bother. Canadian DL or US DL are sufficient. I believe that this is the case in all of North America as it is all under a single driving treaty. South America... totally different story.
@@ScottAlanMillerVlog thanks so much for answering! Appreciate it!
I figured out that if I rented a car and driver once a month for $100 a day, in ten years that it would be cheaper than buying a car. Anyone living out of a town probably will need a car unless your country house is on a route between main cities. Look for a neighborhood with many things in walking distance. Managua is the only city that has some thefts in shared taxis, but use street smarts on which taxi and other passengers you'll ride with. No problems anywhere else.
Glad you covered this topic! Wondering now about rental cars.... we are coming soon and plan to rent a car for the first 3 weeks to month or so until we know where we want to settle in for at least a few weeks. Is there a car rental company that people can recommend? Preferring Nica owned and a company that would offer a discounted rate for renting for an extended period of 3 weeks to a month. It's really not clear to find this online...but we do need to book before we come so we have it soon after arriving for travelling around with ease for a little bit to get a feel of where we would like to set up for a longer period. We have 2 children and will have luggage, so don't want to bus at first.
Hello! I have a friend who speaks English and is a driver out of Granada. He's great and reasonable! I'll share his info if you're interested. He'll travel alllllll over the place. I use him when I'm in Nicaragua. He'll even pick up at the airport during the early hours
@@kristiorcutt534 thanks! we definitely want a rental car for the first few weeks so we have complete freedom with travelling around the country. However, I'd be open to obtaining your friends contact incase we needed a driver in future. If he's only I'm and around Granada it may not be applicable though as we will spend very minimal time around the cities...we prefer rural communities
You get past a certain age you want a car to take you to the clinic. Use mine to drive the 72 miles to the VA.
If I'm going to the clinic, I want to be driven, not to drive. Having a car means, in theory, that you drive yourself. Not having one means you have a driver take you. As I get old, the less I want to be driving when something is wrong. I want that taken care of for me.
Also, an ambulance here is like $30 expected donation if you can afford it. Free if you can't. And nothing anywhere is 72 miles, That's crazy far. That's most of the country reaching the capital.
Well, I will need a car, because of my condition in case I have an emergency. But there is a taxi option that is good option. If I go for a car I will buy a second hand toyota. Maybe you can tell us about second hand cars.
Other option for this is get a couple of cabbies' phone numbers. If you're in a town, taxis can be found fairly to very quickly. Second hand cars are available, especially after coffee pickers run out of money for the year.
How much does it cost to hire a driver for a long trip, such as Granada to Matagalpa or Leon to Esteli?
I've hired a car for a day for $100, plus lunch. Half day $40 to $50. From Jinotega to Managua and back, $100 (recently). Leon to Esteli has vans doing that run, and it's not a huge distance. Granada to Matagalpa should be around the same price as Jinotega to Managua, about the same distance.
We see a little more for trips from Leon to Managua. It's more like $110-$120, but that's a full day of driving around the capital.
I've never had any problems with taxis even in Managua (women I was sharing the cab with recommended that I put my phone in my bra). One drunk in Matagalpa, but not a real problem. I didn't go to Granada until after I'd been to Leon. Non-tourist places are more interesting than fake "Nicaraguan coffee culture" places with 98% tourists and AeroPresses. Interlocales -- those are passenger vans, right? Pickpocketing is a misdemeanor here, be cautious with phones on buses. I have a neck pouch that goes under clothes for my phone and a waistband with a pouch for passport and cash.
Yes, Interlocales / UCA are the Toyota HiAce (or equivalent) 17 passenger vans.