Prepare your trip
Entering Nicaragua
Travelers from EU countries, the US, and some Latin American countries do not need a visa to enter Nicaragua. After paying a US$5.00 entrance fee, you will be given a tourist card that is valid for 90 days. People from other countries should consult the Nicaraguan embassy in their country. For a list of foreign embassies in Nicaragua, visit the Embassies page.
Electricity
Electricity in Nicaragua is 120 Volt and 60 Hertz. This is the same as in the US, but it means that tourists from Europe and other countries can not use their electrical equipment unless suitable for this voltage. Laptops will most likely work, although you need a special plug to connect it to the Nicaraguan outlets. You can buy these plugs in Managua or in your home country.
Blackouts are more likely to happen in Nicaragua than in more developed countries. This can also happen in bigger cities like Managua or Granada. Smaller towns sometimes don't have a constant power supply. In our Hotel Guide you can see for every hotel whether or not a generator is available, which will take over the power supply during power cuts.
Power surges can also occur, sometimes resulting in damages. Laptops and camera chargers virtually always have their own adapters, which offer a good protection against power surges. If you want to connect other equipment to the power grid, it can be useful to place a stabilizer in between, which will flatten out electrical surges.
Time Differences
The time zone is the same as US Central time. This is GMT-6. Normally, Daylight Saving Time is not observed in Nicaragua. This year, however, Nicaragua has changed the time twice. First, in April 2006, the clock was changed one hour to postpone nightfall. Then in October this change was reversed and everything went back to normal. This change was aimed at saving energy.
The current time and date in Nicaragua is:
Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:52:18 +0000