What is the official government of Nicaragua?

Nicaragua is Democratic Republic with free elections every 5 years. The next election is in November 2006.

What is the current population of Nicaragua?

The population is slightly greater than 5 million people.

What is the capital of Nicaragua?

Managua.

What Countries Does it Border?

Honduras to the north, and Costa Rica to the South.

What is the currency in Nicaragua?

The monetary unit is a called a Cordoba. 1 US Dollar = 17-18 Cordobas.

What is the Country code for telephone?

505 + 7 digit phone number.

When is the Green Season?

The Green Season is from July to October.

When is the Dry Season?

The Dry Season is from November to June.

What language is spoken in Nicaragua?

Spanish.

What time zone is Nicaragua in?

Central Standard Time.

What is the best time of year for Surfing?

There is surf year round. However, the most consistent months are from May - October when South swells are generated by storms off the southern coast of Australia.

What is the Water temperature?

From April - December the water is in the 80's (f). However, in Jan - March the wind can blow hard enough to cause upwelling and the water can drop into the low 70's (f).

What airport do you fly to?

Managua, the capital city. Airport code MGA.

How long is the drive from the Airport to the condo?

Depends on road conditions, weather, and who is driving. Can take from 2 - 3.5 hours.

Is the Drive Safe?

The drive is not dangerous. It is very flat (unlike Costa Rica), and the roads are wide. However, the final stretch is about 30 KM on a dirt road. During the green season that road can have some wash outs, especially in the rainiest months of Sept and Oct. If you drive, just make sure you check the depth of the water before you enter.

How can we get from the airport to the condo?

You can rent a car, we recommend a 4X4. You can also get airport transfers through us for $120 each way ($120 total, not per person).

Is there a restaurant, bar, and or store?

Unfortunately, there is not yet a store or restaurant open at Iguana. We suggest you stop in Rivas, the closest town to Iguana, and stock up on food, drinks, beer, and alcohol. We can also have someone do grocery shopping for you, and stock the condo for a fee. A private cook may also be possible upon request. Rancho Santana is about a 20 minute drive from Iguana and there are two restaurants there, and a store where you can buy food and beer. In addition, there is a local who sells beer about 1/2 a mile from the entrance to iguana.

Do I need to speak Spanish to get by in Nicaragua?

No...However it does help, especially if you are driving to Iguana from MGA. The road signs are not very good, or non-existent, so it is nice to be able to ask directions. If you don't know Spanish, you should brush up on your directional vocabulary if you plan to drive.