Fast Facts

American Express -- American Express is located at the Viajes Atlántida office, 1 block east of Rotonda El Gueguense, Managua (tel. 505/266-4050). It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Business Hours -- Banks are generally open weekdays from 8:30am to 4pm and some are open on Saturday mornings. Shopping hours are weekdays from 8am to midday and 2 to 5pm and Saturday 8am to noon. Shopping centers are open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Embassies -- All embassies are in Managua, as follows: United States, Carr Sur Km 4.5 (tel. 505/266-6012, or 266-6038 after hours); Canada, De los Pipitos, Calle Nogal No. 25, Bolonia (tel. 505/268-0433 or 268-3323), and the United Kingdom, on Carretera Masaya, Los Robles (tel. 505/278-0014 or 278-0887). Australia and New Zealand do not have an embassy or consulate in Nicaragua.

Emergencies -- The following emergency numbers are valid throughout Nicaragua. For an ambulance, call tel. 128; in case of fire, call tel. 115; for police assistance, call tel. 118.

Hospitals -- The best hospital in Managua is the Hospital Bautista, 1km (1/2 mile) east of the Intercontinental Hotel (tel. 505/249-7070 or 249-7277); some staff members are English-speaking.

Language -- Nicaragua's official language is Spanish, but a form of creole English is also frequently used along the Caribbean coast and the Corn Islands.

Maps -- It is hard to produce reliable maps of towns and cities that have no street names yet, but Intur makes a good effort at it. Guía Mananic is one good country map that can be purchased at most bookstores in the country.

Newspapers & Magazines -- Major local papers are El Nuevo Diario (center-left), and La Prensa (conservative). La Tribuna is the country's main business paper and El Mercurio is the most popular tabloid.

Post Offices & Mail -- Post offices are generally open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Airmail postage for a letter weighing 7 ounces or less from Nicaragua to North America is 60¢ (30p) and $1 (50p) to Europe. Mail takes on average between 7 and 10 days to get to the U.S. and Europe.

Safety -- Isolated parts of Northern Nicaragua (ex Contra country) are still considered lawless, such as northern Jinotega province and remote parts of Matagalpa and Nueva Guinea. In the more populated southern parts and poorer areas of Managua, crime is reportedly on the increase, but it's by no means as bad as other Central America countries. Travelers should be especially alert to pickpockets and purse snatching on the streets and on buses. Always keep your belongings in sight while dining or drinking and expect street kids to ask for money or food. A different safety concern, but worth noting, is the strong Pacific currents and lack of coast guards. Be aware of this while enjoying the beach.

Taxes -- Nicaragua's value-added tax (IGV) is 15% and is generally added on after the bill, especially when eating in the finer restaurants. If you're ever unsure about a price, ask if the bill includes el impuesto (the tax).

Telephone & Fax -- Public phones take either phone cards (sold at kiosks on the street) or coins. Local calls cost 20 centavos or about 5¢/5p to start, and charge more the longer you talk. ENITEL is the name of the biggest phone company, though it is still often referred to as TELCOR. You will find an ENITEL office in all major cities and towns. There are telephone booths on many corners, but you may have difficulty finding one that accepts change (it's easier to find ones that work with calling cards).

Tipping -- A 10% tip is expected at cafes and restaurants. This is often added to the bill automatically, even though the waiter/waitress may never see it. If you are worried your tip is not getting into the right hands, give a little extra to the waiter directly. You are not obliged to pay the automatic tip if the service was bad.