Difference between revisions of "Nicaragua"
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=Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike= | =Entering {{PAGENAME}} with a Car or Motorbike= | ||
| − | '''Correct as of: <span style="color:red"> | + | '''Correct as of: <span style="color:red">April 2012</span>''' |
==Required Paperwork== | ==Required Paperwork== | ||
* Passport of registered owner (original and 1 copy). | * Passport of registered owner (original and 1 copy). | ||
* [[Drivers license]] of registered owner (original and 1 copy). | * [[Drivers license]] of registered owner (original and 1 copy). | ||
| − | * [[Vehicle registration]] (original | + | * [[Vehicle registration]] (original only) |
==Process at border== | ==Process at border== | ||
<!-- Do not alter the following line. Include it as is. --> | <!-- Do not alter the following line. Include it as is. --> | ||
{{visa_country}} | {{visa_country}} | ||
| − | * The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (''migración''), including a stamp in their Passport. This costs <price cost=" | + | * The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (''migración''), including a stamp in their Passport. This costs <price cost="12" currency="USD" />, and can only be paid in $US Dollars. Be sure to get a receipt. |
* The owner must show the new Passport stamp (including a copy), [[Drivers license]], the original [[Vehicle registration]] and the immigration entry receipt to customs (''aduana''). | * The owner must show the new Passport stamp (including a copy), [[Drivers license]], the original [[Vehicle registration]] and the immigration entry receipt to customs (''aduana''). | ||
* The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle. | * The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle. | ||
'''NOTE:''' You may encounter locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. See [[Pan_American_Highway#Helpers|Border Crossing Helpers]] for advice. | '''NOTE:''' You may encounter locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. See [[Pan_American_Highway#Helpers|Border Crossing Helpers]] for advice. | ||
| + | * Fumigation is required and costs <price cost="3" currency="USD" /> | ||
==Cost of entry== | ==Cost of entry== | ||
| − | Free for the vehicle, <price cost="12" currency="USD" /> for people. | + | Free for the vehicle import, <price cost="3" currency="USD" /> for fumigation, <price cost="12" currency="USD" /> for insurance, <price cost="12" currency="USD" /> for people. |
==Permitted length of stay== | ==Permitted length of stay== | ||
Revision as of 16:38, 5 November 2013
Currency to display:
Contents
- 1 Entering Nicaragua with a Car or Motorbike
- 2 Driving in Nicaragua
- 3 Gas and Diesel price in Nicaragua
- 4 Safety and Security Considerations
- 5 Camping in Nicaragua
- 6 Navigation
- 7 Special Overland Travel interests
- 8 Vehicle Maintenance
- 9 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Nicaragua
- 10 References
- 11 Helpful External links
Entering Nicaragua with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: April 2012
Required Paperwork
- Passport of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
- Drivers license of registered owner (original and 1 copy).
- Vehicle registration (original only)
Process at border
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Nicaragua, application instructions and fees see: Nicaragua Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
- The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (migración), including a stamp in their Passport. This costs $12.00 USD, and can only be paid in $US Dollars. Be sure to get a receipt.
- The owner must show the new Passport stamp (including a copy), Drivers license, the original Vehicle registration and the immigration entry receipt to customs (aduana).
- The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle.
NOTE: You may encounter locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. See Border Crossing Helpers for advice.
- Fumigation is required and costs $3.00 USD
Cost of entry
Free for the vehicle import, $3.00 USD for fumigation, $12.00 USD for insurance, $12.00 USD for people.
Permitted length of stay
90 days. Nicaragua is part of the CA-4 Border control agreement. This agreement grants travel between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua for a TOTAL of 90-days. The number of days remaining on your CA4 is written in your passport as you travel from country to country. The 90-day limit begins when you enter any country that is part of the CA4 agreement. To avoid penalty and fines, Exit the CA4 countries and enter into Costa Rica or Mexico/Belize before the 90-days limit expires.
Extension of stay
Unknown.
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
(unknown)
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Ironically, this is much harder than entering the country with a vehicle, and is known to be one of the more difficult "exits" in Central America. The exact process will vary depending on which border you are at.
- Get sign-off on your paperwork from both a customs officer and a police officer.
- Take your temporary import permit and the signatures gained above to customs, where they will sign more things, and cancel the permit.
- The registered owner is stamped out of Nicaragua at immigration.
- When actually driving out, present the piece of paper with signatures, and you are free to leave.
Driving in Nicaragua
Insurance requirements
Car insurance is mandatory
Cost of insurance
About $12.00 USD per month for a 4x4.
Where to purchase insurance
At the border
Driving license
Technically an International Driving Permit is required.
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.
Driving side of the road
Right.
Right-Hand-Drive vehicles are NOT allowed in Nicaragua (Law 431, Art. 165). We paid a bribe to the transit police at the border to get our vehicle in.
Mandatory items in vehicle
None.
Roads
General Road quality
Roads in Nicaragua are generally of good quality. Lesser roads are gravel and can be very bumpy and rutted, especially near the coast. All roads on Isla De Ometepe are extremely rough gravel.
Road signs
Road signs are mostly common and clear.
Toll roads
None.
Bribery in Nicaragua
Police bribery is common in Nicaragua, where they actually are trying to enforce road rules like speeding.
See the bribery tips page for advice.
Checkpoints
Police checkpoints are not common in Nicaragua, though you may encounter them on the Pan American highway. You'll be asked to show your Passport, Vehicle registration, drivers license, and the temporary import permit you were issued at the border.
Traveling with pets
As with all borders in Central America, be ready for bribery if you have a pet.
According to travelers in 2012, you need: [1]
- A Health Certificate for the animal in Spanish (updated at least every four months)
- A vaccination record (the European Pet Passport works well)
- You will likely pay around $15.00 USD
Gas and Diesel price in Nicaragua
Last updated: May 2012
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Regular | ?? |
| Super (90) | ?? |
| Premium (95) | $5.47 USD per Gallon (US) |
| Ultra (97) | ?? |
| Normal Diesel | $0.91 USD per Liter[2] |
| Diesel (low sulfur) | ?? |
- Price Information: gasoline-germany.com - International Gas / Petrol / Diesel prices - Nicaragua (not updated since 2007)
Gas and Diesel / Frequency
Gasoline shortages in Nicaragua are not a problem. If you are going to Isla De Ometepe, fill up before getting on the ferry to avoid the high prices on the island.
Typically gas stations are not more than 100 - 200km apart.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Accepted to be good quality.
Sulfur content of diesel is unknown.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Driving at night is not considered a huge problem in Nicaragua, though it's not recommended due to safety concerns and road hazards that can not be seen in the dark.
Vehicle parking
Parking vehicles on the street in smaller towns during the day is typically OK. Find a secure parking lot in big cities and at night. Secure parking will cost around $2.00 USD per night.
Special driving considerations
Police enforce road rules more strictly than other Central American countries, so try to obey the road rules where possible. Speeding and crossing double lines are a sure-fire way to get pulled over, where you will almost certainly have to deal with bribery.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Nicaragua - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Nicaragua
Camping is not very popular in Nicaragua, though campgrounds can be found wherever there are backpackers. Organized camping is $2.00 USD to $4.00 USD per person, per night.
Being far away from major roads is preferable for wild camping.
Camping guide books
No specific book exists, though the usual backpacker guide books mention a campground in virtually every town and city, especially near the beach.
Drinking water
Tap water in Nicaragua is not safe to drink. Every corner store sells 1 and 2 liter bottles, and 20 liter bottles can be bought at most large grocery stores.
Paper maps
Purchase maps before arriving, good ones are very difficult to find in Nicaragua.
GPS Maps of Nicaragua
- Open Street Map: Appears to have good coverage.[3]
- Cenrut: Free Open Source GPS map of Central America. Coverage is occasionally better than OSM. [4]
- Garmin: Apparently no map of Nicaragua.
- TomTom: No map of Nicaragua. [5]
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Nicaragua
- Nicaragua Campgrounds and Hotels - Life Remotely - List of campgrounds and hostels with photos, GPS co-ordinates, descriptions and amenities from 2012]
- Camping Sites: Nicaragua - Detailed list of campsites and propane filling with description, directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
- Central America Camping Locations - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.
- Camping Log 1: Central America - List of campsites, shopping, fuel, propane and border crossings with excellent descriptions and GPS co-ordinates.
- White Acorn camping log page - GPS co-ordinates and excellent description of campsites]
Special Overland Travel interests
- Isla De Ometepe - The island is extremely beautiful and you will save a lot of money in taxis if you take your vehicle across on the ferry. In early 2012, the price for a small 4x4 and driver was $25.00 USD one way. Note the roads on the island are extremely dusty and bumpy, and can be extremely slow going. Taking the ferry is an easy process, just show up at the terminal in San Jorge and buy tickets. The crossing takes about an hour. Supermarkets in the nearby town of Rivas are a great place to stock up, as the island is expensive for basics.
Travel Guide Books
- Don't Go There. It's Not Safe. You'll Die. And other more rational advice for Overlanding Mexico and Central America Free e-book created by overlanders in 2012 with useful information on overlanding in general and specifics to Mexico.
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Nicaragua
Buy
Unknown.
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Buy
Unknown.
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
- ↑ Central American Borders and dogs
- ↑ fuel price - anybody ? - The HUBB
- ↑ OpenStreetMap Nicaragua
- ↑ Cenrut Mapping Project
- ↑ TomTom Map availability
Helpful External links
- Nicaragua: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Nicaragua - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Nicaragua travel guides at wikivoyage
- Nicaragua - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
