Border crossing Nicaragua

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Nicaragua, a county in Central America, who have many neighbors and a dictatorship going on. What is the best way to enter? How is the border crossing in Nicaragua like?

Where is Nicaragua located?

Nicaragua has a border to Costa Rica, on the south and a border to El Salvador and Honduras to the north. Both, the pacific and atlantic are possible to find and vulcanos + a lot of nature. 

What are the options?

The most common way to enter Nicaragua is by going over the land border from Costa Rica. But let’s list them.

1. Flying in, probably an easy entry, but a really expensive one. The flights in and out of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, are a couple of hundred dollars more than when taking a flight to Costa Rica. 
2. Flying to Costa Rica and taking a bus. This is the most common way to enter. Flights to Costa Rica are the cheapest ones in that region, when compared to Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. From there, you will need to take a bus, or get somehow else to the border. This will explain more.
3. Crossing the land border from El Salvador and Honduras. The fact that these countries are not that popular to visit, when comparing it with Costa Rica, is at least for international tourists not the most common thing to do. It will be most likely similar then the second thing.

What is important to know when entering Nicaragua? (September 2022)

1. Leave your drone at home! Don’t take your drone with you. It is highly forbidden to enter with a drone!
2. There will be a guy, who wants a Dollar and gives you a piece of paper for it. This you will need to give at the customs. Make sure, it is an official person and no scam.
3. Including the one Dollar payment outside the building, you need to pay $14 for entering Nicaragua. When exiting Costa Rica, it will be $8, but try to not pay that, due to the fact that it is not highly controlled. At the bus they will ask you, just say you did that already online (worse case you are paying when you are there).
4. It can happen that they take your passport away in the bus, they give it back to you. 
5. You will need a while, a couple of hours, at the border, you will let in. 
6. Don’t take drugs and food with you, they will find it. Nuts are okay. First there are coming drug dogs and then all of your luggage is getting scanned. 
7. Write down everything of value, to be on the safe side.

How was my experience?

I took the bus at 6 in the morning from San Jose in Costa Rica. We were around six hours later at the border. It took around two hours to get the stamp. 

First getting the exit stamp from Costa Rica, which was the fastest part. They just stamped and didn’t check anything.

We got back on the bus and drove further, then a drug dog went in and actually catched a Canadian, but then didn’t find anything. 

When arriving at the migration office, a nurse went in the bus and asked for the vaccine. After showing the vaccine, she was giving everyone a piece of paper, where it was basically approved. Another person came in after, to write down everyone who wanted to enter the country. She took many passports with her. It was kind of a weird feeling, knowing you are now at the border and not having the passport.

You will take all your stuff and go to the border.

During the migration, the people, who were still having their passports, were able to cross into the country faster, then for example me. Which was fine, because the bus would not leave, until everyone made it over the border. 

The migration went fast, they wanted money and know where you’re gonna sleep, so basically just an address. You don’t need to prove any booking or something. 

After that, you will have one more thing to do. All of your belongings will be put in a scanner and when they don’t find anything, you are good to go. 

WELCOME TO NICARAGUA

Now the bus is going through Nicaragua, when it is still bright, you can see the big lake, with the island on it and the lifestyle from the locals. Riding horses in the non city regions is quite common. 

When you are arriving, for example in Managua, don’t walk when it is dark. When the darkness arrives, then every local told me that walking on the street is not the best thing to do. I arrived with some sunlight and I felt okay walking, but it was back in my head the whole time.

My trip to my 75th country was starting in the capital of Nicaragua, in Managua.

I would love to hear your experiences about this place, or questions. Share it with me in the comments. 

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