Nicaragua is located between Costa Rica and Honduras enriched with amazing cathedrals, history, elegant architecture, and natural picturesque views.
Before heading towards Nicaragua, one important question in your mind “Is Nicaragua a safe place to travel”? And if you want to explore this place solo, your concerns doubles.
To answer this question, we compiled this curated guide to breaking everything you need to know about Nicaragua safety whether you are a solo traveler or a seasoned traveler. Keep reading till the end!
Is Nicaragua a Safe Place to Travel?
Nicaragua comes with wild jungles, coastlines, Caribbean islands, volcanoes, and lakes. Among other Central American countries, it’s one of the safest countries to visit. Undoubtedly, this place is the safest only when you prepare yourself earlier and stay informed about Nicaragua’s safety customs.
If you want to enjoy a safe trip at this place, you need to be aware of potential dangers, various scams, and unhappened threats. By taking the necessary precautions and guidelines, you can make your time fabulous and entertaining.
Valuable Tips to Stay Safe in Nicaragua
When you know there are minor potential threats in Nicaragua, you need to know valuable tips earlier to avoid any unplanned events. The tips not only help you stay safe at this place but also you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. Let’s explore insightful tips one by one:
1. Be Aware When Using Debit/ Credit Cards:
In Nicaragua, ATM fraud and credit card occur so in this way, you need to be cautious when using credit/ debit cards. In this way, you need to follow some tips:
- Try to use ATMs in well-crowded places or in markets where there are fewer chances of robbery.
- When your cards are in other’s hands, you need to pay careful attention.
- Check your account statement to check for unauthorized transactions if any.
- When entering your PIN, cover your keypad with one hand.
2. Keep your Belongings in Pocket:
If you want to stay safe from pickpockets, try to keep your belongings in your pocket all the time until you want to use them. You need to use bags that come with locks and hidden compartments and don’t forget to bring such bags with you in public places and bus stations.
3. Don’t Show All Cash:
When shopping at Nicaragua markets, one of the best and most valuable tips is not to show all cash to shopkeepers as it’s not a wise decision. Keep small cash in hand so you can easily pay without revealing the entire cash. Also, it is recommended to show your wallet thinner, not thicker. Also, you can divide your entire money into different pockets and inside socks.
4. Don’t Indulge Yourselves in Political Discussion:
If you want to speak about political affairs and Nicaragua’s government, ensure that you have all the right information about politics. Other than this, it is recommended to avoid getting involved in or discussing politics at all. You should also protect yourselves from any political protests, movements, and demonstrations.
5. Choose Food & Drinks Wisely:
It is normally recommended for any place you want to visit as there are higher chances of food poisoning just because of different tastes and water. You need to follow some essential food safety tips:
- Only drink filtered water bottles.
- Eat food from famous restaurants where you are well assured that there are no hygiene issues.
- Don’t forget to eat food that ultimately boosts your immunity system like fruits, vegetables, and ginger.
6. Bring a First-Aid Kit with You:
It’s a good idea to lace up yourselves with a personal first-aid kit that will help you when you are in dire need of any safety essentials you want. The following are some of the things that you should pack:
- Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc for specific health needs.
- Allergy pills or creams are especially for those travelers who have allergy issues.
- Tweezers.
- Natural bug spray to keep mosquitos away from you.
- Menstrual cup for females.
7. Stay Away Yourselves from Drugs & Illegal Activities:
You should follow this tip even without our recommendation but it’s good to stay away yourselves from illegal activities and drugs. Your ultimate purpose is to explore the place and enjoy your company so it’s good to avoid this thing at any cost.
Scams in Nicaragua & How to Avoid Them?
There are some scams in Nicaragua you must have an idea and also you should know how to avoid them. Let’s take a look at what are these scams and how you can avoid them.
1. Fake Friendly Locals:
No doubt Nicaragua’s people are friendly but some people here pretend to be locals but they are not. Also, some of the locals meet with unfriendly intentions.
How to Avoid: When someone eagerly and forcefully wants to show you famous destinations, spots, and attractions, the ultimate purpose behind them is to put your hands in your pocket or do some fraud, so you should check it earlier.
2. Currency Trick Fraud:
This fraud usually happens when you want to exchange currency or when receiving the change. In another scenario, sometimes they will force you to their goods are free or for good luck and there’s no such thing in real.
How to Avoid: You can avoid yourselves from this scam by double-checking the change you are receiving. Also, you need to stay updated yourselves with the latest currency exchange rates
3. Rental Fraud:
When you rent a bike or car from any place, there are chances that they will charge more by misguiding with fake rental claims. Usually, you pick a bike or car without any damage or hidden damage that you didn’t know earlier but when you return them, they may want to claim that damage.
How to Avoid: As proof, always take photos of pre-rental conditions so they won’t claim you afterward.
Final Words!
Nicaragua is the safest place in central North America that you can explore without any safety threat but it is recommended to stay updated yourselves with potential scams and how to avoid them.
This blog post has covered all safety aspects of Nicaragua and you get answered your query “Is Nicaragua a safe place to travel”.
Now you can travel and explore this place with the above-mentioned underlying tips and recommendations to make your Nicaragua tour experience memorable and fascinating. Fasten your belts, book tickets now, and explore it right now!
FAQs:
1. How safe is Nicaragua for tourists?
No doubt Nicaragua comes with some potential risks but it can be avoided by following some precautions. It comes with a little bit of crime and robbery scenes but you can save yourselves by following some essential tips.
2. Is Mexico or Nicaragua safer?
The crime rate in Mexico is higher than Nicaragua as Mexico has a 60% crime rate and Nicaragua has a 54% crime rate but both can be explored with certain precautions.
3. Is Nicaragua safer than Costa Rica?
According to stats, Nicaragua is safer than Costa Rica as the crime rate in Nicaragua has been declining for the past few years. The crime rate in Costa Rica is increasing day by day as compared to Nicaragua.
