General Info

[Enperadore]

you could always get a movistar or claro usb modem and pay per day use, i think with movistar the cost is 50 cordobas per day on the prepay service and it works all over nicaragua, speedwise its probrably around 1mbps at the best. now if you are going to be mostly in managua there is yota, a 4g service, both the usb and service are pretty economic. in granada you will find plently of cyber cafe specially in the center. i have a cyber cafe and we have 5mpbs and constanly get that speed. last power outage here in granada was about a week ago in the early morning and lasted about 2 hours.

what is the internet like in nicaragua.

i'm looking into a vacation in managua / nicaragua and would like to know if the wifi is good enough for consulting work that will need to get done. i'll need to be able to connect to the internet daily with decent speeds.

i read that there are power outages daily for about 4 hours at random times. is this true?

thanks

[World Travel 69]

In Managua I used the internet wifi the hotel Yolaina.

I am not sure how many other internet caffes are in the city.

In Granada there are enough internet places, that you will not have a problem.

Thanks. Internet is the main worry. I am not sure yet about hotels. However, what is the best way to go to a internet cafe where I can plug my laptop in? I read on wiki travel that you can get into the Mombacho Beach Club in Granada for $5 or free I think. Are there internet cafes spread around in Nicaragua?. Can't seem to find info on that.

[Cngrgo]

yes there are power outages at random times, but definitely not daily and very seldom for 4 hours. all the nicer, business related hotels have back-up generators, so power is not a problem for them.

you can pretty much get wifi everywhere, however, the speeds are quite a bit slower than in other countries. i imagine the cheaper hotels (in the $50, and less, range) will have even slower wifi. don't know about the new intercontinental, the older crowne plaza, or the hilton, but i imagine they have the best wifi but i doubt it is anywhere near as good as in the states. the holiday inn has pretty good wifi in the rooms, but at times it is frustratingly slow.

don't worry about power outages. on the other hand, fast internet can be a problem.

thanks. internet is the main worry. i am not sure yet about hotels. however, what is the best way to go to a internet cafe where i can plug my laptop in? i read on wiki travel that you can get into the mombacho beach club in granada for $5 or free i think. are there internet cafes spread around in nicaragua?. can't seem to find info on that.

[Noguera]

what is the internet like in nicaragua.

i'm looking into a vacation in managua / nicaragua and would like to know if the wifi is good enough for consulting work that will need to get done. i'll need to be able to connect to the internet daily with decent speeds.

i read that there are power outages daily for about 4 hours at random times. is this true?

thanks

yes there are power outages at random times, but definitely not daily and very seldom for 4 hours. all the nicer, business related hotels have back-up generators, so power is not a problem for them.

you can pretty much get wifi everywhere, however, the speeds are quite a bit slower than in other countries. i imagine the cheaper hotels (in the $50, and less, range) will have even slower wifi. don't know about the new intercontinental, the older crowne plaza, or the hilton, but i imagine they have the best wifi but i doubt it is anywhere near as good as in the states. the holiday inn has pretty good wifi in the rooms, but at times it is frustratingly slow.

don't worry about power outages. on the other hand, fast internet can be a problem.

[Cngrgo]

what is the internet like in nicaragua.

i'm looking into a vacation in managua / nicaragua and would like to know if the wifi is good enough for consulting work that will need to get done. i'll need to be able to connect to the internet daily with decent speeds.

i read that there are power outages daily for about 4 hours at random times. is this true?

thanks

[Noguera]

The system works for the Nicaraguans. Even if there is not a tree at 'el árbol'!

I once sent a DHL to this address.

Desde centro salud Villa Venezuela.

Medio cuadra abajo.

Nueve senderos a los montañas.

Cuatro chozas arriba.

Entonces diez cuadras mas.

Which basically translates to.

From the health center in Villa Venezuela.

Go ½ block west.

9 paths south.

4 shacks back to the east.

Then go another 10 yards.

The package was delivered within 48 hours! Remember, these people have lived with this system for decades and know it intimately.

[Grand Pollo]

I know Nicarauga is a very poor country, but I wonder how much it would cost to put up street signs, and have the buildings numbered. .

Millions of $ they don't have.

Funny how a taxi, ambulance or bombero can get from point A to B with no problems.

[John Gault]

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhEIMNVmWgg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4eS5...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPDKG...eature=related

I'm sure most of us have eaten at those stands near the Star Casino in Managua that Anthony Bourdain is smacking his lips over. Come on the hot dogs are OK, but this guy is trying to act like he is having an orgasimo while eating a hamburger, and hot dog. This makes me wonder when he is in other locals, and is swooning over a local dish.

The scenes at the dump were very sad. I knew it is a poor country, but this was an eye opener.

After viewing these clips maybe now I can understand how really poor this country is. I think my previous post now shows how little I understood the conditions in this Country

[John Gault]

I know Nicarauga is a very poor country, but I wonder how much it would cost to put up street signs, and have the buildings numbered. I have never seen such a poor system. How do they call for emergency medical help? The mess of trying to find a location in the citys is a real pain in the ass.

While I am venting, lets take a look at the road conditions in the Gringo city of Granada. Pot holes that are everywhere. Maybe the President could take one of his millions, and put a few trucks on the road to fill these holes.

We all know the native women are great here, and the people are for the most part very kind, but the interstructure is very hard to deal with.

I have been coming here for quite a while now, but this lack of basic stuff is getting old.

[Pana Nyc]

Monday on the Travel Channel, they will showing Anthony Bourdain's Nicaragua again.

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhEIMNVmWgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4eS52aWUks&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPDKGduC2DU&feature=related

[World Travel 69]

Monday on the Travel Channel, they will showing Anthony Bourdain's Nicaragua again.

[Curry]

I've always been curious about this place. Has anyone had any first hand experience there?

[Oldexpat]

Leon is a nice town, far better than Granada. It's hot, though, if that sort of thing bothers you.

As a foreigner you will always, to some extent or another, be a target in Nicaragua. A target for theives and a target for women who want your money in return for the use of their body.

At all costs avoid the new gringo golf course developments that are soulless white elephants.

If you want any kind of cultural or intellectual life, don't come to Nicaragua.

I lived in Costa Rica (near San Jose) for 2+ years and found just enough 'culture and intellectual life' to keep it interesting but not overwhelming in terms of being to culturally different from 'home'. I've lived in the middle east and found that 'too different' for example. Interested if there's 'just enough' culture in Leon as I know it's the university center of the country. Anyone know?

Also, not one to want to locate to a 'gringo country/golf club community'. That's what I'm escaping here. Looking for something more low key but lively.

Old Expat

[Iguana Six]

Oh please. !

'Police State'?

There was a lot more to the Eric Volz case than meets the eye. He was an arrogant, obnoxious, big mouthed American. I am not saying he was guilty, but your statements are way embellished.

Tell me what I am missing on the Eric Volz case.

I've described Nicaragua as a "soft" police state. While they are the "firebreak" that seems to have stopped the Maras from expanding south, there is also a youtube video where you can see thirteen cops bring five pistols and rifles to a knife fight with one suspect. And lose. The police do not protect peaceful demonstrators from "turbas divinas." On the other hand, they are pretty honest by regional standards.

[Grand Pollo]

I've pulled the plug on working longer. Now looking where to retire. I've read Nicaragua is the place to retire to. Any opinions on this out there among members to the forum? I like Leon from what I read. Mongering will be important but quality of life on a fixed income is the most important.

Input please.

Pattaya, Thailand, or maybe the Philippines.