Food is very cheap, though a lot of the food is fried in oil. The most common dish is gallo pinto, which is red beans and rice. If you like meat try thenacatamales, a tamal made with pork. The typical dish will consist of meat, rice, beans, salad and some fried plantain. Nicaraguan tortillas are made from corn flour and are thick, almost resembling a pita. One common dish is quesillo: a string of mozzarella-type cheese with pickled onion, a watery sour cream, and a little salt all wrapped in a thick tortilla. You will also find the tortillas are used to make shredded beef tacos. An alternative to the fried offering in the typical menu is baho. This is a combination of beef, yucca, sweet potato, potato and other ingredients steamed in plantain leaves for several hours. 

Plantains are a big part of the Nicaraguan diet. You will find it prepared in a variety of forms: fried, baked, boiled, with cream or cheese, as chips for a dip, smashed into a toston. 

One typical dessert is Tres Leches, a soft spongy cake that combines three varieties of milk (condensed, evaporated and fresh) for a sweet concoction. 

Rum is the liquor of choice, the local brand of Rum is Flor de Cana and is available in several varieties. Local beers include Victoria and Tona. Unusualsoft drinks include Pinolillo, a thick cacao based drink and Rojita, a red soda that tastes similar to Inca Cola.

The country has strong folklore, music and religious traditions, deeply influenced by Iberian Peninsula culture but enriched with Amerindian sounds and flavours. Nicaragua has historically been an important source of poetry in the Hispanic world, with internationally renowned contributors, the best known being Ruben Dario. 

The Nicas are friendly and obliging people. However men tend to be overwhelmingly macho and, if you are a woman, you will most likely hear constant catcalls, the best policy is to ignore them.

Nicaragua is dotted by several lakes of volcanic origin. The largest, Lago Nicaragua, is home to the only fresh water sharks in the world. Managua, the capital, sits on the shores of the polluted Lago Managua.

The twentieth century was characterized by the rise and fall of the Somoza dynasty. By 1978, opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes and resulted in a short-lived civil war that led to the fall of Somoza in July, 1979. The armed part of the insurgence was named the Sandinistas; though not evident at the time, the leadership of the Sandinistas had close ties to Fidel Castro in Cuba. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Peace was brokered in 1987 by Oscar Arias, which led to elections in 1990. In a stunning development, Violeta Chammoro of the UNO coalition surprisingly beat out the incumbent leader Daniel Ortega. 

Elections in 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated by the Liberal party. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Wildlife includes the puma, deer, monkey, armadillo, alligator, parrot, macaw, peccary, and several species of snakes. Lake Nicaragua contains the only freshwater sharks in the world.

The Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve offers wonderful hiking and nature trails, or perhaps a more vigorous volcano climb would be more tempting? 

Nicaraguans are passionate about baseball. Most communities have a baseball field. Soccer, basketball, volleyball and boxing are also very much present.

In Nicaragua, the legal tender is the Cordoba. Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged at the airport, at banks and at exchange bureaus. Credit cards are not going to be accepted in many places. Always carry local cash on you.

For monthly average temperatures please refer to your destination of choice.

There are several daily Spanish newspapers available, such as La Prensa, Confidencial and Nuevo Diario. There are plenty of local television and radio stations. Cable TV is available and carries international channels.

Avoid drinking tap water, bottled water is always the best choice and is readily available. Gastro-intestinal complaints, known as the turista, are the most common health issue and usually occur in the first few days. Given its tropical latitude, there are plenty of bugs flying about, so be sure to wear bug repellent. 

There are no required vaccines to enter the country, unless you are arriving from a yellow fever affected destination. The following vaccines though are highly recommended for any tropical destination: hepatitis A and B, rabies, typhoid, tetanus and yellow fever. Less frequented areas of Nicaragua may also be prone to Cholera, Dengue fever, Diphtheria and Malaria. If you plan an adventure trip, it may be a good idea to get inoculated.

March/April – Good Friday, Easter
May 01 – Labour Day
July 19 – Liberation Day
September 14 – Battle of San Jacinto
September 15 – Independence Day
November 02 – All Souls' Day
December 08 – Immaculate Conception
December 25 -Christmas Day

It is recommended to avoid side streets outside of downtown and take care if walking at night in Nicaraguan cities, especially in Managua, it is better to stay in groups or take taxis from one destination to another. There is an increasing amount of gang violence filtering into Nicaragua from Honduras. It is dangerous in Granada by the water front at night so be careful at the bars. Managua always has an element of danger so be really careful walking around. Avoid unpaved streets as these are typically poor neighborhoods with higher crime. Homosexuality is illegal and is punished by up to three years in jail. 

Use good judgement, keep money and travel documents well hidden in a money belt and take advantage of the safety deposit boxes provided by the hotels. Always lock your hotel door or your rented car. Never leave any luggage unattended and be inconspicuous with jewellery, cameras, or anything of value. Walking at night is not advised.

The departure tax of around US $35, per person, is included in the ticket. 

A government sales tax of 15% is added on most goods and services. Usually hotels and restaurants add a 10% service fee. If it has not been added, a 10% tip is recommended. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but offering a 5% if they provide additional services, advice or planning is welcomed.

By car, there are two border crossings to Costa Rica, and three major border crossings to Honduras. Car rental is available in Managua or at the airport. 

International buses are available between Managua and San Jose, Costa Rica and San Salvador, El Salvador. The buses are relatively modern with air conditioning, and make stops for fuel and food along the way.