| City Code: |
| MGA: Managua |
| RNI:Corn Islands |
| Entry requirements: Valid U.S. passport. $5 tourist card purchased on entry. |
| Taxes/Surcharges: International departure tax: $25. |
| Hotel taxes and service charges: 15% hotel tax. |
| Tipping: Gratuities are not included on a restaurant bill. Normal tip 10%. |
| Currency: Cordoba. Exchange available at hotels, banks and tourist agencies. ATMs in Managua, and major credit cards accepted in main cities. Banking hour: 8:30 - 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. Saturday. |
| Shopping: A full range of handicrafts are offered in Managua at leading markets including Mercado Roberto Huembes and Casa de las Artes del Pueblo. Best selling crafts include wood carved items, jewelry, palm fiber ware, soapstone figures, ceramic copies of pre-Columbian art, and Nicaraguan cigars. Note: Avoid many of Nicaragua's truly exotic shopping bargains like iguana skin shoes, boa constrictor belts, and black coral jewelry; these items cannot be brought back into the United States. U.S. Customs will confiscate all such items and traveler is subject to a substantial fine. |
| Food and Drink: Nicaragua is the best place in Central America for steak. Excellent steak houses feature prime beef with a host of Nicaraguan side dishes including vigoron (yucca with fried pork skins) usually served with coleslaw. Lobster is also popular as are several fish dishes, the most popular being guapote. Also try nacatamales (spicy, often hot tamales). The locals drink good Nicaraguan rum, plenty of fresh fruit juices plus several unique drinks including tiste (cacao and corn) and posol con leche a tasty corn milk concoction. |
| Telephone Area Codes:(505) country code; Managua (2), Granada (55) and Leon (311). |