Going on a trip outside of the country can be an amazing adventure and Nicaragua is no different. There are many strange and wonderful sights to see and people to meet. But if you do not plan for your Nicaragua trip properly, you can be setting yourself up for disaster. Not only could you find yourself in a position where you do not want to be, but you could end up getting hurt or turning your dream Central American trip into a failure. Using the tips in this article, you will be able to travel outside your country worry-free.
Before you leave on your trip, familiarize yourself with Nicaragua. There are many excellent guide books and websites like this one available at your disposal that have information on everything you need to know about Nicaragua. Read up and understand the local customs, the language (maybe learn some basic phrases in Spanish to help you get around easier), and their laws. There are many rules and customs in other countries like Nicaragua that you may be unfamiliar with. Check out Nicaragua Magazine’s section on “Things to Know” articles that will give you lots of helpful information that will guide you through every aspect of Nicaraguan culture, and you might find some excellent places to visit on your trip as well.
It is critical that you make copies of your important documents before you leave. Copy your passport, any visas, and your travel itinerary and leave one at home and take a copy with you. The copy that you leave at home will be helpful for your family or friends to know where you are supposed to be and will have your information if for some reason they need it. The other copy is for you to carry around with you when you are out. Leave your passport and other documents locked in the hotel safe (if they have one) and carry the copy around with you so that if they are lost or stolen, you have the originals back at the hotel.
It is a good idea to check with the State Department before you leave to see if there are any travel advisories regarding the countries that you are going to travel to. Nicaragua is a safe country but many other countries in other parts of the world have travel advisories so it always good to check in with the State Department first. It is also a good idea to provide the State department with your itinerary schedule, that way if anything (earthquake, hurricane) should happen they can get to you quickly because they would know where you were supposed to be. Most people won’t do this step but its a good idea to do if it is your first time traveling abroad.
Lastly, there are areas of the world and Nicaragua is no different that have diseases that you need to be immunized against prior to visiting. Visit your doctor and get the necessary shots and any medications that you may need before you go. Many times doctors in the US will go overboard in the amount of shots and vaccines they have you take but its better to be safe than sorry. It is best to avoid drinking water from the tap and just by bottled water through your trip. Buy a large one to keep in your hotel room in case you get thirsty during the night and then buy smaller bottles to take with you during your day trips.
Go out and explore all that Nicaragua has to offer, but be safe. Use the tips from this article to help you in your travels to Nicaragua.