FAQs
General Travel
Money
Weather and Surf Conditions
Driving
Food
Cleaning
Childcare
What airport should I fly into? Currently, our local airport, Costa Esmeralda International is closed with no plans of reopening at this time. You can fly into Managua airport (Airport code- MGA) and drive 2.5 hours to Hacienda Iguana or fly to Liberia, Costa Rica and it will take 2.5-4 hours (depending on how busy the border is) to Hacienda Iguana.
Is Nicaragua safe? Yes, Nicaragua is very safe. It is actually rated the 2nd safest country in Central America. The only crime in our region is occasional petty theft, but Hacienda Iguana is a gated community with guards everywhere for added comfort so you have nothing to worry about at all.
Do I need to know Spanish? It is very helpful if you know a little bit of Spanish. In the bigger towns some people may know a little English, but generally speaking, in the Tola region you will be getting by mainly with Spanish or charades although many establishments now have at least one English speaking employee.
Do I need to get any vaccinations? It’s best to talk with your doctor but for Americans and Canadians we would only recommend that you are up to date on your tetanus shot. We do not have Malaria in our area and unless you will be dealing directly with animals a lot you don’t need a rabies shot.
Yellow Fever Vaccination: Does not apply to Americans and Canadians. Nicaragua requires proof of a yellow fever vaccination from travelers who, less than 11 days prior to their planned entry into Nicaragua, have visited countries designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as places with the potential for active transmission of yellow fever. The vaccination must have been given at least 10 days prior to entry to the WHO-designated country. The WHO-designated countries currently include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and nearly 30 countries located on the African continent. The United States and Canada are not listed as countries with the potential for active transmission of yellow fever.
Do I need a visa to travel to Nicaragua? When traveling with a passport, citizens of the U.S., Canada and EU countries may stay in Nicaragua for 90 days. No visa is necessary for travelers from the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. Citizens from some Latin American, Asian, African, and Eastern European countries may require visas, which can be obtained at a Nicaraguan Consulate.
What kind of medical facilities are there?
The Farmacia Iguana serves as a pharmacy and is equipped to handle first aid/medical services. It is staffed by a bilingual, medical doctor and pharmacist and is open daily 9:00-5:00 with after hours for emergencies only. It is in the commercial area of Iguana next to Rios Market. Farmacia Iguana has many medications available and a doctor onsite that can help suggest medications, stabilize patients, administer stitches, equipped with an ultrasound machine and is able to assist you with your medical needs. There is another medical facility, Roberto Clemente Clinic, which is located north of Hacienda Iguana, just past the main entrance of Rancho Santana (15-minute drive away) and is open 24 hours. In the case of a serious medical emergency, we highly recommend going straight to Vivian Pellas.
Farmacia Iguana: +505 8282-4817 OR +1 760-271-5977
All public and private hospitals and medical facilities in Nicaragua will treat foreign visitors in case of emergency, accident, sudden illness or a chronic disease. Most often you have to pay cash for treatment however some private hospitals accept payment by credit card. While medical facilities are rather limited outside of Managua, there are well equipped private facilities in Managua. If you need serious medical attention while in Nicaragua, the Metropolitano Vivian Pellas Hospital in Managua is the best option and is about a 2-2.5 hour drive away.
What if I have a medical emergency? Farmacia Iguana has a trained doctor for immediate stabilization and the Rancho Santana Clinic (20 minute away) does have an ambulance that is on call in case of an emergency. Nicaragua does now have a helicopter company equipped and ready for medical emergencies.
What’s the local time zone? Nicaragua is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and has no daylight saving time, during which time it is seven hours behind Greenwich. There is little seasonal variation at dawn (approximately 6.00 am) and dusk (6.00 pm).
Do I need to bring a voltage adapter? If you are coming from the US or Canada you will not need a voltage adapter. Nicaragua operates on 110 – Volts AC (60 – cycle) nationwide.
Can I bring a drone? It is illegal to bring drones into Nicaragua and if customs finds it they will hold it at the airport until you depart and charge a “storage fee” so we highly suggest not bringing your drone with you.
Do I need to exchange my USD to Cordobas? No, everywhere in Nicaragua accepts USD although you may lose a little money when buying things due to discrepancies in exchange rates so sometimes it is good to pay in Cordobas. Many people don’t accept ripped bills or bills with markings on them so make sure yours are in good condition.
What is the current exchange rate? The exchange rate is changing rapidly. In order to find an accurate exchange rate, please go to www.bcn.gob.ni and check the “Tipo de Cambio”.
Can I use credit cards in the area? A few places do accept credit cards but most do not. So please bring an ample amount of cash.
Are there any ATMs in the area? There is a Banco La Fise ATM in the community that it is located in the commercial area of Iguana, across from NSR surf shop and in between our office (Iguana Surf Rentals) and Satori Spa. There is also a BAC ATM located just outside Iguana’s main gates in the Riviera Market (about 4 kilometers away) that is open from 6am to 12pm. The La Fise ATM inside Iguana is often out of money and doesn’t take all cards so it is a good idea to stock up on cash in Rivas or go to the BAC ATM outside the gates on your way to Iguana.
What’s the local sales tax? There is normally a 15% tax added to sale of goods and services. A 10% service fee is usually added to the bill at most restaurants. In essence this is the tip but it is generally divided between the whole staff so we suggest you leave a bit more specifically for your server. If not included, it will be specified on the menu.
When is the best time for surfing? High surf season is considered April through September although you can still get great waves other times of the year.
What is the weather like? The temperature here stays pretty constant year round, only fluctuating between around 85-93 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season is from the beginning of May until the beginning of November. May through September there is intermittent rain and the majority of the rain is at night. October is considered the super rainy month. Historically in October it can rain all day and night for weeks. That being said, in the past 15 years we have only had 2-3 Octobers that could fit this descripition. November and December are still green and the temperatures are comfortable. It is dry from January through April. For about 2 months between January and March the winds generally get very heavy. April and sometimes May are generally the hottest and most humid months (depends when they rain comes).
What is the water temp? Most of the year the water is comfortable (around 80 F), sometimes even warm, but November through March the water can get a bit chilly due to upwelling caused by the constant offshore winds. This time of year I recommend bringing a 1-2mm wetsuit top or shorty wetsuit.
Can I rent a surf board? There is a surf shop here in Hacienda Iguana that rents all sizes and shapes of surfboards. You can view their quiver and prices on the NSR website.
DRIVING & TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Can you arrange airport transportation from MGA to Hacienda Iguana for me? You bet! We can arrange a Nica taxi for $90 for 1-2 people, $100 for 3 people and $110 for 4 people an SUV for $120 for 1-2 people, $130 for 3 people or $140 for 4 people each way or a 15 passenger van (fits 10 people with luggage) for $160/each way. Please just let us know your number of people, preferred type of transportation, exact arrival time, airline and flight number and we can arrange your transportation for you. Your ride does include a stop at the grocery store as well.
Can you arrange airport transportation from LIR to Hacienda Iguana for me? You bet! For transportation to and from Liberia’s airport, we can arrange a sedan for $150 each way, an SUV for $180 each way or a 15-passenger van (fits 10 people with luggage) for $230/each way for up to 8 people and $250/each way for 9 or more people. The driver would be happy to stop at a grocery store for you on the way up. Please just let us know your preferred type of transportation, exact arrival time, airline and flight number and we can arrange your transportation for you.
How long of a drive is it from the airport to Iguana and how do you get there? The drive from the airport to Iguana takes about 2-2.5 hours. The road is now paved all the away to Iguana’s gates so you will only be on a dirt road for the last 10 minutes or so.
Do I need a 4X4 vehicle? Not anymore. The road is paved all the way to Hacienda Iguana but the 3 kilometer road into Iguana and the interior roads of Iguana are all dirt. If you plan to head north (towards Rancho Santana or Popoyo) on the main road then the road will be dirt as well.
Where should I rent a car? There is a car rental agency options that are close by or service the Hacienda Iguana community. Alamo/Enterprise/National will deliver and pick up vehicles to and from your rental property in Hacienda Iguana. There are also a few people in Iguana that rent their cars.
Can I rent a golf cart? We (Iguana Surf Rentals) have multiple 4-passenger or 6 passenger, battery powered golf carts available for rent. The 4-passenger carts are $40/day or $240/week and the 6-passenger golf cart available for $60/day or $360/week. The golf carts are not allowed outside of the community except to go to the school, playground or baseball field just outside the gates.
Are there any gas stations in the area? Your best bet is to fill up in Rivas. There aren’t any actual gas stations in this area but there are a few places that sell gas and will siphon it into your tank.
What about the policia? They are pretty harmless here but if they see you driving a rental or see surfboards on top of the car there’s good chance they’ll pull you over to try and get a little bribe out of you.
Is there local transportation available? Local taxis (cars and vans) are available for trips outside of the community.
Can you drink the tap water? The water in our area is actually spring fed and is fine to drink, but we do also provide our guests with 5 gallon bottles of purified water for drinking.
Where is the closest grocery store? In Hacienda Iguana we have the Stop and Go Surf Market and the Rios Market both located here in Iguana’s commercial center. Both are small stores that have a little bit of everything. Another option, Rivera Market, is located just 4 kilometers from Hacienda Iguana. If you don’t have a car they will deliver groceries for a small fee. Your best bet is still to do the bulk of your shopping in Rivas at La Colonia (most Americanized grocery store) and use the local smaller stores to restock on provisions but if you land too late to hit the grocery store, don’t fret, you will still be able to stock up here.
What amenities are there in and around Hacienda Iguana? Within the community of Hacienda Iguana there are currently six restaurants. The restaurant at the beach club, Pili’s Kitchen, serves healthy and delicious plates for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a great beach bar with happy hour specials. Iguana Brewery is just across from Scoops and serves its locally made craft beers in addition to a full bar, and doubles as a complete restaurant with breakfast starting at 6am, lunch, and dinner. Scoops is an artisan ice cream, coffee, juice, and panini shop. Downtown Iguana is a restaurant with local Nicaraguan cuisine, open for lunch and dinner, and located in the commercial area below Casa Ananas and next to NSR. Casa Ananas, located above NSR, is open for dinner with delicious and authentic Italian pizza, pasta and more. Finally, the newest restaurant is The Salty Koala, which is in the La Joya commercial area and serves Asian cuisine. All of these restaurants except for Pili’s Kitchen at the Beach Club and The Salty Koala are located in Iguana’s growing commercial center where you will also find a La Fise ATM, NSR Surf Shop, Stop and Go Surf Market (groceries), Rios Market (groceries), Iguana Farmacy and First Response Clinic and our office, Iguana Surf Rentals and Real Estate. La Joya Commercial area has Pure Spa and Las Rocas Surf Shop/Boutique store. Just outside of Iguana’s gates (3km away) there is the Rivera Market Place with a BAC Bank Branch and ATM, Rivera Market/Grocery Store and Jasco’s Sushi Restaurant. There are many other great restaurants within a 10–20-minute drive from Hacienda Iguana.
Please check out our Restaurant Guide for more information.
Do you offer any sort of meal package or catering? We do. Our meal packages offer you a personal chef whose services include purchasing of fresh food, meal preparation, cooking a delicious meal and cleanup. Breakfast options for you range from pancakes, banana pancakes, French toast, eggs, omelets, gallo pinto, hash browns, fresh fruit, tortillas and/or toast. Served with coffee and freshly made fruit juices. Lunch and dinner generally consist of meat (chicken, fish, beef, pork, or lobster) with potato, rice and/or tostones alongside a salad and/or fresh veggies. Our chef can also prepare sandwiches, lasagna, tacos, burritos, pasta, hamburgers, BBQ or pizza, or a particular dish of your choice – just ask! If you choose to dine out at any of the local restaurants, we will gladly reimburse you. We just ask that you please give us a 24-hour notice that you will not want a certain meal, so our chef does not over prepare.
Meal Packages are priced as follows:
- 3 meals a day for $45/person/day – includes non-alcoholic beverages and a snack basket
- 2 meals a day for $35/person/day – includes non-alcoholic beverages
- Only dinner for $18/person or $21/person for lobster or steak dinner – no drinks included
*** Minimum of 4 adults required. Kids under 12 are ½ price for a smaller portion.
For information on activities, please see our day trip ideas, activities, and hikes pages.