Car rentals in Nicaragua - Safety and Security

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Safety and Security

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Police coverage is extremely sparse outside of major urban areas. Sporadic incidents of highway banditry are reported in remote rural areas of north and northwest Nicaragua. If you do decide to travel to these areas, travel only on major highways during daylight hours. Though less frequent than in past years, political demonstrations and strikes occur sporadically in urban areas. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid crowds and blockades during such occurrences.

Nicaragua's Atlantic coast contains vast stretches of territory with little or no law enforcement outside the major towns. Nautical travelers should be aware that there are boundary disputes involving the governments of Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica in the Caribbean coastal waters adjoining these countries, the Gulf of Fonseca, and on the San Juan River along the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border. Passengers and crews of foreign fishing boats have been detained and/or fined and vessels impounded. There also is a long-term boundary dispute with Colombia over San Andres Island and surrounding waters. Additionally, narcotics traffickers often use the Caribbean coastal waters.

U.S. citizens are cautioned that strong currents and undertows off sections of Nicaragua's Pacific coast have resulted in a number of drownings. Warning signs are not posted, and lifeguards and rescue equipment are not readily available in Nicaragua. U.S. citizens contemplating beach activities in Nicaragua's Pacific waters are urged to exercise extreme caution.

Although hundreds of passengers travel daily on domestic flights within Nicaragua without incident, these flights use small, uncontrolled airstrips outside of Managua, with minimal safety equipment and little boarding security. Significant safety and security improvements have, however, been made at the Bluefields, Puerto Cabezas and Corn Island airports, all of which are located on Nicaragua's Atlantic coast.

Although extensive demining operations have been conducted to clear rural areas of northern Nicaragua of landmines left from the war, visitors venturing off the main roads in these areas are cautioned that the possibility of encountering landmines still exists.