Frequently Asked Questions

Getting here and general information

1. Managua. You can fly into an airport in Managua, Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport (MGA). We are located 2.5 hours drive-away on the Pacific coast. Private taxi booked through us start at $90/one way for 2 people and take the guess-work out of finding your accommodation. There is a $10 arrival fee for tourists that need to be paid in cash.

2. Liberia. You can fly into airport in Liberia in Costa Rica, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR). Our private taxi will meet you there an help you all the way across the border to Nicaragua and to Hacienda Iguana. The total trip from the airport usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and costs $200 for the transfer. The entry requirements are different to Costa Rica, we would advise to contact us and we talk you through the process including required insurance and Covid-19 tests.

The best advice on vaccination for Nicaragua will come from your doctor. Generally, ensure you have an up to date 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: 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, Dominican Republic, 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.

• Covid-19 Vaccination: Nicaraguan authorities require a negative test to be able to entry the country. The test needs to be no older than 72 hours before arrival. You could use a home test, however, you will need to show results.

  For departure Covid-19 test from Nicaragua, there is only one place to do it. You will need to go to Managua, which is 2.5 hours drive from Hacienda Iguana. However, you could bring your home test if that is allowed in your country.

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.

It is helpful if you know a little bit of Spanish if you are planning on exploring Nicaragua. In Hacienda Iguana, most people speak English. 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.

Drone use is currently banned in Nicaragua and drones are not allowed to be taken into the country. They will be taken away at the airport/border.

Nicaragua has delicious tropical fruits, easy to find mangos, oranges, bananas, dragon fruits, passion fruit, etc. In our community, mostly close to the beach, you will see Manzanillo tree with a small fruit that looks like a little green apple. Don’t eat it. You can have an allergic reaction.

We offer cleaning every second day for vacation rentals. If you are renting for a longer time, the arrangements vary depending on the house.

We have a 10 MBPS plan for all of our properties. It works good for most remote work as well as streaming movies such as Netflix. If you require higher speed, we can upgrade the internet for your visit.

Power outages vary depending on the season. When it happens, it could take from 1 hour to 12 hours. However, most of our properties haver a power backup which should last you for up to 8 to 12 hours.

You could have a local SIM card to have a backup in wifi and to make local calls. CLARO and TIGO are the most popular cellular companies with coverage in Costa Esmeralda.

Emergencies

• There is a pharmacy, Farmacia Iguana, with a doctor on-site in Hacienda Iguana, located in the commercial center just past Rios Market. Farmacia Iguana is equipped to stabilize injuries, administer stitches, treat sting ray stings and other surf related injuries, prescribe basic meds, cleanse wounds, administer medications via shot and provide basic medical attention. Farmacia Iguana is a non-profit organization and is fueled by donations. Open Mon, Wed, Fri, Saturday 9:00 - 17:00 | Tues 10:00-18:00 | Sun 9:00-16:00

  Closed Thursdays

  Contact +505-8682 3237 | Facebook page

• In case you need a serious medical service, you will need to go to Managua, there a couple of good options there, Hospital Vivian Pellas is the best option.

You can call from any phone in Nicaragua:

• Red cross/ambulance 128

• Fire department 115

• Police 118

Money and currency

Cordoba is the currency in Nicaragua but you do not need to exchange your USD. 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 USD ripped bills or bills with markings on them so make sure yours are in good condition.

The exchange rate varies and is around C$35 per $1.

A few places do accept credit cards but most do not. So please bring a good amount of cash.

Visa, Mastercard, AMEX

There is a Banco Lafise ATM in the community that it is located in the commercial area of Hacienda Iguana. It doesn’t take all cards so it is a good idea to stock up on cash in Rivas or go to the BAC ATM (plaza la riviera) outside the gates on your way to Iguana.

Surf Info

The temperature here stays pretty constant during the year. 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 a real rainy month. November and December are still green and the temperatures are comfortable. In March the winds generally get very heavy.

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.

For Playa Colorado, Panga Drops and other surf breaks on Costa Esmeralda information, check our Surf page.

Absolutely, we could also have a guide for you to take you to the best breaks at the best time!

Transportation

Yes we can. A private taxi from Managua starts at $90/one way for two people and transfer from Liberia is $200/one way. When you are booking your accommodation, let us know the number of people, preferred type of transportation (sedan or a van), exact arrival time, airline and flight number and we can arrange your transportation for you.

• The drive from the Managua Airport to Playa Colorados is about 2.5 hours. The road is paved all the away to Hacienda Iguana’s gate. We will provide directions or a google pin, so you can get to your vacation rental property. We will normally wait for our guestʻs arrival to guide them or greet them at the accommodation during working hours.

• The transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Colorados usually takes about 3 hours including the border crossing. When you book the private taxi with us, our drivers will meet you at the arrivals in Liberia Airport and help you along the way to safely arrive to Hacienda Iguana at your vacation rental property.

There is a car rental service, Alamo, next to Hacienda Iguana´s gate. You can reserve a car through their website or contact us and we can organize the car to be delivered to your rental house.

You can use a driverʻs license from your country.

There are no gas stations near Playa Colorados. If you rented a car from Managua, make sure to fuel in Rivas on your way to Hacienda Iguana. There are some local houses that sell gas in the Tola area, but the price is usually more and it is not always available.

The private taxis are available with a couple of hours notice and can take you to local restaurants and surf spots along the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua. The charge usually starts from $20. We would be happy to arrange this for you.

We offer golf cart rentals for $40 per day or $240 per week. They are 4 seats battery powered golf carts that you can charge nightly at your property. It is a nice and fun way to cruise around the Hacienda Iguana community.

• The larger golf carts are not permitted to be driven on the golf course

• The minimum age for driving a golf cart is 14 years old

Motorbike rental starts from $30 per day and $200 per week, some come with surfboard racks.

You can use the driver’s license from your country.

Groceries & water

You could, but the local water can be quite harsh as it contains a lot of calcium. We provide our guests with complimentary 5-gallon bottles of purified water for drinking and will exchange the bottles as needed.

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. Your best option for shopping is in Rivas at “La Colonia”. Then you can use the local smaller stores to restock on provisions. There is also a new business called Primaevo, where you can order vegetables, fruits, hydroponic greens and a variety of artisanal goods. You can check their website and ordering system here.

The meal packages include food, non-alcoholic beverages and a chef to prepare, cook and clean-up. The price is $35 per person. We can arrange it for groups with at least two people and staying a minimum of three nights. Please book the meal packages 24 hours ahead of time.

Amenities

There are a number of good restaurants within the Hacienda Iguana community. Visit out Dine page for more information.

There is a beautiful cozy Pure Spa in the commercial area, where you could pamper yourself. To book, please check their instagram account here. We also have local masseuses available to come to your place at $40/hour. You can book these on our Experience page.

Horseback riding, biking, fishing, surf lessons and surf guiding as well as experience tours are available and can be booked through our Experience page

Living in Nicaragua

There is a whole residency community at Hacienda Iguana. People choose to come for a few months a year to escape winter or city life. You might even want to make Emerald Coast a more permanent home for yourself and your family. We would be happy to help with the transition. Please let us know your needs and we will find you the right place.

Yes you can. We will need is to put their names at the gate and provide security with photos of their ID´s.

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