Your First Trip

The assumption is that you are going to arrive at the airport in Managua and just want to get safe and get oriented. Further, you may know little Spanish.

On the Flight In

If you have never been on an international flight, the one thing that will happen different is you will be given some forms to fill out. One is for immigration, the other is for customs. They are generally in both English and Spanish and pretty self-explanatory.

There is an immigration form for each person. It asks for your name, passport number, country of birth and residence, where you came from and where you are going. If you have any questions, a flight attendant should be able to help you.

The second form is about your luggage and there is just one form for your whole party. That is, if there are three of you, you only fill out one form.

It starts with your name and passport number but then asks you what you are bringing in. Specifically, it asks about live plants and such and if you are bringing in over $10,000 of sorta-cash. Then there is an area to declare items such as that new $2000 camera that you plan to give away or sell in Nicaragua.

Unless you really do have things to sell of significant value, no declarations make sense. For example, if you have a laptop with you that will also leave with you, it just doesn't need to be declared.

When you exit the plane you will walk down a hallway and then see signs (in Spanish and English) directing you to immigration and baggage claim. The best rule here is, "follow the crowd".

In the Airport

The first place you arrive (unless you stop in one of the bathrooms along the way) is Immigration. Lots of lines, all offering the same service. You will need your passport, the Immigration form you filled out and $5.

There really isn't anything particularly different in Sandino Airport than most international airports other than it is relatively small. While most people only speak Spanish, if you think about what you do in an airport, there is very little language involved.

Once through Immigration, it is just a short walk to baggage claim. If you can handle your bags yourself, just grab them and head to the exit line with your Customs form in hand. If you need help, just look around. There will be lots of people willing to help. There are baggage carts but the rule is that you can't take them outside so they are pretty useless unless someone will be at the door to meet you.

Some hotels, including Las Mercedes which is across the street from the airport, have counters within baggage claim. I have been told that if you go to them, they will just whisk you out the door without the Customs exit line.

In any case, once Customs is dealt with, you have two options to exit the baggage area. The first, directly in front of you, takes you outside the airport. If you are looking for a cab or have someone waiting, that should work. The other is a left turn and takes you to the main hallway inside the airport. Good choice if you want to get some money from an ATM, head to the restrooms or the food court. There are also some shops there including a Claro phone store.

If you are going to be in Nicaragua for more than a few days, purchasing a cellular phone is not such a bad idea. You can find models for $20 and then prepay for air time. This will give people a way to contact you and is also a handy security device. For example, if you have someone to call, call them and tell them the time, location and the plate number of a taxi you are getting into. If you don't have someone to call, faking it such that the cab driver saw you is probably a good method as well.

Transportation

Most of the expensive hotels will pick you up at the airport. That includes Las Mercedes even though it is only a drive to the other side of the street.

If you are looking for a taxi, you have a couple of options. There are official airport taxis which will be waiting right outside the terminal. They are more expensive than a generic taxi and, in theory, more secure. However, being in one labels you as someone with enough money to fly so, in my book, they are not a great option.

An alternative is to go across the street to Las Mercedes. Taxis hang out there and an inquiry at the front desk should get you sent to a trusted cab. Or, if you are creative, just walk across the parking not (only about 30 meters) to the street and a regular taxi will likely appear.

If bus transport is on your agenda, you have a couple of choices. The non-express buses will stop in front of the airport if you wave them down. Their destinations are clearly marked. Expresses, officially, are not allowed to stop there. If you want an express you will need to take a cab to the appropriate bus station. Mayorero is the bus station for buses headed north to such places as Estelí, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Ocotal and Somoto. A cab ride should cost less than $5.

Once in the bus station, you will want to find an express bus. The locals are fun if you have the time and cost less but expresses (Espreso) buses are generally more comfortable and a lot faster. For example, an espreso to Estelí takes just a bit over two hours, a local 3.5 to 4 hours. The price to Estelí is about $3 on the express, about $2 on the local.

If you have money to burn and are not afraid to drive in a place you don't know that is full of crazy drivers, there are lots of car rental choices in the terminal. In general, however, this will be the most expensive and possibly least convenient transport method. Taxis and buses are everywhere and those drivers generally know where they are going.