Nicaragua, land of lakes and volcanoes, land of exotic and warm beaches where the sun shines all day long, crystal clear water, rugged and tropical rivers, colonial cities, a rich history dating back to more than 6,000 years old, friendly and vivid people, an impressive fresh-water lake - the only lake in the world that contains sharks, and five other salt-water aquatic vertebrates. Nicaragua is a place virtually unknown to most people. It is either thought of as simply a small country, or its name elicits the comment "Where is that?"... Nicaragua is situated in Central America. It is the largest country in the region with a land mass of 130, 668 km2, a little more than that of England. The country has a population of some 5,000,000 comprised of the following ethnic groups: Mestizos (a mixture between hispanic and amerindians), Hispanic descent (white), African descent (creol afro-caribeans) and Amerindians.
Etimology: Nicaragua: from nahuatl (aztec language) Nic-Atl-Anahuac / Nic-Anahuac, the people who comes from Anahuac.
Goverment System: Democratic Republic
Current President: José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (2007-2011)
Capital City: Ciudad de Managua (since 1860), 1.7 Million inhabitants.
Historical Capital: León Santiago de los Caballeros (since 1523 to 1858)
Location: Nicaragua is borded North by Honduras, South by Costa Rica, East by the Caribean See and West by the Pacific Ocean.
Area: 130,668.47 Km2. Nicaragua is the largest Central American country. Water covered surfaces: 9.240 Km2 of the Nicaraguan land are covered by fresh water lakes and crateric lagoons. 8.000 Km2 of this area belong to the Nicaragua Lake and 1.000 Km2 to the Managua Lake. Nicaragua has the only fresh water lake in the world with sharks (source:Territorial Studies Nicaraguan Institute INETER)
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Electricity: 110 Volts, 60 Hz. (source: Electricity Nicaraguan Institute)
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Language: Nicaragua is a multilingual and multiethnical nation, Spanish is the the most important language here. English (creol) is widely spoken on the Caribbean Cost as well as Garífuna, Miskito, Mayagna, Sumu, Ramaki and other Amerindian languages. (source: National Authonomic University of Nicaragua UNAN)
Area Code: After dialing your local international access number dial (00) 505 then the local phone number (eight digits), the system is the same for land lines and cell phones lines.
Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 12%, other 3% (inmigrants jewish and muslins)
Climate: The zone between the Nicaragua and Managua lakes and the Pacific ocean is dry and relatively little precipitation. Temperatures are in a range between 27ºC and 32ºC (81ºF y 90ºF) along the rainy season (locally call "invierno") and between 30ºC and 35ºC (86ºF and 95ºF) during the dry season (called "verano"). Verano season runs approximately from November to April and Invierno from May to October. In the center, the mountain elevations cause a cooler climate which becomes more humid eastwards. From the center towards the Caribbean coast the climate is humid, tropical and high in precipitations which is prefect for a flourishing tropical rainforest. (source:Territorial Studies Nicaraguan Institute INETER)
Time: Standard Time for Central Am. -0600 UTC (-GMT 6).
Currency:CórdobaOroC$1 =100 Centavos = 10 Reales.. ±C$21.52 = 1US$(July 2010). Simbology in the International market: NIO(source: Central Bank of Nicaragua- BCN) Click over icon to see a picture
Taxes and Tips: The IVA (Value Added Tax) is the only tax that tourists must pay in Nicaragua which is 15%. Taxi drivers do not get tips beside the normal charge, unless you want to do it. Restaurant tips are between 10% and 15%. US$1 per moved piece of luggage is fine in hotels. (source: General Bureau of Taxes- DGI)
National Flower:Sacuanjoche (plumeria rubra, var. alba) its name comes from the indigenous name: Xaquani-Xochitl wich means: The yellow feather flower. Other names: Flor de Mayo (may flower) plumeria.
National Bird:Guardabarranco (eumomota superciliaris)
National Tree: Madroño (Calycophyllum Candidissimum)
Max Altitude: Dipilto-Jalapa ridge, 2107 mts.
Min Altitude: Sea level
Active Volcanoes: Telica (1061m), San Cristóbal (1745m), Cerro Negro (675m), Momotombo (1258m), Masaya (635m), Concepción (1610m) Other important extint volcanoes: Mombacho (1345m), Maderas (1394m), Cosigüina (847m). (source:INETER)
The Pensioners Act allowing select foreigner's residency (that was originally rejected by The National Assembly because it was too liberal) has now been amended and passed. The plan is designed to bring people to Nicaragua that are financially secure and who will support local communities with their spending.
In short, applicants under the retiree program will be able to:
Apply for the program with a proven pension or acceptable retirement income of $500 per month.
Earn out of country dollars tax free .
Bring in $20,000 worth of household goods duty free (previously $10,000).
Import a vehicle up to the value of $25,000 tax free (previously $10,000).
Import an additional vehicle every 5 years with the same tax exemptions.
Apply at age 45 (this can be waived if the applicant proves stable income).
Present a naturalization certificate instead of a birth certificate.
Buy up to $50,000 of home construction materials tax free.
Documents required include: Birth certificate (or naturalization certificate), passport, Doctors certificate, police clearance, certificate of income from your bank or pension plan and a list of the household items that you intend importing.
Population: About 5.4 MILLIONS inhabitants (Nov 2009). (source: Supreme Electoral Institute Nic.- CSE )
Ethnic groups:Mestizos 70% (mixture of european or asians with amerindian), European Decending 15% (Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, Hungarians, Italians) Asian Descending 2% (Chinese and Arabic) African Decending 8%, Amerindian 5%.
National Sports: Baseball, Boxing, Volleyball, Basketball and Motocross.
National Heroes: Chief Diriangén, Lic. Miguel de la Larreynaga, General José Dolores Estrada, General Benjamín Zeledón Rodríguez, and the maximus hero: General Augusto C. Sandino.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is situated in the Rivas Province. Rivas is an isthmus bordered by the Pacific Ocean and Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca).142 km from Managua City, San Juan del Sur is an ideal place for surfers and seafood lovers.
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Spanish Courses
Canopy Tour
Excursion to Wild Life Reserve
Horseback Riding
Surf & Wind surf Classes
Snorkeling & Scuba dive
Salsa Classes
Fishing Excursions
Nicaraguan Tobacco
Padrón Cigars “Family Reserve 45” has been awarded the title of Number One Cigar by the prestigious magazines; Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider. Padrón is a three time winner of this annual award announced last week. Cigar Aficionado said that “No company has dominated our ratings in the way Padrón Cigars has". They called the cigar "Absolutely brilliant". The tobacco, wrapper and filler for the Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro all come from Nicaragua, unlike other cigars that can use a mix of the three parts from different countries. The tobacco is grown right here in Villa Vieja, Estelí in the North part of Nicaragua.
Other Nicaraguan winners in the top 10 were;
3rd - My Father No.1 from My Father Cigars Inc., Nicaragua.
5th - Oliva Serie V Liga Especial Belicoso , from Tabacalera Oliva Cigar S.A., NIC
6th - 601 Box Press Maduro Toro , also from My Father Cigars Inc., Nicaragua.
Time: Standard Time for Central Am. -0600 UTC (-GMT 6). 
National Bird:
