Origins and history

The name Nicaragua is the fusion of Nicarao, the name of the Nahuatl-speaking tribe living on the shores of the Lake Nicaragua before the Spanish conquest, and the spanish word agua, meaning water.

The pre-columbian Nicarao came to the area from the North, after the fall of Teotihuacán, on the advice of their religious leaders. According to the tradition, they were to travel South until they encountered a lake with two volcanoes rising out of the waters. They stopped when they reached Ometepe, the largest fresh-water volcanic island in the world, and maybe the nicest one.

In 1524, the conquerer Francisco Hernández de Córdoba founded the attractive and facinating first Spanish towns in Nicaragua: Granada, on Lake Nicaragua, and Leon, north-east of Lake Managua.  

Initially a colony of Spain, later part of the Mexican Empire, Nicaragua finally gained its independence as a republic in 1838. 

The Mosquito Coast based on Bluefields on the Atlantic was transferred to Nicaragua in 1860, though remained autonomous until 1894.

Nicaragua offered assistance during World War II, and was the first country in the world to ratify the UN Charter.

The present

Up to sixteen years ago Nicaragua was known as an unsafe country characterized by civil wars, dictatorships and socialist regime.

These events of the past unfortunately still cause misunderstandings and immotivated concerns about the country.

What is sure is that Nicaragua inherited from the past a great poverty, reason why it has started since more than fifteen years its democratic and peaceful path to develop its economy and to create better social conditions.

The government is democratically elected, working for the development of a free-market economy and to attract foreign investors.

A deviation from this path is highly improbable, because the improvements connected with this new historical phase are evidents. Even the sandinista party moved from its former socialist positions to become a democratic party integrated in the multi-partisan system. 

A recent study by the Inter-American Institute on Human Rights and a survey of police forces in the Americas show that Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America and one of the safest countries in the world.

Other recent studies also underline Nicaragua's low reported crime rate -- lower than in Germany, France or USA.

The tourism industry is the leading sector in the economy of Nicaragua, and the government has beeing promoting investments in this strategic area through huge fiscal incentives and benefits as income tax and property tax exemptions for qualified toruistic projects, like hotels, B&B, restaurants, marinas, golf courses, convention centers, transportation services, sailboat charters, adventure treks and more.

Law 306 - Tourism Incentives Law fixes:

• 80% to 90% tax exemption on earnings for a period of 10 years
• exemption of property tax for a period of 10 years.
• 100% sales tax exemtption on design services, engineering, and construction.
• 100% exemption of import duties and sales tax on construction materials, furniture, equipment, vehicles and accessories for a period of 10 years.

Adittionally, in Nicaragua there are many incentives for retirees to move here, thanks to the Law of Resident Pensioners and Retirees:  if you are over 45 years of age and have a monthly income of at least U$400 you can take advantage of the following benefits: pay no taxes on any out-of-country earnings

• Bring up to $10,000 worth of household goods for your own home, duty-free.
• Import one car for personal or general use and pay no import tax or protective tariff, and after 5 years you can sell it, again exempt from consumer sales tax.
• Import an additional vehicle every 5 years under the same tax exemptions.

Documents required:

• A copy of your birth certificate.
• A copy of your passport.
• A certificate of letter from your doctor stating that you are in good physical health, are free from communicable diseases and are mentally sound.
• A letter from your local police department stating that you have never been convicted of any crime.
• A certificate of income from your bank or pension plan affirming that you will have enough money to meet the minimum requirement of US$400 a month.
• A list of the household items that you will be importing.

These documents must all be translated into Spanish by a lawyer and notarized.

• An average taxi ride: US$3.
• A dinner for two on a wonderful restaurant including wine and dessert: from US$ 20 to US$30.
• A complete medical check-up in the country's best hospital with first quality infrastructure and staff: US$60.
• A personal maid who will cook, clean and do your laundry: US$ 120 a month.

Traveling to Nicaragua is very easy and comfortable, you only need a valid passport  with at least 6 months of  validity, no visa or vaccinations are required.

U.S. main connecctions:

Miami -  American Airlines, direct flight, travel  time 2 hours
Houston -  Continental Airlines, direct flight, travel time  3:21 hours
Atlanta - Delta Airlines, direct flight, travel time 3:54 hours
Los Angeles - Taca Airlines, direct flights twice a week, travel time 5:15 hours
Washington - Taca Airlines, one stop at San Salvador, travel time 6:05 hours
Cincinnati - Delta Airlines, one stop at Atlanta, travel time 6:31 hours
San Francisco - Taca Airlines, one stop at San Salvador, travel time 6:55 hours
Chicago - Taca Airlines, one stop at San Salvador, travel time 7:15 hours
New York - Copa Airlines, one stop at Panamà,  travel time 7:44 hours
Salt Lake City - Delta Airlines, one stop at Atlanta, travel time 12 hours

Hotels in Managua:

Real Metrocentro
Hilton Princess
Crowne Plaza Hotel Managua
Seminole Plaza Hotel

Hotels in San Juan del Sur:

Pelican Eyes
Morgan’s Rock

Car rentals :

Avis
Budget
Dollar
Hertz