Districts
The "Zona Rosa" is an area with bars and restaurants that has sprung up in what was once a mostly residential area. It is located south of the BAC building. Highlights include Pharaoh's casino, Casa del Cafe, bars east of Lacmiel, la Casa del Baho restaurant, and Hipa Hipa bar.
Get in
By plane
Delta: Atlanta, Los Angeles (3 times a week)
By car
http://www.avis.com.ni/ AVIS Rent A Car Nicaragua. They have offices at the International Airport, Montoya zone, Carretera a Masaya. E-Mail: reservations@avis.com.ni, Toll Free US & Canada: 1-866-978-6539, Nicaragua phone: 505-250-3366. Available fleet: Toyota Yaris (CDMR), Nissan Sentra (IDMR), Toyota Corolla (SDAR), SUV Toyota RAV4 4WD (SFMR), SUV Suzuki Grand Vitara 4WD (IFAR), SUV Toyota Prado 4WD (FFMR), Pickup Truck Toyota Hilux Double Cabin 4WD (FPMR), Minivan Suzuki APV (MVAR), Fullsize Van Toyota Hiace (FVMR). $$.
By bus
There are direct bus routes from all major cities stopping at various points.
Buses from Masaya, Granada, San Marcos and some from Jinotepe come in through the southeastern Carretera Masaya entrance and pass by the Centroamerica rotonda before going to either Huembes or UCA.
Buses from Jinotepe also come in through carretera Sur stopping by 7 Sur, a hub to go to via Carretera Nueva and Vieja Leon and C. Sur.
To go to the mountains in the north, buses leave from El Mayoreo.
By boat
Get around
some important bus lines:
110 goes from mercado Israel Lewites (buses to Leon) to mercado Roberto Huembes (buses to Granada)
if you get off at centroamerica you can take the 119 to UCA
buses to Granada, Leon, Jinotepe, Masaya, and Chinandega are also available at UCA (Universidad Centroamericana)
several city buses connect through UCA as well (102, 103, 110, 119)
fair cab prices are currently between 20 and 30 cords during the day, and 30-50 at night..
bus fare is currently 3 córds. if you don't know which bus to take you can usually ask someone at the stop. there is no map of managua bus routes so most people just memorize them.
See
There is a lovely fountain at the Ruben Darío Rotonda that is lit up at night and visible from Tiscapa.
There are also canopy rides over the Tiscapa Lagoon. For a fee you can fly across the water in a harness.
Do
If you like to play poker, go to the Pharo's casino on Carretera Masaya. It has hold'em poker tournaments at night (when there's enough interest); $200 buy-in no limit table can be found a lot of nights, $50 tournaments. Crowne Plaza Hotel also has hold'em tournaments on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for $10 buy-in.
There are at least three good pool places if you're in a group, Pool8, and the two Time Off locations. All are downtown. Time Off has excellent snacks.
You can catch good Latin American movies some Wednesdays at 7pm at the theatre near Art Cafe (a bar) near the Parque de las Palmas.
Buy
If you do not have the time to go to Masaya for handicrafts, go to the Mercado Huembes where you will find everything from souvenirs to hammocks, and paintings. Ask anyone how to get there.
Eat
A good breakfast is Leche Agria - a homemade yogurt like drink. Look for signs advertising it in store fronts and pulperias. Put a little salt on it.
Drink
There are tons of bars in the area south of the big BAC building downtown, find an abandoned place called Lacmiel and head east to find this zone.
There are also a few bars and restaurants around ZONA HIPPOS. Woody's has good wings. This area is west of the traffic light at Hilton Princess and La Union supermarket.
Last but not least there are also bars and restaurants in the new "Zona Viva" in Galerias Santo Domingo
Sleep
Contact
Los Balcones (near the Spanish embassy) in Las Colinas close to Managua is a family run hotel with rooms that start at $25/night. 24 hour security. The owner speaks English, but the rest of the family and the principals of the staff don't. Breakfast is available. Rooms have air conditioning and cable, Wireless Internet for free, refrigerator, pool, safe parking. The Hotel's slogan is "One Bed - One Bathroom" The only downside is the traffic during the day if you're on the street side of the hotel; luckily not when you are sleeping. A big plus is the view of downtown Managua from the balconies. Some mornings are just amazing. Contact E-Mail losbalcones@cablenet.com.ni or at Phone 505-255-0031, ending 2 and 3. Website www.hotellosbalcones.com
Stay Safe
It is recommended to take care if walking at night in Nicaraguan cities, especially in Managua, it is better to stay in groups or take taxis from one destination to another. There is an increasing amount of gang violence filtering into Nicaragua from Honduras. It is dangerous in Granada by the water front at night so be careful at the bars. Managua always has an element of danger so be really careful walking around.
Go accompanied or avoid the Mercado Oriental. In Managua, avoid side streets outside of downtown (area between Metrocentro and around the BAC building.)
Avoid unpaved streets as these are typically poor neighborhoods with higher crime.
Get out
You can leave through the domestic bus routes or you can leave the country from the major bus line stations like Ticabus, King Quality, Transnica, etc
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua. It is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua, at . The city was declared the national capital in 1857. Previously, the capital had alternated between the cities of León and Granada. The city has a population of about 1,680,100 composed predominantly of Spanish-speaking creoles and mestizos.
Founded in 1819 and given the name of Leal Villa de Santiago de Managua, the city began life as a rural fishing village. Efforts to make Managua the capital of Nicaragua began in 1824, soon after the Central American nations became independent from Spain. Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada made it an ideal compromise site.
The city has been witness to the rise and fall of political powers throughout Nicaragua's history, and has suffered two devastating earthquakes over the course of the 20th century.
History
The name Managua originates from Mana-ahuac, which in the indigenous Nahuatl language translates to "adjacent to the water" or site "surrounded by water." The city stands today on an area historically inhabited by Indigenous people centuries prior to the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 16th century.
It was not until 1857 after Granada was destroyed by a U.S. mercenary army led by William Walker, that the capital was firmly established in Managua. Between 1852 and 1930 Managua underwent extensive urbanization; becoming a base of governance, infrastructure and services. The city was hampered by major floods in 1876 and 1885 and a disastrous earthquake in 1931, which destroyed much of the city. Under the rule of dictator Anastasio Somoza García and his family (1936–1979), it began to grow rapidly. New government buildings were erected, industry developed, and universities were established; Managua had become Central America's most developed city. However, the city suffered a second major earthquake on December 23, 1972, which destroyed most of the city and killed over 10,000 people. The city was cleared, however it never returned to its previous state. The earthquake caused many of Managua's residents to find refuge in the outskirts of the city, and for fear of future earthquakes the centre of the city was never entirely rebuilt.
Geography
Managua is located on the southern shores of Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán). Lake Xolotlán contains the same fish species as Lake Cocibolca, except for the freshwater sharks found exclusively in the latter. Once a Managuan scenic highlight, the lake has been polluted from the dumping of chemical and waste water since 1927. A waste water treatment project supported by the German government has started to decontaminate the lake.
Managua extends about 30 km (18 mi) along Lake Managua at an altitude of 55 metres (165 ft) above sea level, gaining altitude towards the sierras de Managua where it is over 970 metres (2910 ft) above sea level.
Managua features four smaller lakes and lagoons within the city limits. The most centrally located is Laguna de Tiscapa (Tiscapa Lagoon), south of the old downtown. Tiscapa Lagoon is of volcanic origin and was formed approximately 10,000 years ago. Asososca lagoon, to the west, is Managua's most important source of drinking water. Asososca is located at the beginning of Carretera al Sur (Southern Highway), close to the connection with the Carretera Nueva a León (New Highway Via León). Nejapa lagoon, south of the Asososca lagoon, is also along the Southern Highway. The fourth lagoon is Acahualinca lagoon, which is located to the Northwest. This lagoon, which gives its name to a nearby district to the east, is located on the shores of Lake Managua. This lagoon is mostly noted for having shallow waters.
Managua, like much of Western Nicaragua except for the Sierras, has a tropical climate with constant temperatures averaging between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius (82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit). The months of December and January are chilly, whereas March and April are humid and somewhat arid.
Managua, due to its tropical climate, varied topography, naturally fertile soils, and abundant rain and water sources, boasts a great variety of flora. Therefore, many different types of trees (some of them not found in the rest of the world, such as chilamates, madronos, ceibos, pochotes, genizaros, tiguilotes, royal palms and pinuelas) surround the city. During the rainy season (May to November), Managua becomes one of the most lavish cities in the Americas.
Education
Managua is the national education center, with most of universities and higher education institutions based there. Some of the more important universities in Managua include:
Managua is home to main campus of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN). The original campus, UNAN-León , is located in the city of León and is now secondary, mainly used for medicine majors.
Managua is also the home of the Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas (INCAE), founded in 1964 with the support of the United States government and other Central American countries. The institution has a close affiliation with Harvard University, as it had played a part in its foundation. The campus is the first of two that the school has, the other being in Alajuela, Costa Rica. According to a study done by America Economia INCAE ranked as the number one business school in Latin America for 2 consecutive years (2004, 2005) and ranked within the top ten business schools in international rankings by The Wall Street Journal.
Economy
Managua is the economic center and a generator of services for much of the entire nation. Unlike many other Latin American countries, it does not suffer from massive migration of country peasants looking for work in the city, since many other cities of Nicaragua have well established economic industries. Nonetheless, as it is the only city with a population exceeding one million inhabitants, it houses many large national and international businesses. It is home to many factories which produce diverse products. Multinational companies such as Wal-Mart, Telefonica, Union Fenosa, and Parmalat have offices and operations in Managua.
Managua is also home to all of the major banks of the nation, Banco de la Produccion (BANPRO), Banco de America Central (BAC), Banco Uno, Banco de Finanzas (BDF), Banco de Crédito Centroamericano (BANCENTRO) and its parent company the LAFISE Group. Several new hotels including Crowne Plaza, Best Western, InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Hilton currently have facilies in Managua. As well as many hotels, Managua has opened four western style shopping centers or malls, such as Plaza Inter, Centro Comercial Metrocentro, Galerias Santo Domingo, and Multicentro Las Americas. These malls cater to the minority upper class population and foreigners.
There is a huge established local market system that caters to the majority of the Nicaraguan population. The Mercado Roberto Huembe, Mercado Oriental and other locations are where one can find anything from household amenities and to electrical and other contracting supplies. Many of the backpacking, ecotourism types and tourists on a budget use these markets for their supplies. Although one needs to use caution regarding wallets and personal items (as with many public markets around the world) the markets can be the source of high quality and unique items. Tourists looking for an authentic experience should consider these destinations as there is always something interesting to eat and local customs to be experienced.
Managua is also currently experiencing an upsurge in real estate prices and as well as a housing shortage. Foreigners mainly from North America and Europe are becoming interested in considering post-retirement life in Nicaragua. The capital is also a need for modern office space in downtown Managua and as the economy of Managua continues to grow. Economists predict that its demand for commercial real estate will also increase. New office buildings that are currently being constructed along the Carretera Masaya and in Villa Fontana. The most recent inauguration being the Edificio Invercasa.
Arts
The old Cathedral of Managua was designed in, and shipped from Belgium in 1920 . The cathedral was damaged due to the 1972 earthquake, and was condemned, which led to the construction of the new cathedral of Managua, the newest constructed Roman Catholic cathedral. However in recent years the restoration of the old cathedral has appeared to be possible and is currently awaiting its renovation. The Rubén Dario National Theatre is Nicaragua's most important theater, and is one of the most modern theaters in Central America. Both national and international artists present shows, concerts, exhibitions, and cultural performances such as El Güegüense among many others.
The Dr. Roberto Incer Barquero Library, located in Managua, is designated to promote Nicaraguan culture. The library has 67,000 books, free internet, a newspaper archive where users can borrow newspapers and magazines, and economical information of the Central Bank. Furthermore, the library offers a gallery in the same building, where famous Nicaraguan paintings as well as pieces from new, promising artists are exhibited. In the numismatic hall there is a permanent exhibition of Nicaraguan coins, bills, and memorial medals from throughout Nicaragua's history.
The National Palace is one of the most impressive buildings in Nicaragua. It was built by President Juan Bautista Sacasa in 1935 and it houses plenty of history. For more than 50 years, the National Palace was used as governmental office. Now, the building serves several purposes. It houses the National Archive, the National Library, as well as the National Museum--which is open to the public. The museum features paintings, Pre-Columbian statuettes, ceramics, etc. There is a ‘National History’ room as well as a room with the National Symbols. Managua is also home to the Museum of Acahualinca where Ancient footprints of Acahualinca - fossilized human footprints made 6000 years ago are engraved in volcanic ash.
Managua's most famous festival is that of its patron saint Santo Domingo de Guzmán. On the morning of the first of August the "Bajada del Santo" takes place. This involves taking the old statue of Santo Domingo from the church in Las Sierritas to the church located less than one kilometer from the old center of the city. Here it stays until the morning of the tenth, when the "Subida del Santo" takes place, during which the statue is brought back. Thousands of religious people attend this event (to thank the saint for miracles), dancing on the beat of musical bands and some of them dressed in typical costume, with Indian masks or with a painted body. These celebrations take place in the afternoon, and it is also a very crowded happening. Horse breeders and owners parade with their best horses during the horse parade.
Entertainment
Managua features many bars, nightclubs, casinos, theaters and cinemas. Compared to western prices, alcoholic beverages, theatre visits and cinema tickets are relatively cheap. There are cinemas in all major shopping centers; screening both English- and Spanish-language films. Foreign embassies in Managua also sponsor film festivals.
The city also enjoys an array of international cuisine, including Japanese, Brazilian, Chinese, French, Indian, Spanish, Mexican, Italian, Argentine, German and Nicaraguan restaurants. These are accompanied by most of the well-known US fast food chains, as well as national chains such as pollo Tip-Top and Rosti-Pollo.
The national sport of Nicaragua is baseball and is by far the most popular of all sports. This is followed by soccer (or football as it is called in Nicaragua). The Dennis Martínez National Stadium is home to many baseball games of Managua's Boer team. At the time of its construction in the late 1960s, it was the most modern stadium in Central America. It hosted the Baseball World Cup in 1994. Currently under construction is a new soccer stadium, it is expected to be completed within the next two years.
Beginning in the late 1990s and early 2000, casinos have also become a somewhat popular attraction for wealthier Nicaraguans and foreign visitors. These casino have created some controversy. Managuans typically enjoy going out with friends and, although losing ground to Spanish and American pop and rock, salsa dancing is a national pastime. Nightclubs and bars abound in Managua; the most popular area is the so-called "Zona Hippos" behind the Hilton hotel near Metrocentro.
Aside from these activities, Managua also has a wide selection to offer in shopping, including everything from local markets, to boutiques and department stores. The Mercado Roberto Huembes is probably one of the best markets in Managua, where shoppers can find everything from furniture, national arts and crafts, to fruits and vegetables, and clothing. Also there are several shopping centers with department stores such as ECLIPSE, CARRION, and SIMAN which house all major Australian, American and European clothing and cosmetic brands for both men and women. Pali, La Union, and La Colonia are the more recognized conventional supermarkets, which are located in several areas of the city, and sell local and imported ingredients from all over the world.
Transportation
Transportation-wise, Managua is one of Nicaragua's best positioned cities. All of Nicaragua's main roads lead to Managua, and there are good public transportation connections to and from the capital. There are four main highways that lead into Managua. The Pan-American Highway enters the city from the north, connecting Managua to Nicaragua's northern and central departments. This highway is referred to as the Northern Highway. The Southern Highway, the southern part of the Pan-American highway, connects Managua to southern departments such as Carazo and Rivas. The Carretera Masaya connects Managua to the departments of Masaya and Granada. And the New Highway to León connects Managua with León. All of these highways are in good condition, with little traffic congestion. Infrastructure is very-well developed in Nicaragua compared to other Central American countries and there are few unnavigable roads or streets. There are very few towns or cities that have road leading to them that do not have different levels of public transportation. In fact, most buses are continually full even in the smallest of villages. Nicaragua's public transportations system works.
Within Managua, those who commute to and from work will generally travel by bus or taxi; as of yet there are no suburban trains, trams or monorails in Managua. Recently with the assistance of the Japanese government, Managua has commenced operating new modern Mercedes-Benz buses on several bus routes , with the intention of modernizing the city's transport system. Typical Nicaraguan buses are older school buses from the United States. Additionally some buses are painted with religious artwork of Catholic saints. Managua has several bus terminals for inter-departmental travel, most of them located close to a market. Buses that arrive from or depart to a certain destination can often only be found at one specific terminal. Travelers who pass through Managua on their way from one city to another might need to transfer to another terminal within Managua. Nicaragua had an extensive and functional rail system. It fell into disrepair during the 1980s and the Chamorro government closed the system and sold the cars and rails for scrap (see: Nicaraguan Rail System).
The Managua International Airport is the largest airport of Nicaragua and recently inaugurated its over US$52 million extensions and renovation partly financed by Spain. The airport has now been converted into the most modern air terminal of Central America. In Nicaragua, it is the most important hub for connections of both at international and at national level. Frequent flights to local destinations like Bluefields, Corn Islands and San Carlos, Nicaragua also depart from this same location. The airport is located at the northern highway, about 11 kilometers (8 miles) east of the city's downtown. Hotels, restaurants, and commercial centers can all be easily reached from the airport by car, taxi, or bus. There are a total of 10 airlines that operate flights to and from the airport. A setback occurred when Air Madrid filed for bankruptcy ending the possibility of transatlantic flights to the Spanish capital. , the company has also shown interest in building a hangar for regional maintenance of its aircraft and those of other airlines.
Infrastructure & communication
In Managua, a water treatment plant is being constructed to clean Lake Managua. With the support of the German government in funding the project, the water treatment plant should be completed by mid 2008 and should show definite results by 2010. Also pending is a a mega-project to reconstruct the old center of Managua, and to introduce a monorail system, to alleviate future transportation problems in Managua. Both of these projects will revitalize the old center of Managua and boost tourism, commerce, infrastructure and economic development.
Managua is the home of most national broadcasting television channels as well as the major national newspapers. The largest television channel is followed by Canal 2, Telenica, Canal 10, 100% Noticias, and several others. La Prensa is a newspaper with offices based in Managua along with El Nuevo Diario and other smaller newspapers. There are numerous radio stations in Managua, some of which tend to have political, social, or religious affiliations.
Managua also has many public hospitals (which specialize in certain types of care, maternity, children, skin care etc.) as well some private hospitals. The newest of all hospitals is the private Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas located at km 10, Carretera Masaya. It has a private ambulance service as well. It is the noted as one of the best hospitals in all Central America, with the latest in modern medical equipment and facilities. Very fast emergency service at a cost materially less than the U.S. (example: emergency consultation is typically US$25 and a private room is U.S. $98 a day). Other private hospitals (private hospitals are the only type recommended for tourists vs. the free public system) are Hospital Bautista (Baptist Hospital), and Hospital Militar which is a military hospital but which takes private patients.
Sister Cities
Managua has eighteen sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
External links
