Managua is the capital of Nicaragua.
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 planeDelta: Atlanta, Los Angeles (3 times a week)
By carhttp://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 busThere 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 boatGet 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...
