Gringos Guide To Driving Mexico, Central America & Costa Rica
  • Exiting Nicaragua
    Nicaragua

    Exiting Nicaragua

    DRIVING TIME: 43 minsKILOMETERS: 43.6MILES: 27HWY: CA 1—CA 2 If you thought entering Nicaragua was difficult, you are in for a surprise because exiting is even more of a headache. Again you will need a guide. Any of the teenagers will do. There are various stops you need to make. One with Migracion, one with the transit police, and one with the Aduana. Everyone will request their fees. The Aduana official will request your paperwork and then send you down the road for copies of your passport, car title, and driver’s license. Once all the copies are delivered and the official finishes recording, stamping, and officiating, you are on your…

  • Nicaraguan Border - Managua
    Nicaragua

    Nicaraguan Border – Managua

    DRIVING TIME: 3.27 hoursKILOMETERS: 202MILES: 125HWY: CA 1 The roads in Nicaragua are the worst of any in all of Central America. As mentioned above, it is difficult to get lost because CA 1 is the only major road running through the country. Follow the signs to Managua—if you find any. Depending on how long the border entry and exit procedures take, you can make it through Nicaragua in one day. You will be given a transit visa for three days. My recommendation is to travel to San Juan del Sur, spend a day or two in this incredible town, and then cross the border into Costa Rica. San Juan…

  • Entering Nicaragua
    Nicaragua

    Entering Nicaragua

    After going through the official Honduran border gate, you will pull up to the official Nicaraguan border gate, about 50 yards away. Here the border officials enter your passport number into a book. No charge. However, the officials may request a private donation for their work. You will soon learn that everyone will ask you for money in Nicaragua. Between Nicaragua and Honduras, there are three border crossings; Las Manos (near Ocotal), El Espino (near Somoto), and Guasaule between El Triunfo (Honduras) and Somotillo (Nicaragua). Aduana and Migracion The Aduana and Migracion offices are located another 50 yards down the hill in a semicircular building. When you enter the building,…

  • Choluteca, Honduras - Nicaragua Border
    Honduras

    Choluteca, Honduras – Nicaragua Border

    DRIVING TIME: 6.2 hourKILOMETERS: 353MILES: 219HWY: CA 3 From Choluteca, you may cross the border into Nicaragua via Guasaule or El Espino. If you want to visit the beaches in northern Nicaragua, head for the frontera at Guasaule. For those traveling to Managua, Costa Rica, or the beaches in the south, head for the frontera at El Espino. Further north, there’s also a border crossing at Los Manos. You can expect a headache when entering Nicaragua. After leaving Tegucigalpa, you will descend from the mountains into a hot, dry valley. There are several twists and turns in the road. Thus, after you leave Choluteca, head for the appropriate border city…