Go with a plan.
Nicaragua's safety score rose to 61 today, but government advisories remain wildly inconsistent, ranging from level 1 to level 3. Check your home country's specific stance and watch for global measles alerts.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Nicaragua
The advisories disagree by 2 level(s) — read all four before you decide who to trust.
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Collective taxi muggings
Organized crime groups use collective taxis to target lone passengers. Avoid these vehicles to prevent being mugged by drivers and their accomplices.
Window theft
Thieves reach through open windows to steal items during traffic jams or at red lights. Keep your windows closed while riding in taxis.
Bus bag theft
Bags stored on overhead racks are vulnerable to theft. Keep your bags in your sight at all times and use a lock to secure your belongings.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Nicaragua has made strides in terms of providing police presence and order throughout the country, and official crime rates are below the Central American average.
- •Do not travel alone at night.
- •It is also advised that tourists refrain from using foreign currency in local transactions.
- •Buses can be extremely crowded and tight in terms of space.
- •Collective taxis are also risky as organized crime has flourished in this transportation sector because of fixed passengers.
Staying healthy
- •According to the U.S. State Department's Consular Sheet for Nicaragua, the tap water in Managua is safe to drink, but bottled water with chlorine is always the best choice. The water in Este…
- •Given its tropical latitude, there are plenty of bugs flying about.
- •Dengue fever is present in some areas and comes from a type of mosquito that flies mostly between dusk and dawn.
- •Even though there is a public health system and many public hospitals, these are terrible options for tourists apart from the gravest emergency and even then only until a private hospital can send an ambulance.
- •Despite promoting medical tourism, these hospitals rarely have English speakers on staff for dealing with tourists.
- •If you have a problem and Cruz Roja are called (the Nicaraguan Red Cross ambulance service) and you have money or insurance have them take you to one of the private hospitals in the order me…
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers report a disconnect between the perception of Nicaragua as a safe destination and the reality on the ground, particularly in San Juan del Sur. Reports indicate that muggings and assaults occur regularly in that area, including incidents on the road to Playa Toro. Some travelers express frustration that local business owners and expats downplay these safety issues to protect their interests. While many tourists target locations like Granada and Ometepe to avoid the risks associated with Managua, the presence of a Level 3 US government travel advisory causes significant concern for those planning trips. Caution is the baseline requirement for anyone visiting.
“Since I have been in SJDS, I have heard news about someone getting mugged and assaulted pretty regularly in San Juan Del Sur. Just yesterday a lady was mugged on her way to Playa Toro.
— r/travel
“I am honestly disappointed with the expats here who are trying to hide the reality and making if look like its very safe just to run their businesses.
— r/travel
“I’ve been getting mixed feedback (from other people’s personal experiences and government sources/warnings) on whether traveling there right now is a good idea due to safety risks. To be honest, the level 3 US government travel advisory is freaking me out a bit.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B · 120V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 118 / ambulance: 128 / fire: 115
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12