As Nicaragua becomes more popular as a destination for visitors, some myths and misconceptions persist.
Here's some of the most common questions visitors ask.
1. Is Nicaragua safe?
Nicaragua
is statistically the safest country in Central America. It's certainly
a lot safer than Costa Rica or Mexico and doesn't suffer the problems
with gangs that countries like Honduras and Salvador do.
2. Is the war over?
Yes, a long time ago!
3. Is the water safe to drink?
Generally yes. On the beach during rainy season and on the Caribbean coast drink bottled water, it's cheap!
4. I don't speak Spanish. Is this a problem?
Por
favor and gracias will get you a long way! In tourist towns such as
Granada, English is fairly widely spoken in hotels, restaurants etc.
But would not speaking Chinese stop you visiting the Great Wall or not
speaking Jamaican patois stop you visiting Jamaica?
5. Is everybody poor?
No! By developed world standards most people are poor but that doesn't mean they going to rob you!
6. Should I give money to street kids?
No.
In Granada many of the 'street kids' use the money to buy glue. By
giving what seems like not much money to you to them you're helping to
break up social structures and encouraging kids to beg rather than go
to school.
There are plenty of charitable organizations in Nicaragua
that will spend the money better than you as a tourist will, give your
cash to them.
7. Do I need to take malaria tablets?
Though
cases of malaria are rare and it is extremely rare for travelers to
catch malaria, it does exist, mainly in remote northern and Caribbean
areas. Whether the side effects of anti malaria drugs outweigh the
small risk of contracting malaria is really a personal decision. Health
information relating to Nicaragua [here]
