Is Nicaragua Safe to Visit? What the 2026 Advisories Say

Four governments publish travel advice on Nicaragua, and none of them answers yes to the question in the title of this page. The United States rates it Level 3, "Reconsider Travel", in an advisory dated May 14, 2026. Canada says "Exercise a high degree of caution" (updated November 2, 2026). Spain asks travelers to "extremar la precaución" (May 26, 2026). We run private transfers and tours from Rivas. This page gives you the notices in their own words, what they mean for a trip, and what we can and cannot do about them.

We are Monkeys Travels & Tours, founded in 2018 by Everth Palma, born and raised in Rivas. We have made more than 8,000 trips and transported more than 30,000 people. We would rather you read the advisories before you read our tour pages.

What each government says

United States: Level 3, Reconsider Travel

The State Department advisory dated May 14, 2026 places Nicaragua at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel". The reasons it lists are crime, wrongful or arbitrary detention, arbitrary enforcement of laws, and limited healthcare availability. It notes that authorities may deny entry or exit. It also names hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions among the risks. Read it at travel.state.gov. OSAC, the State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council, publishes a country report with more detail.

Canada: Exercise a high degree of caution

Canada's page, updated November 2, 2026, advises travelers to "Exercise a high degree of caution" "due to the political situation, the potential for civil unrest and crime". Three sentences from it are worth quoting as written: "The political situation is volatile in Nicaragua." "Criminal gangs are more active in the border areas with Costa Rica and Honduras." And, on routes: "use the official border crossings only". The same page links the Nicaraguan pre-arrival portal, asks for the form "at least 7 days before departure", and warns that "The 90-day period is not guaranteed, and the decision is at their discretion".

United Kingdom: the FCDO page

The FCDO publishes travel advice for Nicaragua at gov.uk. The parts we have checked line by line are its entry requirements: "You must pay an arrival tax of 10 US dollars in cash", a passport valid for 6 months, no visa for up to 90 days, and the CA-4 rule under which the 90 days are shared with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. For its overall assessment, read the page directly; we only quote what we have verified.

Spain: extremar la precaución

Spain's foreign ministry, updated May 26, 2026, heads its page with "EXTREMAR LA PRECAUCIÓN DURANTE SU VIAJE A NICARAGUA" and states: "Existe un alto riesgo de asaltos y hurtos de dinero y documentos." It lists items that cannot be brought in: drones, night-vision binoculars, animal-origin products such as cured meats. It says amounts above US$10,000 must be declared, that mobile phone contents may be inspected, that foreigners are prohibited from political activity, and that entering or leaving through unofficial points carries prison sentences. It adds that the embassy recommends the 7-day pre-arrival form to avoid border delays that can exceed 24 hours.

What this means for a traveler

• Theft and robbery are the risk the notices repeat most. Spain speaks of a high risk of robbery of money and documents; Canada and the United States both list crime. Canada names the border areas with Costa Rica and Honduras. Peñas Blancas, where our Liberia transfer crosses, is in that area, which is why our driver stays with the group through the whole procedure.
• The political situation is part of every notice. Canada calls it volatile; the United States cites arbitrary detention and arbitrary enforcement of laws; Spain states that foreigners may not take part in political activity and that phones may be inspected. In practice: stay away from demonstrations, do not photograph security installations or police, and keep in mind that what is on your phone may be read at the border.
• Entry and exit are not guaranteed. The United States says authorities may deny them; Canada says the 90 days are discretionary. The pre-arrival form, a passport with 6 months of validity and clean luggage lower the chance of a problem; they do not remove it.
• Healthcare is described as limited by the United States. Travel insurance with medical cover is on you; it is not in any of our prices.
• Natural hazards are real. The United States lists hurricanes, earthquakes and eruptions. Masaya Volcano National Park can close without notice because of activity, according to a July 30, 2026 report. The rainy season runs from May to October, with September and October the wettest months.

What we cannot promise

• That nothing will happen to you. We do not use words like safe or guaranteed, on this page or on WhatsApp.
• That you will be admitted, or for how many days. That decision belongs to Nicaraguan immigration.
• That the fee at the border will be exactly the official US$10. Travelers report US$12 to US$13; we have no control over the window.
• That an advisory level will change before your trip, or that your insurer will treat a Level 3 destination the way you expect. Check your policy.
• That a park, a ferry or a road will be open on a given day. Masaya can close without warning; schedules in Nicaragua change.

What Monkeys does, concretely

• All our tours are private. We never mix groups. You ride in a private vehicle, with bilingual guides born in Rivas and nobody you do not know.
• On the Liberia Airport to Nicaragua transfer, the driver crosses Peñas Blancas with you and accompanies the paperwork at both posts. The same vehicle continues to your destination. From US$45 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$80 solo.
• During the trip you have a live contact on WhatsApp, +505 8506 1173, every day from 7:00 to 20:00, with replies in under 1 hour.
• On the Airport Transfer MGA or LIR we confirm the pickup point and time with you in advance, from US$30 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo.
• Our departures are in daylight.
• Price and inclusions are confirmed in writing before the trip. You know what is covered and what is not: meals, tips and travel insurance are not.
• Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before.
• For a longer stay built around your own comfort level, the Custom Private Package is quoted on request, with one guide, all transport, hotels and daily breakfast.

Practical recommendations before you travel

1. Enroll in your country's traveler registration program so your embassy can reach you and knows where you are.
2. Buy travel insurance with medical cover. The US advisory describes healthcare as limited, and none of our tours include insurance.
3. Carry copies of your passport, your entry stamp and your pre-arrival form confirmation, stored separately from the originals. Spain's notice is specifically about theft of money and documents.
4. Bring US dollars in small bills: US$8 for the Costa Rican exit tax, US$10 to US$13 at the Nicaraguan window, US$1 for the bus to Rivas if you take it.
5. Leave drones and night-vision equipment at home and do not pack cured meats or other animal-origin products. Declare anything above US$10,000.
6. Do not take part in political activity of any kind, and assume your phone may be inspected at the border.
7. Use official border crossings only, as Canada's notice says. Entering through unofficial points is punishable with prison, per Spain.
8. File the pre-arrival form 7 days ahead if you enter by land or sea.
9. Share your itinerary, your hotel names and our WhatsApp number with someone at home.