The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
- the whole of Nicaragua based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.
Travel to Nicaragua is subject to entry restrictions
You will need a “negative for COVID-19” certificate to enter.
See Entry requirements for more information before you plan to travel.
Preparing for your return journey to the UK
If you are returning to the UK from overseas, you will need to:
Flooding and landslides caused by hurricanes Eta and Iota, which struck Central America in November 2020, caused significant damage to infrastructure on the North Atlantic coast and along the border with Honduras. The rainy season normally runs from May to November. Hurricanes can affect Nicaragua during this period. You should plan any essential travel carefully. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the [US National Hurricane Centre]. Follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. See Natural disasters. See our tropical cyclones page for advice about what to do if you are caught up in a storm.
Keep up to date with FCDO travel advice and social media. You can sign up for our email alert service to be notified of any updates to our travel advice.
Check our advice on foreign travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and sign up for email alerts for this travel advice.
If you are planning travel to Nicaragua, find out what you need to know about coronavirus there in the Coronavirus section.
The Nicaraguan border may close at short or no notice. See Entry requirements.
Options for leaving Nicaragua are limited. Avianca has started a limited series of flights to Miami and details are available directly from the airline or via a travel agent. If you are in Nicaragua and you need advice that is not covered by our travel advice then you can contact us online.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check your cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it is important to follow all precautionary measures and keep up to date with information from your tour operator, transport or accommodation provider and comply with any health measures introduced by the authorities.
Many areas of the country experienced a period of political unrest in 2018, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and detentions according to UN reports. The situation is now quieter but remains unpredictable. You should stay well away from all demonstrations and gatherings, even if apparently peaceful, as these could result in outbreaks of violence. See Political situation.
Nicaragua is in a seismically active region. See Natural disasters for advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. You should seek reliable local advice before and during any tourist activity around volcanoes.
Dengue is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean. Nicaragua has an elevated incidence of dengue and risk is particularly high during the rainy season (May to November). Cases of Chikungunya virus have been confirmed in Nicaragua. There are reports of a rise in Malaria cases. See Health.
UK health authorities have classified Nicaragua as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. For more information and advice, visit the website of the National Travel Health Network and Centre.
Around 17,500 British tourists visited Nicaragua in 2017 but numbers have dropped since the 2018 protests. Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Nicaragua, attacks can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism
There is no British Embassy in Nicaragua. Our consular support is therefore limited. If you need emergency consular assistance, you should contact the British Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica at +506-2258-2025.
If you need to contact the emergency services, call 118 (police), 128 (ambulance) or 115 (911 from a mobile) (fire). The 24-hour hotline for COVID-19 related queries is 132.
