Should I hire a tour company?

[Joshua Berman]

Here's a very common question we get:

1. I'm going to Nicaragua for 10 days. Should I hire a tour company?

Depends on your personal travel style, your experience traveling independently, and above all, your budget. If you've got the cash, don't like dealing with logistics (booking hotels, arranging transport, etc.), and prefer someone to write out a rigid itinerary for you, by all means, pre-book your trip with an <a href="http://www.visit-nicaragua.com/english/servicios/touroperadoras.html">INTUR-registered tour operator</a>.

Also note that there are a few low-key, budget tour operators popping up in the last few years, which attract more active backpacker/flashpacker types and are relatively affordable, especially if you get a group together. You usually don't need to book these more than a day or two in advance -- keep an eye on the hospedaje bulletin boards in Granada, Leon and Matagalpa for these. Many independent travelers get around on their own, then use a local tour-op for a day trip or two.

[jimpcnica]

If you are looking for a honest, reliable, responsible taxi driver with a clean comfortable car to drive you from A to B (for example from Managua to San Juan or back) or take you on a multi-day trip, then my buddy Richard Morales is your man. He is a great guy, does not drink, shows up on-time/early to pick you up wherever you want, will take you anywhere you want to, stop where and whenever you want, and has a great sense of humor..even though he does not drink he does not mind if you do, and I often enjoyed a cold sixpack on my way down to san juan while driving with him....He knows a lot about the country and can help you find cool places to see, stay, and enjoy yourself...

Great option if you are feeling too tired, lazy, sick, or hungover to get on a bus for 3-4 hours...

His email is richardsjds@hotmail.com and his cell is 882-8368

[Joshua Berman]

Richard drove me up and down the coast during my last research trip for the current Moon Handbooks San Juan del Sur chapter, and he was a pleasure to spend time with. We had a lot of laughs, and EVERYONE knows him in town. I called him "El Alcalde," The Mayor, because of how much smiling and hand-shaking he did as we drove down the streets. He doesn't offer official "tours" per se, but is a great, friendly, casual transport option.

[John Morley]

We are considering going to San Juan del Sur in November and taking a side trip to Costa Rica. Am assuming the only sane way to do this is to hire a taxi in SJDS. Would this work? What would the experience be like at the border, with a Nica driver and car going into Costa Rica?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Casa Silas B & B]

This will our third visit to Nicaragua. The first trip down we hired Tours Nicaragua through contact with Richard Leonardi. They were outstanding. They provided us with a driver and a guide who were with us from after breakfast to before dinner. Their knowledge of, and love for Nicaragua were wonderful. Subsequent trips we have made on our own without assistance. We're much more comfortable with Nicaragua now. I'd like to know if anyone has a suggestion of whom to hire for transport from Managua to Granada for a larger party. The group has grown and a cab won't accommodate us any longer. We need a van with room for baggage. gracias.

[agnes]

Contact PAXEOS at info@paxeos.com, they have an every day shuttle service from the airport to Granada and SJDS.

[dnurock]

We are considering going to San Juan del Sur in November and taking a side trip to Costa Rica. Am assuming the only sane way to do this is to hire a taxi in SJDS. Would this work? What would the experience be like at the border, with a Nica driver and car going into Costa Rica?

Any advice would be appreciated.

John,

You can take a taxi from SJDS to the border, then walk across, about 100yds and grab another taxi or bus in Costa Rica.  Be aware at the border it can be a bit hectic, also a friend of mine got sold a bogus bus ticket on the Costa Rica side so check it out as best you can before you pay.

I believe you'll find it difficult to get one driver for both Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

[John Morley]

We have started a shuttle van service focusing on service between San Juan del Sur and the Managua airport, Adelante Express. We get questions about service to other cities and try to be of help. I know about Paxeos, in Granada, already and we have referred people there. Are you aware of any other shuttle van services, offering US-style service, in Nicaragua?

[dnurock]

For anyone following this thread...

We used John Morley/Adelante Express when we were down in October 2007, and found the service, drivers and vans to be excellent and the price the best around.

I would not hesitate to recommend Adelante for transport.

They also offer a shop Managua option.  Managua has USA style grocery stores as opposed to small tiendas in SJDS/Hacienda Iguana/Rancho Santana/etc., so if you're staying in a place with a kitchen, you can pick-up staples and booze in  Managua before you head south.

Doug Nurock

[Timoteo]

Let me add another option. I have been to Nicaragua 6 times since 2003, most recently last week ( Jan 3-Jan 17 th).

For four of the 6 times I have hired a great guy who lives in Managua, his name is Esteban Gaitan. He is a family man, has been a professional school bus driver for more than 20 years, and knows Nicaragua very well. He has taken groups to Masaya, Granada, San Juan del Sur, but also to Leon, to the beach at Poneloya, to El Sauce, to Esteli, to Matagalpa as well. This past trip he was with us continuously for 12 days, we paid his expenses, of course. He is also a great traveling companion.

He also does not drink, but has no probelm working with people who do. He is a real gentleman, very attentive and very reliable. He also works as a taxi driver in Managua so he knows Managua like the back of his hand.

He does not speak any English, just so you know. He is reluctant to set a price for his services, prefering that you pay him what you think his services are worth. We have always been geneous, because he is so good!

He also has a brother, Marvin, who may be available to drive, as he was on short notice a week ago, for an American couple who wanted to take a day trip to Granada from Managua.

To contact Esteban in Managua, call his home number: 280-3422, or his cell #, 836-8479.

With a little notice, he can arrange to get a mini-bus for small groups, 6-8 people. You will not go wrong with him.

Timoteo

[Joshua Berman]

Timoteo, do think don Esteban would want to be listed in Moon Nicaragua? Is his a formal business service, or more casual?

[Timoteo]

Hi, Joshua:

Right now his is more an informal service, but he has realistic plans in the very near future to get his own microbus, and at that point I think he'd love to be listed in Moonbooks.

I'd be happy to check with him, and see what he thinks.

Thanks for the excellent suggestion. Again, people will not go wrong with him, he is just a joy to work with, thoroughly reliable and dependable. And reasonable.

Timoteo

[eberlinger]

I organized a tour in connection with a visit with our sister city in Nicaragua. I chose Nica-Adventures.com in Granada, because their reply was quick, professional and friendly. The whole group, 19 of us, were extremely happy with the trip, the service, guide, driver, bus, price. I strongly recommend them.

[yesi]

I recently spent some time on Ometepe Island. I loved the trip, it was very worthwhile and a must if you visit Nicaragua. I´m very glad we decided to use a tour guide to organize our trips around the island and to hike the beautiful concepcion volcano! The tour guide was also able to organize our transportation to and from the airport.
I got in touch with our guide at discoveryometepe@hotmail.com and he was very professional and helpful.

[Timoteo]

Update to my post of January, 2008, about a wonderful driver who lives in Managua, Esteban Gaitan.

He now has his own microbus, and this past January, he was with us for about 8 days, traveling around Managua, to Catarina,  to El Sauce, to the beach at Poneloya, and to the island of Ometepe for a few days. He is a great traveling companion, and a great driver.  Thoroughly dependable and reliable. He has a new cell phone number: 505-844-6023, home # 280-3422.

Again, he speaks no English, but even so, a friend of mine hired him for three days and although she speaks very little Spanish, they made it just fine.

He is gentle, attentive, personable, a real gentleman. And a very cautious driver. I would recommnd him highly. I have hired him the last 6 times I have been to Nicaragua, and look forward to seeing him again, in June.