Rental Cars

[carriek]

We'll be arriving in Managua in late Feb for a 16 day stay.  Our proposed itinerary includes Chocoyero/El Brujo, Volcan Mombacho, Granada, Ometepe (Volcan Maderas), LCI, then back to Managua, Masaya/Pueblos Blancos. 

We're trying to cover a lot of territory in a short time.  Do you recommend rental car or public transportation?  If rental is the way to go, what are the going rates and where can we rent from in Managua? 

Thanks, Carrie & Dan

[Joshua Berman]

You'll find all the major car rental companies right at the airport, with prices not very far off from those you find in US or Canada. Plus gasoline is more than double what it is in North America.

As for driving, expect a challenge -- with lots of traffic, bad driving, and random carts and livestock in the road. If you've driven somewhere like Nicaragua before, go for it. Otherwise, you may wish to consider just hiring taxis or taking a bus here and there.

In addition, driving a car to Ometepe can be tricky with the ferry. Hope this answers your questions.