WHAT YOU NEED

ARRIVALS

Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the European Union require just a passport to enter Nicaragua and may stay for up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry. Visas can be extended at the Office of Immigration in Managua for $12 a month. The office, called the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (tel. 505/2244-3989), is located 2 1/2 blocks north of the Tenderí stoplights.

Nicaragua is part of a 2006 border control agreement with Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, allowing travel among the four countries under one tourist card. The number of days of your tourist card is determined at the first of the four countries entered.

There is a tourist entry fee of U$10 that must be paid upon arrival into the country.

DEPARTURES

When leaving Nicaragua, you must pay a U$35 airport tax, which must be paid in cash in either U.S. dollars or Nicaraguan Córdobas. (This is sometimes included in the price of your airline ticket.)