Managua is the capital of Nicaragua, which is the 2nd poorest country in this hemisphere. Poverty is readily witnessed, locals seem standoff-ish, the city is not very developed, but there is a nice raw feeling to the place and some cheap p4p to be had.

Getting there:
Aeromexico flies there from their hub in Mexico City.

Chica friendly hotels:
Hotel Colon, King's Palace, Hotel Ritzo. Be sure to specify there will be 2 people staying in the room. There is a minor price increase for mongers that parade hookers through the hotel lobby.

Taxis:
From my experience with them, they seem relatively safe if you take the necessary precautions such as: Take only licensed taxi cabs with red lic plates. Always agree on a price beforehand and specify that you want "exclusivo" otherwise they will pick up strangers along the way. It also costs more if you're with more people. Keep the doors locked and windows closed. Stay alert when stopped at stoplights. Apparently, there have been instances of theft and kidnapping associated with some taxi cabs.

http://www.nicaliving.com/node/11869
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1714269&tstart=30

Know your directions:
Unfortunately, most streets in MGA are NOT named, and many of the major streets/highways have no street signs. Most of the directions are described using a combination of various landmarks such as shell gas stations, mcdonald restaurants, rotundos, and intercontinental hotels, and direction. North is referred to as Oriental because it faces the orient? South is Monte/Montana because of the mountains/volcanos to the south. East is arriba because the sun rises there, and west is abajo.

Will write about the following tomorrow:
safety/poverty/strip clubs/brothals/street scene/restaurants/clubs.

anxiously awaiting! We don't hear much about nica.

Indeed, I'm anxious to read your report as well...

Looking forward to this. I spent a grand total of 12 hours in Managua ten years ago and just had a great time.

Directions Continued/Revised:
When naming an address, follow the steps below in order.
1) mention a landmark
2) number of blocks (cuadras)
3) in which direction.
-north = al lago (towards the lake)
-south = al sur
-east = arriba
-west = abajo

Arrival and Departure:
Tourist card must be purchased for $5 upon arrival.
$32 departure tax which may be built into the price of your airline ticket.

Communications:
Moviestar sim card may be purchased at the airport’s departure area by the food court or in town at Metrocentro, the main mall in the center of the city. Claro sim cards are also available but was told that Moviestar has more coverage.

Taxi fares:
About 20-30C during the day and 20-60 at night for exclusivo.

Poor Sanitation:
There is a lack of law enforement and a lack of sanitary system. In some barrios, mounds of trash would litter the sidewalk, spilling into the streets. Because of limited/lack of sanitary system, many of these mounds are set on fire to rid of the waste. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Despite that, some expats say the tap water is safe to drink in MGA, but not ok in San Juan Del Sur, a beachtown about 3 hours SW of MGA.

Unstable Government:
in the month of Nov. 2008, the Sardinistas (communist party) reclaimed power in Nicaragua (This hasn't happened since President Reagan funded the Contras in the attempt to overthrow this party.) Investigators quickly uncovered that the sardinista party rigged the voting polls at the last minute to come out ahead and win the election from way behind. Rioting soon occured afterwards and the US state department issued a travel warning 2nd only to the closure of the airport in BKK. My flight was schedule 3 weeks after the rioting and when I arrived, I didn't notice any evidence of the rioting.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1858920,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

Restaurants/Shopping/Clubs/Casinos:
Metrocentro!
Expats and other english speaking people in Nicaragua will blow up this newly built mall like it’s the center of the Universe. In reality, it is just like any run of the mill mall you’d find in the US except smaller and dirtier. Pluses include: a small movie theatre that has some films playing in English and beer served in the food court as well as grilled meats.

Galerias (Santo Domingo) Mall is a more upscale mall near Rotonda Universitaria, a short taxi ride from Pharoah’s Casino. It caters to the local University students and middle to upper class locals. The movie theatre there is much bigger, and open later as well. ATMs are plentiful and safe. Highly recommended for the numerous upscale clubs and outdoorrestaurants that are found in the same complex. I saw the most attractive women in Nicaragua in a club called Moods on a Thursday night, it’s there ladies nite. There is a website that lists all the happening clubs, and what night is best for them. When I locate the web address, I will post it. You may check out some photos on this site for now. It doesn’t showcase the best that are present, but gives you some idea of the clubgoers. http://nicaragua.lasnite.com/photo-archive/

Zona Hipo. Lots of great outdoor restaurants here. Walking distance from Pharoah’s Casino.

Zona Rosa. Also lots of restaurants and bars just south of the BAC building/Hotel Colon.

Pharoah’s Casino. I believe this is the biggest Casino in MGA.

Star City Casino. Another Casino not too far from Pharoah’s Casino. There is a disco right next to it.

Plaza de la Revolucion. Where most of the historical sights such as Plaza de la Revolucion are found. Not the safest place at night.

Strip Clubs:
-Elite. Near Pharoah’s Casino on Car. Masaya. There is a cover charge, but it covers the 2 beers. Good number of hotties, above the standard you’d find in strip clubs in MDE, but below that of Panama City or Lima. Initial pressure from chicas, wanting to sit with you, but will immediately back off. Every few songs, all the available chicas will do a catwalk along the aisles. Chica drinks are about 15usd, but the many chicas will give you long lap dances and some petting for this. Didn’t ask how much sex would be, but I’d imagine over $100usd.

-Diamonds: Did not visit. Heard it’s a lot like Elite though.

-Vale Todo. Did not visit, but friends have. Farther away the Metrocentro area in a more dangerous part of town. Expensive and considered a clip joint.

-Good Times. (see Chongos).

-Cuento Club. (see Chongos)

Chongos:
note: most working ladies in the chongos were overweight with ages ranging from 18-30+, mainly around mid-20s.
Club Fenix Opened 24hr. Prices: 200c/30’. Imagine a much smaller version of the new Miami Club in TJ, but with girls sitting on one side and guys sitting on the other like some hostess bars in LA. A real fuck shop with girls going to the room constantly. Despite that, got GFE here surprisingly. Quality is about the same as Good Time. Recommended.

There are 3 chongos located beside one another in el Puente la Reynagaga. Most taxis will recognize Cuento Club or Good Time.

Good Time. Approx hours of operation: 11am-5am. Price: 300C (They may try to pitch gringo pricing up to 400 to 600C) for 30’ ST in their onsite rooms. If La Gloria Bar in TJ had a stripper pole in the middle of the dance floor and was poorly lit, it would be named Good Time. This place is a low end strip club in a semi-sketchy area, especially when late at night although sometimes they frisk you prior to entering. A fight broke out when I was there late one night. There was only one hot young flacita, and maybe 3-4 other doable girls., the rest were overweight and a little older. Dancers come down a firepole from the level above and dance on an elevated stage while random lurkers will come up to you and ask you to buy them a beer. Despite this, I’m recommending a visit here.

Cuento Club. Approx hours of operation: 5pm-4am. Price 500-700c for ST, might be for a hour, not sure. Lots of fatties, but a couple of gems within. Resembles La Fracasa in TJ but with a stage and strippers. Recommended.

Salvadorena #2 Price: 130C for 30’. More of a bar. Of the three places, I found the most fatties here and lots of drunk Nicaraguans. Worth a look.

Sol y Luna: Opened during day and night. Unsure of closing time. Price: 250C for 30’ This is supposedly a massage parlor, but really it’s just a brothel in a gated house. Saw 3 disinterested overweight girls sitting on the couch. Near the tica bus station area. Not safe to wander at night, but taxi to MP ok.

Other brothels I didn’t have time to check out:
Carribean Morena 400C for 1 hr.
Club Ladies 150C for 30’
Claudias 300c for 30’
Salvadorena #1 (pricing probably the same as salvadorena #2)
Salvadorena #3 (pricing probably the same as salvadorena #2)

Streetwalkers:
From the research I did, most people strongly advised NOT to take up SWs due to risk of theft, druggings, and false accusations. I took some SWs from Car. Masaya and got great value and service. In fact, I probably got the longest bbbj of my life from one of the SWs. Keep all valuables locked away, watch the lady at all times, check her ID before inviting her up, check with front desk employee for intel on the girl (if she has ever been a trouble maker, etc.), etc. There are a few areas that have SWs.

Carretera Masaya, from around pharoah’s casino to rotonda metrocentro 200c ST.

Polanco: was pretty happening with about 15+ gals of various body types. Supposedly can get dangerous late at night here. Use Caution. Maybe a +15’ drive from Car Masaya.

Avenida 35: not much out, some gals with their pimps lurking around the corner.

Carretera Norte. Nada but it was late.

Safety and Crime:
Overall impressions: I did not think MGA was that dangerous. I noticed that most locals did not wear watches or jewelry, so I did the same. In fact, I only kept some cash, a cheap cell phone, business cards of the hotel, and a copy of my passport for the frequent police stop points. This was my first time in MGA and I did not want to learn anything the hard way. I walked around Car. Masaya, and contrary to the reports, did not get pickpocketed by any SWs. Although regarded as a dangerous barrio, the area around Fenix also didn’t seem too bad. In fact, the area around Good Times seemed a bit more dangerous and Polanco area even worse. The area of Avenida 35 seemed the most sketchy to me and I don’t plan to revisit this area.

It’s common knowledge that Mercado Oriental is riddled with gang members and is deemed dangerous by all local residents.

Below is a link to reports of violent crimes in Nicaragua taken from the US Dept of State. You may read it and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe in MGA.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_985.html

Currency

10 usd = 200 cordobas

thank you for this intel , Nicaragua is on my back burner , but definitely a future choice of mine.

Thanks for this. Those prices definitely work.

Please post pics! Thank you for your great post.

Thanks for the info Soc. Been to S Salvador and Guat but have been hasitent about Nica. Not allot of info out there. Your post helps. Nica seems to be cheaper than SS and Guat.

Anthony Bourdain did an episode on Nicaragua last night.Looks like a potential low cost mongering destination. I saw a few decent looking chicas in the background.

Any recent info on Nicaragua, and/or San Juan del Sur?