Central America
City overview
Nicaragua pairs pastel colonial cities, chains of volcanoes, and a laid-back Pacific coast surf town with one of Central America's smallest and warmest Jewish communities. Chabad of Juan Del Sur, founded in 2012 by Rabbi David Atar and Mrs. Chani Atar, is the country's only Jewish institution and anchors all of its kosher infrastructure in the beach town of San Juan del Sur. From its visitor center travelers can register for Shabbat meals, order kosher food to go, and join daily and Shabbat prayers. From San Juan del Sur, Granada's colonial streets, Leon's UNESCO cathedral, and the volcanoes of Masaya, Mombacho and Ometepe are all within a day's reach.
Nicaragua
Rabbi
Rabbi David Atar and Mrs. Chani Atar
Phone
+505 8678 2629Founded in 2012, Chabad of Juan Del Sur is Nicaragua's only Jewish institution. It runs a visitor center, Shabbat and holiday meals, kosher food to go, and daily and Shabbat prayers from its home a block from the beach town's landmark ceramic house.
Hours
Open daily 8:30 AM–10:00 PM
Getting Around
Public transit
Intercity travel runs mainly on converted former U.S.
school buses ("chicken buses") and faster microbuses connecting Managua, Granada, Masaya, Leon and Rivas (the transfer point for San Juan del Sur). A car and passenger ferry crosses Lake Nicaragua to Ometepe Island from the port of San Jorge, near Rivas, several times a day.
Rideshare
Uber does not operate in Nicaragua.
InDrive and Aventon both operate for pre-negotiated private rides, mainly in Managua and Granada.
Car rental
Rental cars are available at Managua's international airport and in the main tourist cities.
A 4x4 is recommended for unpaved roads such as the route to La Flor Wildlife Refuge, especially in the rainy season.
Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua is Nicaragua's only major international gateway, about 15 minutes from downtown Managua and roughly 2.5-3 hours by road from San Juan del Sur.
Good to know
The dry season, November through April, brings the most reliable sunshine and easiest travel on Nicaragua's unpaved roads; the rainy season runs roughly May through October, heaviest from July to September.
US dollars are widely accepted alongside cordobas in tourist areas, though small purchases are easier in local currency. Taxi fares are not metered, so agree the price before getting in. Dress modestly when visiting cathedrals and other active places of worship. As of February 2026, citizens of the US, Canada, the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Australia, Japan and New Zealand remain visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days, but must purchase a tourist card (around $10 USD) on arrival; Nicaragua's entry rules changed significantly for a number of other nationalities that month, so check current requirements before traveling.
Most visits to Nicaragua's main tourist areas are trouble-free with normal precautions, though the U.S. State Department maintains a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory for the country, so travelers should check current guidance before their trip. Emergency numbers: Police 118, Fire 115 (or 911 from a cell phone), Red Cross/ambulance 128, and a 24-hour tourist assistance line at 101 (English and Spanish).
Local time
4:54 AM
+4 hrs from NYC
Plug
Type A/B
120V
Currency
Nicaraguan Cordoba
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