Welcome to Nicaragua! This ultimate motorcycle travel guide explains everything you need to know about riding a motorcycle in Nicaragua including paperwork, safety, the best routes and loads of extra info. If you’re planning an overland motorcycle adventure in Nicaragua – start here.
This guide is based on our motorcycle ride through Nicaragua during our round the world trip. The guides on this website are constantly updated by us and with info from contributors to keep them current, up-to-date and as helpful as possible.
Contents
Motorcycle Travel Guide Nicaragua
By Andy Davidson
Mad or Nomad - RTW motorcycle travellers
Welcome to Nicaragua! This Central American pearl is rammed with beautiful landscapes and cities, fascinating history, packed with volcanoes, friendly people and cool things to do. It’s a brilliant place to ride on your motorcycle journey through the Americas and this guide explains everything you need to know…
Our motorcycle ride through Nicaragua
We (Andy and Alissa from Mad or Nomad) are on a round the world motorcycle trip and entered Nicaragua in July 2024. This guide is based on our experiences and what we learnt. However, as with all our guides, readers and fellow travellers kindly contribute additional info and experiences so we can keep our articles current and up to date. For more info on our ride there and what we got up to, have a read of our Nicaragua Blog.
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Paperwork
Paperwork wise, Nicaragua is simple to get in and out of. But dealing with the country’s infamous borders is another story. To get in you’ll need a valid passport, driver’s licence and vehicle registration document.
Once at the border, you will need to arrange your passport entry via immigration, temporary import for your motorcycle and insurance.
The Nicaraguan border situation can be a huge, long headache. Or it can go quickly and smoothly. Odds are, you’ll be there a while. There’s the mainstay things to check off like immigration, customs, TIP and insurance, but there’s a few other offices and boxes to visit and tick too. You’ll be ushered between them as you go.
As with all borders, arrive early, pack snacks and water, take it easy and don’t lose your cool.
Note, when entering Nicaragua you will be given a customs form just as you arrive at the border. You will need to get this stamped by multiple offices on your journey around the border area.
Immigration
Nicaragua is part of the Central America 4 (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Nicaragua). When you enter any one of these countries you get a 90-day visa that is valid for all four countries. It’s 90 days in total for all four and does not restart when you enter another CA4 country. This means the clock starts as soon as you enter your first CA4 country and doesn’t stop until you exit the CA4.
So, if you have just come from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras and have been there for 60 days, you will have 30 days left on your CA4 visa when entering Nicaragua.
When entering Nicaragua you will need to supply a hotel name and address to immigration. You don’t need to have booked the hotel.
You will need to pay 13USD per person for the stamp. Bring cash to the border, cards won’t be accepted and you may or may not get change.
Instead of receiving a stamp in your passport you’ll get a tourist card, which is important – don’t lose it.
Temporary Import Permit (TIP)
You will need a TIP to travel in Nicaragua with your own motorcycle. The TIP is obtained from the Aduana (customs office) at the border. You will need to give them the slip of paper from the police officer and the original slip you were given when entering the border that should have now been stamped a few times. There is no charge for the TIP.
Once you’re issued the TIP you’re done. You will just have one more check as you leave the border area where they’ll take your form and receipts.
Paperwork and border extras
Insurance – Motorcycle insurance is compulsory for Nicaragua. Once you leave the border area you’ll find a small office (or outdoor restaurant) where they’ll issue insurance for 12USD. This is the quickest and easiest part of the entire crossing.
Online entry form – Nicaragua technically requires you to fill out and submit an online declaration form seven days before entering. We did this in July 2024 and were not asked anything about it or proof of confirmation, neither has anyone we know who has recently crossed. However, it only takes 5 minutes to fill out so it may be worth the effort
Fumigation – It’s around 5USD to get your motorcycle fumigated and is compulsory.
Customs – A police officer will accompany you to your motorcycle for an inspection. They may or may not ask you to remove all your bags and put them through the scanner in their building. We weren’t asked. Instead, they just wanted to look inside a couple of the bags and the top box. The police officer will give you a slip of paper saying you don’t have a drone. Make sure it clearly says that on there as we had issues getting our TIP due to the way it was written.
Drones – What they’re looking for here are drones. Drones are illegal in Nicaragua and a big deal. Do not try smuggling yours in. Instead, it’s easy to post it between Honduras and Nicaragua using DHL. See the drone section below.
Yellow fever – You may need to prove you have had a yellow fever vaccination if you have been to a country deemed at risk. You can check this website to see if a country you’ve been to requires it.
Exiting Nicaragua – Leaving Nicaragua on your motorcycle can be just as much of a pain as entering. You’ll need to first visit the police office for a slip of paper and a stamp. Then visit immigration to get stamped out and you’ll need to pay 3USD for the privilege.
Then it’s over to have your motorcycle checked by a customs official. They may or may not randomly point at a couple of your bags and ask for them to be x-rayed. You’ll then get a new slip of paper and it’s off to the Aduana to get stamped out of the country.
More info on paperwork
If you’re planning a motorcycle trip and aren’t used to the different types of paperwork requirements, or are just trying to get your head around motorcycle paperwork in general, have a read of our packed paperwork for bikers guide too.
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Drones in Nicaragua
Drones are illegal in Nicaragua. Please do not try and smuggle yours in.
It’s very easy and relatively inexpensive to simply ship your drone over Nicaragua by using DHL to post it between Honduras and Costa Rica.
It will cost you approximately 50USD to ship it and 10USD for customs.
It used to be that you don’t have to post the controller or the battery. We removed the battery and kept both the battery and controller with us as we crossed Nicaragua and it was completely fine – as was the case for everyone else we know who did the same. However, two motorcycle travellers in 2025 were stopped at the Nicaragua border and had their controller and battery taken off them. The border officials posted it themselves to the Costa Rica border, where they successfully collected it. But this is a risk. So it’s now better to post the whole lot.
When you enter Nicaragua, simply show the officer your DHL receipt.
We recommend using these DHL offices, they’re both very experienced with sending and receiving drones, regardless of which direction you’re heading.
- The DHL location in Honduras is here on Google Maps
- The DHL location in Costa Rica is here on Google Maps
Sandy runs the DHL office in Honduras and she’s happy to keep your drone and post it whenever you’re ready. It takes about four days from when she sends it to arrival. So, if you’re going to be a month in Nicaragua for example, just WhatsApp her a few days before you leave and she’ll send it straight away.
Sandy’s Whatsapp number is +504 3256 1563.
Getting in and out of Nicaragua with a motorcycle
Nicaragua shares borders with Honduras and Costa Rica. There are multiple crossings with each country and they’re relatively straightforward and easy to do get through.
Check the iOverlander app for up-to-date reports on border crossings in and out of Nicaragua.
When to ride in Nicaragua
The best time to ride a motorcycle in Nicaragua is during the dry season from November to May. May to October is classed as the rainy season, but you can still find warm days there during these months. The heaviest rain is September and October.
Money and costs
Nicaragua uses the Nicaraguan Cordoba. USD are widely accepted in Nicaragua, but it’s always a good idea to have a fistful of the local currency too. You can withdraw both at ATMs throughout the country.
Petrol
There may be long stretches without petrol stations in Nicaragua. For example, when crossing from Honduras and making your way to Leon there’s a distinct lack of fuel stations, so fill up in Honduras. In remote areas you may be hard pushed too. So, fill up often.
Accommodation: hotels and camping
Accommodation is cheap in Nicaragua. You can find some seriously cheap hotels throughout the country. In tourist areas and big cities like Leon and Granada the prices of course go up, but there are still some great and affordable options around.
We recommend checking out these two hotels. Both have secure motorcycle parking and are very well located.
Leon: Casa Lulu Leon Hostal
Granada: Hostal Victoria
Camping
Overlanders do camp throughout Nicaragua. You may find some official campsites, and people do wild camp, but always check iOverlander for recent updates, recommendations and safe spots.
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Safety and security
Political unrest has always been an issue in Nicaragua, so always take care and check your government’s website for up-to-date info and advice.
But overall, Nicaragua is a relatively safe country to travel through for motorcycle travellers. Of course, always use your common sense and research the areas you’re travelling to. And be extra careful if going off the beaten path to remote places.
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Health and safety
Vaccines
When travelling abroad, it’s important to read up on the vaccine recommendations and requirements of the countries you are travelling through.
The best website we have found, that clearly explains what is needed and required is travelhealthpro.org.uk. Simply click on each country you plan on travelling through and read through the vaccine recommendations.
Yellow Fever
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission throughout parts of Central and South America. And some countries in the Americas will require you to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate. So, we recommend getting the vaccine before travelling. You can find info on the travelhealthpro website, and the fitfortravel.nhs.uk website has additional info with a map of areas at risk of yellow fever.
READ MORE: How to Stay Healthy on the Road
Travel insurance and emergencies
We highly recommend getting decent personal travel insurance before you leave on your trip. It’s incredibly important that you’re covered in case of an accident and your medical bills will be taken care of. Make sure Nicaragua is included on your insurance.
If you are planning on heading into very remote regions and off-roading, then we also recommend carrying an emergency satellite GPS device so you can call for help if you have a medical emergency.
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Police and bribes
While we were never personally bribed or had any problems with the police in Nicaragua, there are lots of reports from overlanders who have been. So don’t be surprised if you’re pulled over. Have a read of our dedicated guide on dealing with bribes for more info on what to do if you’re stopped. But in general, make sure all your paperwork is in order and if you feel like there’s something wrong and you’re about to be bribed, only offer up copies of all your documents.
READ MORE: How to Deal with Bribes While Travelling
Road conditions
The main roadways in Nicaragua are in generally good condition. The further off the beaten track you go and to more remote places you’ll find gravel and rougher tracks. Unless you specifically go looking for off-road or even bad roads, you can get through the whole of Nicaragua visiting all the main attractions on your motorcycle with well laid asphalt.
Riding gear
We always recommend choosing an ultra-lightweight, breathable and well vented adventure riding suit – and one that is not waterproof. Pack a cheap and light set of throwover waterproofs in case it rains. The aim of the game here is a layering system. It can get exceptionally hot and exceptionally wet in Nicaragua so you want to be in well vented kit with easy access waterproof.
For more info and guides on adventure riding gear have a look at the below guides.
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Rentals and tours
You may want to travel in Nicaragua using a rental bike or by joining a tour instead of taking your own bike there. This is a great way of exploring the country without having to ship your own bike to the Americas, or for a quick trip or even if you’d just rather ride with a professional guide who knows the country inside out.
You’ve got a range of options here including road only tours, off-road only or even a mix of the two. Check out our recommended rental companies for Nicaragua for more info.
The best motorcycle rides in Nicaragua
Granada
Details: Granada is a beautiful colonial city with colorful buildings, historic churches, and a lively central square. It’s a great place to explore on foot or by motorcycle.
Granada to Mombacho Volcano: Take the road south from Granada towards the Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve. The route is scenic and offers a mix of paved and unpaved roads.
Granada to Masaya: A short ride on the NIC-4 highway, passing through small towns and offering views of the Masaya Volcano.
Recommended hotel: Hostal Victoria
Leon
Leon is a beautiful colonial city with rich history and culture. It’s well worth doing the free walking tour here and the famous Cerro Negro Volcano boarding.
Leon to Cerro Negro: Take the NIC-26 highway north, then follow the signs to the volcano. The road is a mix of paved and dirt sections.
Leon to Las Peñitas: A coastal ride on the NIC-14 highway, leading to a beautiful beach town.
Recommended hotel: Casa Lulu Leon Hostal
Volcano boarding: Leon volcano boarding tours
Isla de Ometepe
Details: This island is formed by two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, and offers a unique landscape with lush forests and beautiful beaches.
Moyogalpa to Altagracia: The main road on the island, NIC-64, connects the two main towns and offers stunning views of the volcanoes.
Circumnavigate the Island: A loop around the island on a mix of paved and dirt roads, perfect for adventure riders.
Recommended hotel: El Encanto Garden-Hotel
San Juan del Sur
Details: A popular beach town known for its surfing spots and vibrant nightlife. The coastal roads provide breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
San Juan del Sur to Playa Maderas: A short ride north on a dirt road, leading to one of the best surfing beaches in the area.
San Juan del Sur to Rivas: Take the NIC-16 highway for a scenic coastal ride with ocean views.
Recommended hotel: Selina Maderas
Masaya Volcano National Park
Details: This park offers the unique experience of riding up to the edge of an active volcano. The views are spectacular, and the ride is thrilling.
Masaya to the Volcano: The road NIC-4 leads directly to the park entrance. From there, a paved road takes you up to the crater.
Places to stay: Hotels in Masaya
The Pacific Coast
The entire Pacific coastline of Nicaragua is dotted with beautiful beaches and small towns.
Rivas to Tola: You’ll find a coastal ride on the NIC-62 highway with views of the Pacific Ocean and easy access to several beautiful beaches along the way.
Managua to San Juan del Sur: Take the NIC-1 highway south, then switch to the NIC-16 highway for a scenic coastal ride.
Read more on motorcycle travel in Nicaragua
Thanks for checking out the Motorcycle Travel Guide: Nicaragua. We hope you enjoyed it! Here’s a few more articles on motorcycle travel in Nicaragua and Central America that we recommend you read next.
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Are you planning a motorcycle trip in Nicaragua? Do you have any questions, tips or suggestions? Let us know in the comments below.
March 2025: You say: “Online entry form – Nicaragua technically requires you to fill out and submit an online declaration form seven days before entering. We did this in July 2024 and were not asked anything about it or proof of confirmation, neither has anyone we know who has recently crossed. However, it only takes 5 minutes to fill out so it may be worth the effort”
I say – the form requires – won’t progress without – an “Invitado a través de:”, with an identity number, rather like a visa. The website may or may not progress past security checks on a laptop. If used on a phone the “Viaja con Acompañantes ?” additional persons goes to a subform which is barely readable (try zoom 50%) and won’t scroll so you can’t see the end.
It’s a crock of the proverbial. Not 5 minutes.
Hi Gideon, sorry to hear you had a hard time with the form! We filled it out and it took 5 minutes. But that’s good to know for others that it might take longer.
When did you try filling out the form? Did you get it done in the end?
Would be interesting to hear if they asked you for it at the border as well.
Cheers and happy travels,
Andy
[Nicaragua form] Did it Sun evening, early Tue received an email each saying “approved”. So someone looked at it :).
(I first tried on a laptop in our hostel in Tegucigalpa. I think the actual problem was the security/human check could not tolerate flaky wifi so never progressed. The form, especially additional persons subform, isn’t designed for phones and any error seems to jam it. A third attempton laptop succeeded. Point is – allow time)
(The form wouldn’t let me leave the “Invitado” section blank, so I used our own name, and the hotel address, and put “Nada – turismo” in the reason box)
Thanks for the updates Gideon. Very helpful and useful!
Have you crossed into Nicaragua yet, and did they ask for the form?
Cheers,
Andy
We have, and they didn’t!
Today we did our Honduras-Nicaragua crossing at Los Manos, UK citizens on US plated bikes.
Honduras exit was fine.
Nicaragua entry was a bureaucratic nightmare. Nothing went wrong or crooked, just endless different officials needing the same stuff repeatedly. Numerous stages to complete as in article above. If you miss something you get caught at the gate right at the end. Oddly, after other CE countries, zero photocopies of anything needed.
The GenTuristas insurance we bought online for Guatemala onwards (https://apps.aseguradorageneral.com/ise/PlataformaVentas/GenTurista/Index/AqB(=)vRXyJTA=) was accepted as suitable for Nicaragua.
Moneychangers only on Honduras side, I think.
No toilets.
Bag searches – about 1/3rd of our bags.
HTH
Excellent update – thanks Gideon. Much appreciated.
Andy
If travelling from Honduras Los Manos border to Leon, it’s worth peeling off the NIC1, and taking the NIC38 S. via San Juan de Limay and El Sauce. It’s (block) paved all the way (except some roadworks Mar 2025, otherwise in good nick), and the northern section twists and turns and climbs and dives, with some lovely views. No big trucks, little traffic, most of the traffic has 2 (or 3) wheels, or 2 wheels and 4 (or 8) legs. San Juan de Limay has some accommodation, but you may need local help to find it (Google info is pretty outdated, tho Hostal Las Gordas is still trading (full for us)), ask in the mayor’s office or museum, both in main square, the staff in both were helpful far beyond the call of duty. The town also has some interesting art (in town) and petroglyphs (rough track to a gorgeous pool). We didn’t stop in El Sauce, it seems bigger & more commercial.
Perfect! Very good of you to add this additional info, i’m sure it’ll come in handy for a lot of people who want to avoid the straight shoot to Leon (depending on what time they finally get to leave the Nicaragua border haha!).
Cheers again, and please do keep us updated on your travels!
Andy
Thanks, as ever, for the great information!
Would only add here that in 2025 Nicaragua passed a national speed limit of 40 kph for motorcycles (forgive me if you mentioned it here and I just missed it!) Confusingly, the only speed limit signs are still in place. Am presently in Nicaragua and locals tell me the speed limit is indeed in place, but locals use Waze to find police checkpoints and speed otherwise. Just passing that along!
Hi Lani, thanks for your comment and for adding this info.
Yeah, I had heard about this coming into effect, but hadn’t received any confirmation on it.
Very interesting to hear you’re there and it is actually in place now! That’s crazy.
Thanks for the update – will amend the guide.
Cheers
Andy