It's a question I get nearly every time I mention Nicaragua to a prospective traveler "But is it safe?" Even as a 20-something when I think of Nicaragua, revolution immediately comes to mind - the countries recent history comes screaming to the forefront of our collective memory even though its been over 25 years since the fighting ceased. Like any country you need to keep your wits about you in big cities and you shouldn't be flashing around loads of cash, but in all honesty I felt safer in Nicaragua than in parts of New York or LA. But I think I owe that mainly to the expert direction of my guide, Elvis.
Mombacho volcano hike (Jessica Liles)
Elvis and I bonded quite a bit over my 5 days touring the country and he rarely left me up to my own devices. As a single woman traveling alone I felt 100% safe under Elvis' direction. Even in the evenings when I was left up to my own devices I had the expert recommendations of Elvis to keep me safe. When he dropped me off in Grenada we walked down the main street together before he departed. He suggested a few restaurants and told me I could walk all the way to the water before the sun went down if I so desired.
Our last meal together (Jessica Liles)
The benefit of traveling with a tour operator is you have that little extra security to make you feel totally comfortable traveling in a foreign country. I never felt smothered or over regimented. Since I wasn't traveling on a bus with 20 other people I could go at my own pace but still have a guide to help me communicate and make sure I wasn't going to be taken advantage of or messed with in any way. Every where I went I was greeted warmly and though my Spanish did get laughed at a little (I am abysmal with my language retention!) everyone was happy to help me figure out what I was trying to say.
So is it safe to travel in Nicaragua? I would give it a resounding YES! Just make sure you get some expert opinions before you go, or better yet take a private tour with a local guide so you can let loose and really enjoy your vacation.
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.