How safe is Nicaragua?
Since the early 1990s, Nicaragua has been considered one of the safest Central American countries. In addition, in fifteen years of working in Nicaragua, Bridges has never had an incident relating to personal safety. Our staff is careful in selecting sites and builds strong relationships with local leaders to ensure a safe working environment for all volunteers. Staff and leaders are with the group at all times.
Crime in Nicaragua is moderate and fairly specific to certain metropolitan areas. Pickpocketing is the largest concern for travelers, especially in crowded airports, markets and visitor sites. Be aware of your valuables and avoid carrying large amounts of cash, jewelry or other expensive items. Check out the US State Department travel advisories for the latest information at: http://www.state.
There are no guarantees, and like all establishments in a country where the majority of the population live in poverty, we need to take some precautions. But Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America and, outside Managua, the crime rate is low (about half that of the USA). We have all night security staff and our dogs do a fantastic job of alerting us to anything strange. We also have close communication with local police who visit us regularly.
