Nicaragua for Nomads

by Masculine Profiles

  Cheap: Managua is dirt cheap. You can get a good and filling meal for $2 at food stands or $3 - 4 at the food court in the mall. A nice meal in a restaurant ranges from $5 - 9. A meal at the nicest restaurant in Managua cost me $18. A beer in bars like Chaman is less than a dollar. In the nicest nightlife district in the city, a beer is $2 and a mixed drink is $3 - 4. Hotels can be found for $20 - 30 a night in decent areas around the city.

  Fairly Safe: I never felt threatened in Managua and I walked all over around Metrocentro mall during the nights. I even walked 20 minutes to Chaman wasted one night and never felt nervous. I played basketball with the locals at the park and everyone was friendly as can be. Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America and for good reason. The people rarely resort to violence, gang life isn’t omnipresent and most are too poor to afford guns.

  Negatives of Managua

  Quality: The women of Nicaragua aren’t on average exactly gorgeous,. In fact, out of the 4 Central American countries I visited they are at the bottom of the barrel in terms of looks. However, due to your exotic value you will be able to reach the upper tier here. Just don’t expect to see a ton of stunners during your day-to-day activities. I found the women online to be on average more attractive than what I saw during the daytime.

  Day Game Opportunities: While I am not a big day gamer, you will not find many opportunities in Managua to day game as the average girl on the street is hideous. Even girls working in the mall were not very impressive. If you prefer to day game, Nicaragua may not be a country for you.

  City Set Up: Lastly, Managua has no real center. This makes navigating the city somewhat of a pain. Everything is fairly spread out. While this can be negotiable due to cheap taxi fares, a city without a center is always lacking.

  Where to Stay

  Due to the sheer shitiness of Managua, your lodging options are limited. You'll want to stay near Metrocentro mall or Gallerias Santo Domingo. There really are no other good options. However, the area around the Metrocentro mall is filled with lodging options in all directions.

  There are not tons of options available online apartment-wise. I would check Airbnb.com, Craigslist.com, and Encuerta24.com. However, don’t expect much. I didn’t find any apartments online that suited my needs in the locale I desired.

  However, due to Managua being so cheap you can find reasonably priced hotels in nice areas fairly easily.

  There are three hotels around UCA and close to Metrocentro mall. These hotels offer a good start in your lodging search. Hotel Aloha, Hotel Casa Real, and Hotel El Almendro are all good options. Expect to pay $600 - 850 a month if you can negotiate a monthly rate. Nightly rates at these spots range from $35 - 70.

  A taxi driver I met said he knew of a few hotels in good locations that were nice for around $15 - 18 a night. By nice, he meant in a safe area with air conditioning. I never looked into these claims, but I wouldn’t doubt it.

  The main hostel in the city, Managua Backpacker’s Inn is located in a good neighborhood. Reparto San Juan is one of the best-located neighborhoods in the whole city. It’s close to malls, nightlife and gyms. If you choose to rent an apartment, I suggest starting your search here.

  Day Game

  Like I previously stated, there are not many day game opportunities in Managua. I am not a big day gamer, but I make approaches if I know I would regret not talking to a girl. This didn’t happen once during the day in Managua, apart from at the gym.

  If you want to try your hand at a day game here, I recommend hitting the nicest mall only, Gallerias Santo Domingo. The other malls simply do not have great quality. I visited Metrocentro every single day. Apart from the girls meeting me for dates, I only saw one girl I had to talk to in Metrocentro my whole time there. There were a few cute girls working promos or in stores, but nothing too impressive.

  Outside of the malls, day gaming is limited because again, Managua really doesn’t have a city center. UCA is the best university to try your hand at, but sometimes the guards need to see a student ID to get in. Tell them you need to go to the basketball courts or some shit and they should let you in. Remember to use broken Spanish and look confused. Once inside, you’ll want to stroll to the back. There’s a covered walkway where all students hang out. It’s also a great spot to run a dumb gringo game (aka act lost and smile a lot, bonus points if you’re blonde).

  Lastly, the main park in the city has a few day game options on occasion. Parque Luis Alfonso Velasquez Flores is the name, I believe. The park has 8-10 basketball courts, 10-12 soccer fields, and a few volleyball courts. It is packed with people in the afternoons and early evenings. The park is guarded by armed security, so you’ll be safe here.

  The park is on the main street towards the lake about 10 minutes in a taxi from Metrocentro (a $2 - 3 USD taxi ride). Walk up and down the sidewalk in the park and chat up any cutie you see. Just don’t escalate quickly. Be friendly and if she’s keen take her number. Chances are her family or boyfriend is somewhere in the park, so you’ll want to move quickly.

  Night Game

  I enjoyed the nightlife in Managua, but I limited myself to a few main spots. You’re not going to find much variety in the city. After a few weeks going out hard, I’d put money on seeing a girl you’ve gotten with before every night you go out. Still, for a shitty city like Managua – the nightlife is really good.

  Like all Central American cities, there are bars, nightclubs and discos all over the city. However, you’d do yourself some good to stay out of any that aren’t in nice areas. I had heard a club named Moods was fantastic. However, when I got to Managua this club had been moved to a different location. Instead of being in Galerias Santo Domingo (the best nightlife district in the city), Moods was located in a somewhat ghetto area. It wasn’t considered any good when I began talking to the locals.

  Apart from the four clubs listed below, there isn’t much in terms of nightlife for picking up girls in Managua. Zona Hippos features a bunch of bars, but they aren’t too big and are more of the bar & grill type of places. They get packed on weekends, but I wouldn’t waste my time there.

  A chick brought me to an awesome late nightclub before we hooked up one night. I can’t remember the name, but it was close to Reparto San Juan and stayed open all night. We left Alta Bar at 3 and ended up at this place until around 5 in the morning. Everyone in the club was dancing to deep house and chilling. Everyone was also getting stoned out of their minds. While I don’t like weed or the weed culture, the vibe of this place was spot on. If a girl invites you to check it out, do it! It’s not a place to meet chicks, but it’s awesome.

  Chaman: Chaman is a great spot. I had a great time every single time I went. The beer and drinks are soooooo cheap. Cover ranges from $4 - 8 and it’s an extra $1 to get “VIP” access in Chaman. The “VIP” is worth it as you can go upstairs to get drinks. While beer is cheap, you can also get a bottle of decent rum for $18 with mixers.

  Alta Bar: This is the upper class bar in Managua and it’s a different sort of place. The bar/club is located in Galerias Santo Domingo where the legendary Moods used to be. However, Alta Bar hasn’t gained the same level of following as Moods once did. The bar is part lounge and part nightclub. You can visit the lounge for free, but there is an $8 - 10 cover to step foot into the club. This is the highest cover I found in Managua.

  Yet, Alta Bar can be worth it. The club often has the hottest women in all of Managua. Wednesday is ladies night, but it’s not exactly jumping on Wednesdays. I’d only check it out on Friday and Saturday nights after midnight.

  The set up is ideal for a player. It has a dance floor, upstairs lounge area and a number of nooks and crannies. If you find a girl who digs you at Alta Bar, you’ll have a pretty good chance of sneaking her away from her group to escalate and make out.

  Karaoke Bar: This bar is located in Galerias Santo Domingo on Level 2 of the Zona Vida. The bar fluctuates between a karaoke bar and a nightclub every hour. One hour people dance and act like they�
�re in a club, the next hour everyone is taking turns singing karaoke. It’s pretty fun.

  Entry is free and you can find some people here on a Wednesday. On Fridays and Saturdays it is often packed. There’s not much of a dance floor or mingling area, so it’s best to get to the couch area with some friends and order a bottle. If alone (which I was a couple times here), you should post up at the main bar or check the outdoor smokers section.

  This is the best spot to take a girl that wants to “go out” with you. It’s intimate, but still has the feel of a club. Karaoke Bar starts a bit earlier than Alta Bar. Many groups start their nights here and then venture to Alta Bar later.

  The Reef: I never went in here as Karaoke Bar and Alta Bar kept me quite entertained during my nights out in the Zona Vida at Galerias Santo Domingo. I actually thought it was an extension of Karaoke Bar as The Reef is right across a little walkway from Karaoke Bar. However, this place is always super packed during weekend nights.

  It’s more of a group spot, but guys with a good verbal game in Spanish could kill here. I always spotted a few cuties as I waked by. The indoor area seems better than the outdoor tables at The Reef, as it looked like there was a dance floor inside. It didn’t seem like there was a cover here.

  Online Game

  The online options in Managua are quite limited. However the girls using online dating will meet up easily. These girls online are also often hotter than the ones you will see during the day by far.

  I Managua, you should use:

  Tinder

  Latin American Cupid

  OkCupid

  They all worked well for me. I think Tinder is the best option in Managua, but both Latin American Cupid and OkCupid will throw a few more prospects your way.

  I would advise all to avoid Badoo in Managua. Luckily, I noticed this before ever meeting up with any chicks from Badoo there, but most of the good-looking “chicks” on Badoo in Managua are trannies. Just avoid it.

  There is no Plenty of Fish in Nicaragua. The site isn’t available in the country. However, if you have the Plenty of Fish app on your phone then you can check the “Locals” feature on the app. Occasionally you’ll find a chick or two using the app on her phone.

  I recommend opening girls in Spanish if she doesn’t have any English in her profile. If she has English in her profile text, you can use whatever opener you normally would back in the Western World.

  You can try to get girls to come straight to your place from online dating sites, but I found the practice more hassle than it’s worth in Nicaragua. Instead meet for a quick drink in walking distance to your place and then bounce her back. I didn’t have a single girl reject an invitation back to my hotel during my stay in Managua.

  Date Spots

  As always, the best date spots for a man will be as close to his place as possible. For me, I ran 90% of my dates in the Zona Hippos area or at the lounge in the Real Intercontinental Managua.

  Zona Hippos: You really can’t go wrong grabbing a quick drink or two in pretty much any bar in the Zona Hippos district. When you arrive in Managua, I suggest you take a walk through the district and find a bar or two that you like. Take as many girls as possible to these bars. Beers are cheap and you should be lodging nearby.

  Nau Lounge: This is an upscale lounge inside the Real Intercontinental Hotel in Managua, which is right next door to the Metrocentro mall. The lounge is quite upscale, especially for Managua. Expect to pay for the luxury as well. However, you can grab pitchers of sangria for $17. One pitcher will ensure both you and your date are tipsy. Two pitchers will ensure you’re both wasted. Only take upper class girls here. A lower class Nicaraguan girl will feel out of place and uncomfortable.

  Alta Bar: If you live near Galerias Santo Domingo, I suggest taking your dates to Alta Bar on weeknights. Head towards the lounge area and have drinks. You can bounce her to Karaoke Bar during a weeknight if you need another venue before getting her back to the crib.

  Managua Overall

  Managua is a great city for a man looking to rack up some notches on his belt while living on the cheap. While there are gorgeous girls in Managua, you really have to search to find them.

  I had a great time here and was able to find a couple of these gorgeous Nica girls. I recommend men spend at least a week in Managua. However, I wouldn’t spend more than a month here. The sheer shitiness of the city can wear on you. You can alleviate this by taking side trips throughout Nicaragua during your stay in Managua.

  San Juan del Sur

  Positives of San Juan del Sur

  Dirt Cheap: San Juan (and Nicaragua as a whole) is pretty cheap. You can get a beer for $0.75 all over San Juan. A meal is $3 - 5 dollars for a big chicken breast, rice, plantains, and salad.

  Good Surf: I am no expert surfer, but there are three main beaches in San Juan that all attract surfers. Playa Remanso is for beginners, but it good on days where the swell is bigger. Playa Hermosa is an intermediate beach with waves always over one meter sometimes close to two meters. I didn’t check out Playa Maderas, but it is more for advanced surfers.

  You can rent a board or get a lesson at a number of places around town. Most hostels offer shuttles to the beaches, board rentals, and lessons. However, the best place to get a lesson or rent a board is Good Times Surf shop. The instructors are cool and will give you a lesson, then the next days they will surf with you and give you pointers for free.

  Good Party: There are pub-crawls that run a few nights during the week that get a decent amount of people. Then on Friday and Saturday there are a number of bars and clubs in the city center that will offer a good time. Occasionally, a hostel will host a theme party as well. The scene is backpacker-led, but the locals join in as well. It’s a good time.

  Sunday Funday: Sunday Funday is a huge pool crawl run by a few of the main hostels in San Juan. You pay $30 or $15 if you stay at Pancha Mama. This gets you bused to three different pools around San Juan to drink, dance and party until midnight I believe. I can’t remember as I left early ;) You also get a free tank top that you’ll have seen crusty backpackers throughout Central America wearing before you arrive.

  Negatives of San Juan del Sur

  Nothing but Surfing: Sure, you can party a lot and lay around on the beach and hiking to the Jesus statue is cool one hung-over day. But, other than that there is not a lot to do. If you are not a surfer or trying to learn how to surf you will not want to spend much time here.

  Cliques: Everyone seems to know everyone in San Juan. This can be tough if you are traveling alone and do not know anyone when you arrive. However, don’t worry about it because after a couple of days in San Juan you will know everyone as well. Take a surf lesson. Chat with the people in your hostel. Get recommendations from the hostel staff. Hit on girls lying out on the beach. You’ll end up/seeing the same people over and over again even if you only stay 3-4 days.

  Places to Stay

  There are a ton of hostels, guesthouses and hotels in San Juan. The main party hostel is Pancha Mama, but pretty much anywhere you stay should be fine as long as there are other travelers staying and it’s in the town. The main Pancha Mama is a mad house, as the hostel throws parties regularly. However, the Pancha Mama annex is half a block away and much quitter. You can stay here and enjoy all the party benefits of Pancha Mama while still getting good sleep.

  Hotel Delfin is a quiet option in town next to the beach that is cheap and laid back. Make sure to check guest policies if ladies are on your mind. I loved the location here and private doubles could be had for $14 - 20 with air conditioning.

  Naked Tiger is said to be legendary, but I wasn’t impressed with the place. It’s located way outside the center of town and doesn’t have private rooms or bathrooms. Unless you’re all about the backpacking lifestyle, I’d avoid staying here.

  You can find incredibly shitty privates in town for $10 a night, but I’d advise against them. I stayed one night in one and didn’t enjoy it. The only other guest was a 70 year old ma
n, who enjoyed banging pregnant prostitutes.

  Game in San Juan del Sur

  There are really no online dating options whatsoever in San Juan. You could give Tinder a shot, but do not expect much. I wouldn’t even attempt to meet girls online in San Juan del Sur. Backpacking is about being social and that’s how you’ll get laid here.

  A day game is pretty easy. Just go talk to girls about the surf and the beaches. You won’t need to go for a number or anything. Just flirt a bit then go on with your day. You will see her out again at night. If she likes you, she will be drunk and horny later and will often come say hi to you.

  A night game is all you need here. Isolate and escalate as quickly as possible. Backpacking guys are a thirsty bunch and will approach like sharks. In San Juan, I was waiting at the bar on a Friday night to grab a couple of beers and I saw two chicks walk in. They were cute and definitely bangable. I knew I could approach once they got near the bar, but they never did while I was there. They were hit on and rejected 3 groups of guys before engaging in a conversation with the fourth group. This all happened before I could get my fucking beers.