BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi, I'm a new member and will be traveling to Central America in the next year with two children and husband in tow. I have had the travel bug all my life but held off because of the babies. Now I am starting on my second family and time is running out so I've decided to take the babies and just go. (husband is a homebody so it won't be easy)I am looking for information from anybody whose been to Costa Rica, Panama, or Nicaragua. I am wanting to retire to one of the above countries and want to know the safety aspects on living in them. We are not rich and famous Americans and will probably farm and do volunteer work wherever we go. I will also be homeschooling so anything on that line would be appreciated also. Great to meet yawl, and am glad there is someone besides me who is long past 20 something and still has the adventure bug. Anybody know about the safety of the Los Chiles area of Nicaragua (there's a farm we're looking at there.)From what I can gather it's very out of the way and rains A LOT. Anything on rebels stills lurking in the bushes?
Franny

Hi Franny-
We just got back from Nicaragua not too long ago. We don't have kids, but I met a bunch in our travels. Travelling itself, by bus is difficult, hot, long yet very safe. The people are very helpful. Once I got over my own fears about hopping into broken down taxi's, and dark nights (when the power in the entire city of Granada went out, almost every night) I realized it is just as everybody told me it would be; very safe, actually safest place in Central America.

We didn't come across too many Americans, but foreign investors, interested in Real Estate are all over the country, with places like Laguna de Apoye and the South part of the Pacific side being super popular. Ometepe is an amazing place, soon to be bought out by retiree's. My favorite was near Leon on the beaches of Las Penitas/Poneloya. Our new friends there, are a couple from England, living in Esteli. They have a 4 year old they are raising there. She raved so favorably about the healthcare system in Nicaragua. Each time she went to the hospital or Dr. the experience proved better than in England. I was surprised, but happy to hear it.

I was worried about rebels in the bushes a bit too, but I find it's totally unfounded. In 18 days, 6 cities, and hours and hours of bus time, I met only 1 local interested in talking politics. The Nicaraguans seemed so passive, non-angry, pretty much ambivalent to the politics, local or global.

I wish you luck, and I vote for Nicaragua!

Hey there. I've been going to Nicaragua for years and I love it there. There are no special safety issues save the ones that anyone would have going to a new place where they don't know the rhythms and rules. I don't have children, so I cannot say what they will feel, but I can say that there is a general sense of protectiveness for children in general there. Leon has it's share of street kids, who are wild and familyless, and they ARE a problem. Granada is fine and terrific and peaceful. I cannot think of a safer or more peaceful place than Alta Gracia. The city of Managua is sort of a wash. The inner part of the country is a great place to bring up children. You could do far worse. London or Toronto or New York or Berlin are fraught with more danger.

I wish you the best in this. I envy your children.