Where will I live while building my home?
The Blue Morpho Eco-Lodge and Restaurant, located just 3 kilometers from Harmonia, offers lovely long-term rental options. You can also rent a house in Cardenas for $100-$300 per month. Additional private accommodation rentals are available in Sapoa, approximately 15 kilometers from Harmonia. During primary construction, you can also consider renting houses or apartments in San Juan del Sur (50 kilometers) and Rivas/San Jorge (45 kilometers).
What are my transportation options?
Several buses run to and from Rivas daily, taking about 90 minutes each way and costing around $2 per trip. Buses and taxis at La Virgin connect to San Juan del Sur, a 15-30 minute trip depending on your choice of transport. A taxi to Cardenas (4 kilometers) is approximately $1.50 each way. Taxis to Rivas cost $25-$30 each way, while taxis to San Juan del Sur are around $35 each way.
A used 4WD truck or SUV starts around $6,000, and a newer used Toyota Hilux pickup costs about $25,000. Cars must be registered in the name of a Nicaraguan citizen or legal resident. Several people can register the cars in their names until you establish residency. It is advisable to buy cars locally, as Toyota vehicles in Central America are manufactured in Japan, making it difficult to source parts for US-manufactured vehicles. Imported cars must be less than 5 years old and require residency to import. Cars entering Nicaragua have a 30-day visa, which can be renewed by driving to Costa Rica every 30 days until residency is established. Most vehicles in Nicaragua are manufactured by Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai.
Diesel costs around $5 per gallon, and gasoline is about $5.50 per gallon. There are no gas stations in Cardenas or Sapoa, but local businesses sell gasoline and diesel.
Quads (to and from Cardenas only) and motorcycles are options, but highway traffic, rain, wind, and bugs must be considered.
What kind of internet access is available at Harmonia?
Both Tigo and Claro provide internet coverage throughout the residential areas of Harmonia. A modem with 10 Mbps costs about $28 per month. For high-speed internet, you can rent a room or house in Cardenas for $30-$60 per month and set up a remote office. Members can share office space to reduce costs.
What are my health care options in Nicaragua?
There is a local health clinic in Cardenas that handles basic injuries and illnesses, offering free health services. For more serious conditions, multiple private clinics in Rivas provide high-quality care, though the office aesthetics may not be the best. Rivas also has a hospital, but for life-threatening injuries, patients are likely transferred to a hospital in Managua. The Hospital Escuela Antonio Lenin Fonseca Martínez in Managua is a trauma hospital with excellent care. The Military Hospital and Salud Integral Hospital are also excellent government hospitals. Vivian Pellas Hospital is a world-class private hospital with emergency teams, a burn center, and doctors in all specialties, many of whom are board-certified in the United States. Several hospitals offer private insurance, and Vivian Pellas accepts many major insurance carriers and offers private insurance as well. Pharmacies in Nicaragua carry most medications, although some may need to be ordered from your home country.
Can I order from Amazon?
Yes, multiple cargo shipping companies offer tax-free delivery for most Amazon products. Shipping costs are $2.50 per pound by boat from Miami or Los Angeles (about three weeks during non-holiday periods) and $7.50 per pound by airfreight (5-7 days). Many car parts are shipped this way, with local pickup options in Rivas or San Juan del Sur.
What is the weather like in southern Nicaragua?
We have two seasons: the rainy season (May through December) and the hot, dry, and windy season (January through May). Cardenas has a wetter microclimate compared to San Juan del Sur and Rivas, which are only 50 kilometers away. Temperatures range from 70 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 35 Celsius), with cooler temperatures during the rainy season.
Can I bring my pet?
Yes, pets can be transported into the country with proper paperwork. We welcome pets at Harmonia, though they must stay out of the vegetable gardens and community buildings. Dogs must be friendly to both humans and cats. Keep in mind that Harmonia is in the jungle, where there are potential dangers such as boas and venomous snakes that can be hazardous to kittens and puppies.
Which airlines fly to Nicaragua?
American Airlines, Amerijet, Avianca, Air Canada (seasonal), Aero Mexico, Copa, SANSA, United, and Spirit Airlines all fly non-stop to Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (Managua), about two and a half hours from Harmonia ($80-$100 for a private taxi to Harmonia from the airport).
Costa Esmeralda Airport in Tola offers private flights to and from Atlanta, Baltimore, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Montreal, Newark, New York, and Toronto. This airport is about 90 minutes from Harmonia. Pet owners with multiple animals use this airport during the airline pet embargo periods, but it is not cheap.
Many travelers use Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, served by American, United, Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest, Copa, Air Canada, WestJet, Sun Country, Avianca, KLM, and Alaskan Airlines. An hourly city bus runs from Liberia to the Nicaraguan border (travel time two hours), as well as taxis and private shuttles to the border (one hour, $75-$100). Harmonia is 15 minutes from the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border crossing facilities.
Juan Santamaría International Airport is Costa Rica’s main airport, located in Alajuela just outside of San Jose. There are 29 airlines with flights from San Jose, including Aerolineas MAS, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Asian Air, AVIANCA, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta, Edelweiss Air, Evelop Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Gol, Iberia, JetBlue, KLM, LATAM Airlines, Lufthansa, SANSA, Southwest, Spirit, United, Volaris, and Wingo. It is about a six-hour bus ride from the airport to the border.
Can I live in Nicaragua on a tourist visa? What do I need for residency?
Many unofficial residents cross into Costa Rica every 90 days to renew their tourist visa for Nicaragua. This is usually a fast turnaround and can be completed in less than an hour. There is a $3 departure tax and a $15 entrance fee for tourists, as well as a $10 departure tax in Costa Rica. The Nicaraguan government encourages people to apply for residency, but they have been generous in allowing long-term expats to do 90-day border runs for decades. Overstaying a visa results in a $3 per day penalty.
The investment (and house) in Harmonia meet the $60,000 investment required for a work visa, which permits the resident to work and earn money in Nicaragua. Pensioners over 45 qualify for a non-work visa based on a minimum guaranteed income of $1,000 per month. We have attorneys who can assist future residents of Harmonia with the paperwork. Residency is granted for five years, but residents must travel to Managua every six months for a new cedula.
