Cocina de Doña Haydée
Cocina de Doña Haydée
Cocina de Doña Haydée (Carretera a Masaya km. 4 ½, 71 Paseo de la Unión Europea, Managua) – housed in a Spanish hacienda-style structure, this restaurant serves a variety of local (Nicaraguan) dishes from the corn-based “Indio Viejo” to “Sopa Albóndigas de Pollo” (a Nicaraguan chicken soup), as well as Carne Asada, and Nacatamal (another local specialty).
Bus
Bus
Bus – the public transportation system, which consists solely of buses, is among the least developed in the world. There is a network of over 800 buses that go from one major geographic point of reference to another in Managua (such as the Old Cathedral, etc.). Many of these vehicles were once school buses donated from USA and elsewhere. Nowadays, the public buses are newer models from Russia and Mexico.
As of 2013, Managua’s local government now has bus passengers purchase prepaid smart cards called a reloadable “Tarjeta TUC” (TUC Card) that one can purchase from MPESO (Nicaragua’s only mobile money transfer and payment company). The basic bus fare is C$2.50 There are no official maps of Managua’s buses. Visitors can ask locals which bus to take (using a destination point of reference as guidance).
Tumba de Carlos Fonseca
Tumba de Carlos Fonseca
Tumba de Carlos Fonseca (Managua) –– located on the west side of the plaza is the tomb of Carlos Fonseca (1936-1976), one of the founders of the FSLN and its most revered leader. He was killed in an ambush by Somoza’s National Guard and is still honored every July 19 for his sacrifice. The white-marble tomb is surrounded by rows of black-and-red FSLN flags as well as blue-and-white Nicaraguan flags. An important feature that represents his overall importance is the eternal flame, which is the only one in Central America.
TAXI
TAXI
TAXI – unlike other major cities, there are no metered taxis in Managua. There are two groups of taxis that function in Managua: those that are part of a cooperative (which tend to have better maintained cars (appearance and cleanliness), likely have their registrations up to date, and have their license plate number painted on the outside doors and dashboard (beware if these numbers differ). Often, an enlarged photocopy of their government-issued ID is posted on the dashboard and the name of the cooperative they belong to. The other types of taxis are independent (which vary significantly in quality). There may also be a safety risk with such cars & drivers.
Since none of these taxis are metered, upon boarding such vehicles, one must negotiate with the driver a reasonable fare (after advising him of your destination). Of course, if you know locals that are familiar with a particular driver or service (that’s considered reliable and fair), that’s the way to go. As a reference, assuming you’re going from one destination to another within Managua, the fare shouldn’t go over US$4.
IMPORTANT: local taxis often pick up other passengers along the way (in order to make more money). Assuming you don’t want this, you must advise the driver upon negotiating the fare (that will, of course, raise your fare somewhat).
There are a number of taxi companies in Managua that are available via phone:
FENICOOTAXI: +505 2289 7533
Remises El Transportador: +505 2289 0792
Taxi Managua: +505 8844 6310
CAR RENTALS
CAR RENTALS
CAR RENTALS – the following car rental agencies operate in Managua:
Alamo Rent a Car: +505 2277 1117
Avis Rent a Car +505 2267 4000
Budget Rent a Car: +505 2255 9000
Dollar Rent a Car: +505 2255 7979
Hertz: +505 2260 1292
Thrifty: +505 2255 7981
Rubén Darío Museum
Rubén Darío Museum
Rubén Darío Museum (three blocks west from parque central, Calle Real, León) – located in the provincial city of León (1 ½ hours northwest of Managua), this was once the residence of famed Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío (which was converted into a museum in 1964). Here, the life and history of Rubén Darío has been portrayed on the walls. Some of his belongings are on display, including his bed, his bible, and some of his writings. The items are set up in several rooms, and the museum is well maintained by a university of the city (the UNAN).
Admission: donations accepted. Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Tuesday – Saturday; closed at lunchtime from Noon to 2:00 pm), 8:00 am – 12:00 pm (Sunday). Closed on Monday.
Loma de Tiscapa National Historical Park
Loma de Tiscapa National Historical Park
Parque Histórico Nacional Loma de Tiscapa (south of the Plaza de la Revolución, Managua) – this is a popular weekend retreat for residents of the city. But it was once the former site of the Somoza’s presidential palace and notorious prison, and where Augusto Sandino (one of Nicaragua’s national heroes) was assassinated. Today, the spot is marked by the silhouetted statue of Sandino that is visible both day and night. At that site is also a rusted tank that belong to Somoza’s forces (that was originally donated by Italian dictator Mussolini).
Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve
Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve
Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve – this site is located just south of Managua’s historic center. Leading up to the Lagoon is the Monumento Roosevelt (Roosevelt Monument). Another interesting monument is the statue of Sandino which is a statue of the silhouette of General Augusto C. Sandino, Nicaragua’s national hero and stands at 59 feet tall. The monument was proposed by Ernesto Cardenal and is protected by the Nicaraguan military. The Sandino monument was constructed on top of the wreckage of Somoza’s presidential mansion. Also on the crater lip of Tiscapa is the Las Masmorras, a prison in which Somoza tortured current President Daniel Ortega and many other political prisoners, however, this site is closed to the public.
The reserve is located within city limits of the capital, Managua, and is a popular tourist attraction. Restaurants and stores line the walls of the lagoon. Canopy rides provide a panoramic view of the old downtown where only a few buildings survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of the capital city. However, many new buildings and shopping malls have been built since then throughout the city, due to the lack of a new center. Many pre-Columbian artifacts have been found in and around the lagoon and reserve.
Old Cathedral of Managua
Old Cathedral of Managua
Old Cathedral of Managua – this cathedral was designed in, and shipped from Belgium in 1920. The cathedral survived the 1931 earthquake but was extremely damaged due to the 1972 earthquake and was condemned, which led to the construction of the new cathedral of Managua, the newest constructed Roman Catholic cathedral. However, in recent years, the restoration of the old cathedral has appeared to be possible and is currently awaiting its renovation.
National Museum of Nicaragua
National Museum of Nicaragua
National Museum of Nicaragua (Plaza de la Revolución, near Lake Managua) – this museum was originally the National Palace (built in 1935 by then-president Juan Bautista Sacasa). This building was the seat of government until Sandinista rebels stormed it in 1979. The National Museum of Nicaragua houses many fascinating old artifacts and artworks. Its paintings date from the Pre-Columbian period and it also has statuettes and ceramics as well as a great variety of other artworks. There is a room dedicated to National Symbols and this is also intriguing to see. This museum also has film archives (containing film reels of the country from the 1930s). Admission: US$2 (foreigners), C$12 (Nicaraguans). A guided tour comes with the admission price. Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (weekdays), 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (weekends).
