Daily Life
Miscelanea Sanchez: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
~ Hand washing and use of masks are required to enter Miscelanea Sanchez in San Juan del Sur: February 25, 2021

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Some observations from day to day life during times of Covid in San Juan del Sur.

Through the rose colored sunglasses of a tourist San Juan del Sur looks untouched by Covid. Walking around the streets our shops and restaurants are open. Few people are seen wearing masks. The streets are busy with vehicles and pedestrians going about their day.

Children are seen walking in groups to school during the week and playing volleyball and soccer on the beach during the weekend. Street vendors are everywhere selling their wares. Surfboards pass by in pickup trucks and yoga mats are tucked under people’s arms. The sound of skateboards rolling around the park by the port is as perpetual as the sound of the waves crashing on the beach. 

On the weekends the town sees an influx of tourists from across the country. Rates for accommodations are reduced so the Nicaraguan Rivera of San Juan del Sur is more accessible than ever to locals. Commonly three generations of large Nicaraguan families dine, shop and enjoy the bay together.

There are concerts, professional sporting and cultural events seemingly happening every week. Recently our Rivas Gigantes professional baseball team won the league championship in front of a packed house. The Rivas AAA baseball team kicked off with a season opener last week. And our annual month long rodeo has just come to an end. The start of summer party had three bands performing on three stages over two nights. 

San Juan del Sur’s Version of Covid Restrictions

Once you focus below the surface you start to notice a few things. Some shops are set up to ask at a counter for products instead of browsing inside. Other shops have hand washing stations outside. And some require the use of a mask to enter. Most banks and the Pali grocery store also take your temperature before entering. A handful of restaurants give you the option of scanning a QR code on the table to access their menu.

The Effect of Covid on the Local Population

For those of us living here we see a little deeper. San Juan has relied on tourism for many years. We are just starting to see foreign tourists returning in small numbers. The cost of living for locals increases every year but with few tourism dollars coming in people are hurting. Thankfully our little community is strong and sticks together. Most people help out wherever they can so that everyone can get through the challenges ahead. In times of need neighbors — and even entire barrios — are like extended family.

How Did We Get To This Point?

When Covid started a year ago the borders on all sides closed to foreigners. All commercial air travel was cancelled, shutting us off from the rest of the world. When commercial air travel slowly started to open negative Covid tests were required to enter the country. The same holds true with entry to our land and sea borders.

Aside from a general lack of new cases being introduced to the country our demographics help dramatically. In the country I was born – Canada – nearly 16% of the population is over the age of 65 so at higher risk. The median age in Canada is 41 years old.  In Nicaragua only 5% of the population is over 65 years old and the median age is less than 25 years old.

As with most countries there have not been enough tests completed in Nicaragua to speak scientifically or intelligently about the impact of Covid. Anecdotally I have listened to personal stories regarding cases and deaths. The number of cases I have heard about are low and the hospitals seem anything but overrun. That being said Covid has claimed the lives of people everywhere.

No Place I Would Rather Be

With the entire world being held hostage by a virus I have said to many I am happy to be in Nicaragua. I neither agree or disagree with any of the things I have seen in Nicaragua regarding Covid. I am not saying there is no risk of infection in Nicaragua. I am simply sharing what I see. And expressing my gratitude at being so lucky to be here in my adoptive country during these trying times.

24 Comments

  1. What a thoughtful and well written summary of COVID life in Nicaragua. Thank you.

    Doctors are amazed that there have been so few critical cases here; my partner is a COVID nurse and she and one other COVID nurse treat two COVID patients at the hospital in JInotepe, one about to be released home.

    Beside a young demographic, NIcaragua is a much less dense country than the others in Central America. People don’t live in high rise buildings or use elevators to get home. Lotrs of people walking in the cities and towns. The frequent breezes off Lake NIcaragua seems to clense the air for us in the south and most daily living is outdoors. I do see a lot of mask wearing and the stores we frequent either require hand washing and or alcohol hand spray; both were required when I entered the Alcaldia yesterday to pay my property tax..

    martin nelson

    1. I have been traveling solely to places like this that have no restrictions for the past 8 months and am currently in Granada which is just like San Juan Del Sur except many more people.

      I would estimate 10% of the people wear masks. Many servers wear them while working because they have to but don’t wear them while not working.

      Best time ever for traveling. Cheaper than usual prices and not overrun with gringos. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to visit the sites, help the local economies and really enjoy the local vibe

      Perro Rojo

          1. Elisha,

            My Wife and family are in the very preliminary stages of researching a plan B if things in Canada continue to the way they are. I just found your website but can I contact you for further information about any questions we may have about moving our family down there?

            Jordan

          3. Hi Jordan
            Of course you can contact us. We have helped hundreds of people move to Nicaragua over the past 6 years. Since Covid we have helped dozens of families relocate to San Juan del Sur. Our little town has seen an explosion in families with children as of late.

            Elisha & Gordon MacKay

  4. Bravo Gordon,

    Great article. I look forward to returning to SJDS once Ireland & Europe gets this under control. Vaccines for my age group will not be available until the end of the summer 2021. Looking forward to seeing you all then.

    Cormac 🙂

    Cormac O'Reilly

  5. Hola. I am on my 3rd visit to NI. NI is mas tranquillo then US! Lots of work to fly here compared to last time. But so glad to get out of US. Ithought California would ban tourist travel from SFO last Dec! NY weekend fiesta in Granada. Dance with my Nica girlfriend in disco.
    Im 71. Great health. – test to enter NI of course. We did pacific beachs Jiqiuilio to Casears to playa El Gigante(my favorite). Big & LCI Jan. 6 other tourists. Now up in mountains between San Rafael del norte and Esteli mountain biking. Refeshing cool. A week in miraflor in cloud forest at 1500 meters! Finca lindo ojas and finca neublina.
    And much of time here my favorite music salsa bachatta…
    Better then winter in USA.

    D Murphy

  6. Thank you for your article. Do you think they will make the cvoid vaccine mandatory? Do they talk about a vaccine passport?
    I live in Canada & am looking to relocate to a more free, open country.
    Thanks for your help.

    Karen Andrews

  7. Hi thank you for sharing your experience! I’m from Canada and I’m looking at going to San Juan del Sur for 2 months this summer. Do you know how easy it is to get a covid test before flying out of Nicaragua? i’ll need that to come back to Canada. Also, can I contact you when I get there? would love to meet fellow Canadians and hear your tips and tricks about the place!

    Yohann Piche-Nguyen

    1. There is currently only one place to get an RT-PCR covid test in Nicaragua. The testing center is in Managua. They test every morning except Sundays and send results electronically the same afternoon. The cost is $150 USD. You can also fly in and out of Liberia, Costa Rica now which gives you many more airline options to choose from. Only Avianca and Copa are flying into Managua right now.

      Elisha & Gordon MacKay

  8. Hi there! Thanks so much for your info. We are a family of four and a dog (golden/lab 55 lbs) looking to mine to SJDS in August 2021. Can you recommend an airline to take that is good with dogs? I assume the dog would be crated with the luggage? Thanks again

    Nicole Methot Keogh

    1. Hi Nicole. Currently the only airlines flying into Managua commercially are Avianca and Copa. The Costa Rican border is open now so you could fly into Liberia which gives you many options for airlines. We have had clients fly in through Avianca and United with pets and had no issues with either.

      Elisha & Gordon MacKay

  9. Thanks for sharing your insight. Planning on making SJDS my home in the next few moths. Love the you provide relocation services and will be filling out your form.

    Cindy G

  10. Great blog with tons of very important and amazing information. No masks and no social distancing are what makes us want to move there. Canada is no longer a free country (probably never was but we were asleep). Looking forward to moving there, being free, breathing fresh air without a face diaper, hugging people and seeing smiles! Thank you for your insights!

    Anick Lavoie

    1. Currently it is not mandatory to receive the covid vaccine in Nicaragua. Sputnik V, Astrazeneca and covishield are currently being administered in Nicaragua. Citizens and residents 45 years and older have been offered the vaccine at centers throughout the country.

      Elisha & Gordon MacKay

  12. Very nice article and very helpful, too. I am planning to come to Nica at the end of this month. I am a novelist who’s been traveling Europe for the last two years finishing my first book. Looking for some warm weather and good food. Being from the west coast of the USA, I can’t go long without Mexican or some kind of Latin food. It’s especially hard to find in Eastern Europe.

    Ty

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