Nicaragua🇳🇮 | best festivalsDiscover the 8 Best festivals Across Nicaragua

How many to visit: I advise three to four festivals on a trip of two weeks. That leaves time for the long processions, which run into the night, and for the buses that arrive late. More than that and the dust, fireworks and heat start to blur everything together. Fewer, and you may spend a week in a country where the main reward is the street scene.Which kind to prioritize: If you like color, costumes and satire, choose a Pacific highland street festival, where dancers in masks and drums fill dusty streets. If you prefer solemn ritual, look for colonial-city religious processions, with sawdust carpets, incense and slow brass bands. If you want music and a different culture, the Caribbean coast offers maypole dancing and drumming in thick humid air, but plan extra days and money to get there. … read more 👉

How many to visit: I advise three to four festivals on a trip of two weeks. That leaves time for the long processions, which run into the night, and for the buses that arrive late. More than that and the dust, fireworks and heat start to blur everything together. Fewer, and you may spend a week in a country where the main reward is the street scene.Which kind to prioritize: If you like color, costumes and satire, choose a Pacific highland street festival, where dancers in masks and drums fill dusty streets. If you prefer solemn ritual, look for colonial-city religious processions, with sawdust carpets, incense and slow brass bands. If you want music and a different culture, the Caribbean coast offers maypole dancing and drumming in thick humid air, but plan extra days and money to get there. First-timers should start on the Pacific side, where buses are frequent and rooms are easy to find.What it costs: Budget US$25 to 45 a day in a festival town, covering a dorm bed or simple private room (US$10 to 30, higher during Holy Week), street food and local lunches (US$3 to 6), and buses (US$1 to 4 per ride). Most street events are free. Add US$5 to 15 for a guide or a ticketed event, and US$40 to 120 for a one-way domestic flight to the coast. Carry cordobas in small notes, since many food stalls and ATMs in smaller towns may run short.Safety and etiquette: Crowds and fireworks are the main hazards. Rockets and mortars are fired at close range, so keep your distance, wear closed shoes and avoid standing under them. Pickpockets work crowded processions, so leave your passport at the hotel, keep a phone in a front pocket and take licensed taxis home after dark. Drinking is part of many celebrations, so pace yourself in the heat and drink water between rounds.Respect and photography: Many events are religious first. Cover your shoulders in churches, stay out of the procession route and do not step in front of bearers. Ask before photographing people in costume or at altars. A small tip or purchase from the family who offers food or a seat is welcomed, and you will be warmly received.