"When should I visit Nicaragua?" is one of the questions we are most frequently asked. It's not an easy question! Nicaragua is tropical but not unbearable - it gets hot and stays hot for long stretches of time, but it's infrequent that you'll really melt unless you're exploring Chinandega or León in April/May. Otherwise, pay attention to the rainy/dry seasons and pack your bags. Some months are drier/dustier than others, and some are wetter than others, but never does it get to the point where we would say "avoid Nicaragua at these times". Rather, get ready to be just a little less comfortable than you were back home, and enjoy the trip.

Nicaragua has two seasons, invierno (winter), which refers to the rainy season from approximately May to October, and verano (summer), or the dry season, lasting from November to April. However, the seasons vary from region to region and are inconsistent from one year to the next. The Río San Juan and much of the Atlantic Coast, for example, have significantly longer, wetter rainy seasons, stretching into January, and sometimes even longer. In nearly all Nicaragua, April and May are the hottest, driest months, prone to intense dust and clouds of smoke from farmers burning their fields in preparation for planting.

December and January are the coolest months and easily comprise the most refreshing and greenest time to visit Nicaragua. Day time temperatures are pleasant, and the nights are marked by cool air and clear, starry skies. The temperature gradually climbs and the humidity increases from February until the first rains in May or early June. April and early May can be oppressively hot, dry, and dusty, especially in the lowland cities of Managua, León and Granada. The temperature drops when the rainy season begins. Be aware that unpaved roads become unmanageable during the peak of the wet season, becoming completely unusable in some regions until things dry out. After extreme rainfalls, some streams will grow in size so suddenly vehicles will be unable to cross. Have patience (a good mantra for traveling in Nicaragua anyway): most streams will drop back down within six hours of a heavy rainfall.

Nicaragua's rainfall patterns are characterized by a six-month drought considered the single most serious limiting factor for Nicaragua's economic growth. The rainy season traditionally starts around 15 May and is typically marked by clear blue skies in the morning and then clouds that gather until around mid-day, when the rain begins to fall. The rainy season continues through November or December depending on the region, except for an Indian Summer known as the canícula, which traditionally occurs from 15 July to 15 August, during which time the rains temporarily cease. Most Nicaraguan farmers take advantage of the dry spell to harvest the corn and plant red beans in anticipation of the second half of the rainy season.

September and October are Hurricane Season in the Caribbean and the rainiest months in Nicaragua, when sustained, intense storms are common. If traveling during these months, pay close attention to the newspaper and radio broadcasts, which will warn you if trouble is coming your way. If it looks like you are in the path of destruction, your best bet in most cases, is to stay put. Find a room somewhere on high ground, buy some bottled water and flashlight batteries, and sit tight until it blows over. However, the uncertainties of the global climate, and specifically the effects of El Niño and La Niña have considerably destabilized traditional rainfall patterns. On the Atlantic Coast the dry season is unnoticeable--you can expect rain showers just about any time of year, while certain valleys in northern Nicaragua experience locally reduced rainy seasons.

Finally, a word about temperature. Located between 11 and 15 degrees north latitude is squarely in the tropics, and the climate, while generally warm to hot, presents considerable variation from region to region and as you climb in altitude. Temperatures generally range from 27C to 32C (81F to 90F) during the rainy season, and from 30C to 35C (86F to 95F) in the dry season. In the mountains of Matagalpa and Jinotega temperatures are significantly cooler (15C - 20C, 59F - 68F). The temperature rises noticeably as you travel from Managua northwest to León and Chinandega, and drops deliciously as you head south into the Pueblos Blancos.