

Whether or not you will need a four wheel drive in Nicaragua depends on where you will be driving and what time of year you will be there.
There are a lot of good quality highways connecting the main cities in Nicaragua. These roads are like rural highways in the US. There are several new highways that were just constructed in recent years [2010 - 2014].
If you are going to stay in the main cities like Managua, Leon, Granada, or Masaya, then you are probably ok in just a regular car. Although, it is almost impossible to avoid dirt roads in Nicaragua. They are often not graded or kept up, so they can have high ridges and deep dips, even in the dry season. However, the road situation is improving every day. If you are thinking to venture off the beaten path, then you will need a higher car. If you will be there during the rainy season [May - November] then you will need a 4x4.
This is a picture of the roads in El Transito, Nicaragua during the rainy season. El Transito is a rural town that connects all the major beaches on the Pacific coast in Nagarote, near Leon. There are many great surfing beaches in that area. It can get quite muddy if there are several days of hard rain in a row.
There are a lot of good quality highways connecting the main cities in Nicaragua. These roads are like rural highways in the US. There are several new highways that were just constructed in recent years [2010 - 2014].
If you are going to stay in the main cities like Managua, Leon, Granada, or Masaya, then you are probably ok in just a regular car. Although, it is almost impossible to avoid dirt roads in Nicaragua. They are often not graded or kept up, so they can have high ridges and deep dips, even in the dry season. However, the road situation is improving every day. If you are thinking to venture off the beaten path, then you will need a higher car. If you will be there during the rainy season [May - November] then you will need a 4x4.
This is a picture of the roads in El Transito, Nicaragua during the rainy season. El Transito is a rural town that connects all the major beaches on the Pacific coast in Nagarote, near Leon. There are many great surfing beaches in that area. It can get quite muddy if there are several days of hard rain in a row.