Major Shopping Sites
Most of the major shopping areas are in Managua and a few in the smaller cities of León, Granada, Rivas and Masaya. We buy a lot of our daily food needs from the vendors that come to the door or the neighborhood pulperias. You will find a pulperia on every block of most towns and they have your essentials such as milk, eggs, bread, razors, cigarettes, drinks, etc.
Rumor has it that WalMart is opening a SuperCenter in Nicaragua and other Central American countries within a year. We have mixed feelings about this since we hate to see the behemoth invade our little tropical paradise but to be able to buy almost everything at one store is sorely tempting. It will decimate the little shops that cater to the expats and the wealthier Nicas.
In almost every town there are a lot of lawyers, pharmacies and ferreterías (hardware stores). We are not sure why there are so many pharmacies and ferreterías but the ferreterías tend to specialize and you will eventually learn to buy paint at one, plumbing supplies at another and electrical supplies at yet another.
We have found that the pharmacies provide more service than those back in the states. Unless you have a serious medical problem it is cheaper and easier to consult the pharmacist which is almost a community service. Prescriptions are not necessary except for narcotics and of course, the drugs are much cheaper than in the states. The drug prices are usually less here than just the co-payment costs we had under medical insurance in the states.
There are also many medical labs in the larger towns. Instead of making a doctor visit, many people here simply take a urine or feces sample to the lab and within hours, the lab will report the results and recommend the medication. The people are quite professional.
Upscale Shopping Centers
Galerias de Santo Domingo and Multi Centro Las Americas are the two newest of the five modern shopping malls in Managua offering international chain store shopping in a setting similar to the nicer malls in the states. The prices are high in the shops but this is where you can buy quality goods. The cinemas are excellent and offer English language movies though the popcorn and drinks are more expensive than the tickets so you will feel right at home. Excellent restaurants surround the malls and inside the mall are food courts with local food chains and some of your usual like Burger King, Subway and McDonalds. Wireless Internet is available as you eat.
Centro Commercial of Managua - This center consists of individual stores like a large strip mall and offers a variety of products. Go east from Rotunda Centro América from Carretera Masaya to reach. This is where we buy our clothing and art supplies. They even have the equivalent of the Party Cities where you can buy party supplies and decorations.
Metrocentro Mall - Next to the new Hotel Intercontinental Metrocentro right on the Carretera Masaya is the newest and largest mall offering air-conditioning, international chains, a food court and cinemas. The food court is packed at lunch and is considered the place to be if you have money. Everything from the departments stores to specialty shops.
Plaza Inter - Next to the pyramid-shaped Hotel Intercontinental Managua and near Barrio Martha Quezada, this mall includes a department store, small novelty shops, a food court, cinemas, Internet access and air-conditioning.
PriceSmart – Just before the Rotonda el Güegüense heading west. You need a membership card and it is similar to Costco and Sam’s Mart in the states. We buy all of our bulk goods here and a lot of our food.
Typical Shopping Areas
Mercado Oriental, 2km (1 1/4 miles) east of Plaza de la Revolución is the largest. You can find anything from aircraft parts to material for upholstery. Everything is here if you know where to find it. It is advisable to use caution because it is crowded, cluttered and you can get lost in there. Some of the best prices can be found here but it is not for the faint of heart.
Mercado Roberto Huembes, both a market and a significant transit stop for the city's chicken buses and intercity expresses, is chaotic, colorful and overwhelming. It is also the most tourist-friendly and accessible of all the big markets in Managua. You'll find everything from fruit to hubcaps here. Its arts and crafts stalls are extensive and it's also a great place to find local music CDs. The market is open daily from 7:30am to 5pm, and is located 4km (2 1/2 miles) southeast of the Zona Monumental on Pista Portezuelo.
There are other major markets dotted around the city's suburbs, most notably Israel Lewites (also known as Boer) where you can catch an express bus to Rivas and San Juan del Sur. It is 3km (1 3/4 miles) southwest of the Zona Monumental on Avenida Heroes de Batahola and sells everything from cheap toys to fresh fruit. It is open daily from roughly dawn to dusk. Much more civilized is Mama Delfina, 1 block north of Enitel Villa Fontana (tel. 505/267-8288). Here you'll find a pleasant minimarket of wonderful handicrafts from all over the country and a coffee shop upstairs where you can cool off and rest. It is open daily from 8am to 7pm.
General Hardware, Building and Home Supplies
Sinsa is the largest chain here that is similar to Home Depot or Lowes in the states. They are not cheap but they sell quality goods from ceramic tiles to building and home supplies. Their web address ishttp://www.sinsa.com.ni/. There are many other similar stores but this is the major chain for Nicaragua. Lugo is also a major hardware store.
Furniture, Electronics, Appliances
Curacau (http://www.lacuracao.net/English/), Gallo Mas Gallo and to a lesser extent, TropiGas is where you can buy locally your upholstered furniture, beds, mattresses, stereos, TVs and appliances. They are located in most towns of any size at all. We do not shop a lot in these stores but once in a while they have a sale where the prices are very good. Sometimes you just do not feel like driving to Managua to get a mattress or a fan.
Specialty Stores
Anything can be found in Managua somewhere. There are music stores, delicatessens, donut shops, home construction materials, handicrafts, etc. etc. Talk to other expats and locals to find these specialty shops.
Rumor has it that WalMart is opening a SuperCenter in Nicaragua and other Central American countries within a year. We have mixed feelings about this since we hate to see the behemoth invade our little tropical paradise but to be able to buy almost everything at one store is sorely tempting. It will decimate the little shops that cater to the expats and the wealthier Nicas.
In almost every town there are a lot of lawyers, pharmacies and ferreterías (hardware stores). We are not sure why there are so many pharmacies and ferreterías but the ferreterías tend to specialize and you will eventually learn to buy paint at one, plumbing supplies at another and electrical supplies at yet another.
We have found that the pharmacies provide more service than those back in the states. Unless you have a serious medical problem it is cheaper and easier to consult the pharmacist which is almost a community service. Prescriptions are not necessary except for narcotics and of course, the drugs are much cheaper than in the states. The drug prices are usually less here than just the co-payment costs we had under medical insurance in the states.
There are also many medical labs in the larger towns. Instead of making a doctor visit, many people here simply take a urine or feces sample to the lab and within hours, the lab will report the results and recommend the medication. The people are quite professional.
Upscale Shopping Centers
Galerias de Santo Domingo and Multi Centro Las Americas are the two newest of the five modern shopping malls in Managua offering international chain store shopping in a setting similar to the nicer malls in the states. The prices are high in the shops but this is where you can buy quality goods. The cinemas are excellent and offer English language movies though the popcorn and drinks are more expensive than the tickets so you will feel right at home. Excellent restaurants surround the malls and inside the mall are food courts with local food chains and some of your usual like Burger King, Subway and McDonalds. Wireless Internet is available as you eat.
Centro Commercial of Managua - This center consists of individual stores like a large strip mall and offers a variety of products. Go east from Rotunda Centro América from Carretera Masaya to reach. This is where we buy our clothing and art supplies. They even have the equivalent of the Party Cities where you can buy party supplies and decorations.
Metrocentro Mall - Next to the new Hotel Intercontinental Metrocentro right on the Carretera Masaya is the newest and largest mall offering air-conditioning, international chains, a food court and cinemas. The food court is packed at lunch and is considered the place to be if you have money. Everything from the departments stores to specialty shops.
Plaza Inter - Next to the pyramid-shaped Hotel Intercontinental Managua and near Barrio Martha Quezada, this mall includes a department store, small novelty shops, a food court, cinemas, Internet access and air-conditioning.
PriceSmart – Just before the Rotonda el Güegüense heading west. You need a membership card and it is similar to Costco and Sam’s Mart in the states. We buy all of our bulk goods here and a lot of our food.
Typical Shopping Areas
Mercado Oriental, 2km (1 1/4 miles) east of Plaza de la Revolución is the largest. You can find anything from aircraft parts to material for upholstery. Everything is here if you know where to find it. It is advisable to use caution because it is crowded, cluttered and you can get lost in there. Some of the best prices can be found here but it is not for the faint of heart.
Mercado Roberto Huembes, both a market and a significant transit stop for the city's chicken buses and intercity expresses, is chaotic, colorful and overwhelming. It is also the most tourist-friendly and accessible of all the big markets in Managua. You'll find everything from fruit to hubcaps here. Its arts and crafts stalls are extensive and it's also a great place to find local music CDs. The market is open daily from 7:30am to 5pm, and is located 4km (2 1/2 miles) southeast of the Zona Monumental on Pista Portezuelo.
There are other major markets dotted around the city's suburbs, most notably Israel Lewites (also known as Boer) where you can catch an express bus to Rivas and San Juan del Sur. It is 3km (1 3/4 miles) southwest of the Zona Monumental on Avenida Heroes de Batahola and sells everything from cheap toys to fresh fruit. It is open daily from roughly dawn to dusk. Much more civilized is Mama Delfina, 1 block north of Enitel Villa Fontana (tel. 505/267-8288). Here you'll find a pleasant minimarket of wonderful handicrafts from all over the country and a coffee shop upstairs where you can cool off and rest. It is open daily from 8am to 7pm.
General Hardware, Building and Home Supplies
Sinsa is the largest chain here that is similar to Home Depot or Lowes in the states. They are not cheap but they sell quality goods from ceramic tiles to building and home supplies. Their web address ishttp://www.sinsa.com.ni/. There are many other similar stores but this is the major chain for Nicaragua. Lugo is also a major hardware store.
Furniture, Electronics, Appliances
Curacau (http://www.lacuracao.net/English/), Gallo Mas Gallo and to a lesser extent, TropiGas is where you can buy locally your upholstered furniture, beds, mattresses, stereos, TVs and appliances. They are located in most towns of any size at all. We do not shop a lot in these stores but once in a while they have a sale where the prices are very good. Sometimes you just do not feel like driving to Managua to get a mattress or a fan.
Specialty Stores
Anything can be found in Managua somewhere. There are music stores, delicatessens, donut shops, home construction materials, handicrafts, etc. etc. Talk to other expats and locals to find these specialty shops.
