In 2022, I decided to quit my job to travel the world in search of a greater life purpose. It was a bit chaotic at the time, as we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But I took the leap and traveled to Nicaragua, as Canada was shut down due to COVID, to see what was actually happening in the rest of the world.
Preparing to Travel the World During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Of course, there was the preparation for a year-long trip, including subletting my apartment, getting my finances in order, and everything else that goes with planning a travel journey of this magnitude. Additionally, I had to prepare for COVID-19 protocols in various countries, which varied depending on the destination. In this blog, I am sharing what the preparation looked like, specifically the first stop, Nicaragua.
I First needed to Get the Country Right
I found my first flight to Nicaragua Woohoo! So now what? After a brief celebration, I started to think about Nicaragua’s COVID-19 entrance requirements. I Googled “covid entry requirements to Guatemala”, contacted the airline and even called the Guatemalan embassy. I was told that as long as I’m vaccinated (which I was), I should be good. My next question to the embassy: “Does Guatemala accept mixed vaccinations?” Answer: Yes as long as the World Health Organization approves them. So, yes, I am good, right? Wrong, because I’m not going to Guatemala; I’m heading to Nicaragua! If you didn’t realize that I am a travel-the-world virgin, you do now. I now know Nicaragua and Guatemala are not the same place.
What is required for entrance into Nicaragua?
I called the airline back and this time asked about the country I’m planning on visiting. To visit Nicaragua, you do not need proof of vaccination; however, a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arrival is required. Avianca Airlines had a fantastic landing page that explained the current Nicaragua COVID-19 entry requirements. I did need to show proof of vaccination, as I was flying Air Canada for that leg, which was a Canadian law for flying within Canada.
I Had A 72-Hour Window to Manage PCR Test
Given that my flight path included a connecting flight in El Salvador (about 9 hours travel time), 72 hours isn’t a lot of time. I changed my train departure from 8:30 am to the 11:37 am train to accommodate the PCR test window in Toronto. Next, I needed to send the results to Avianca (They also included instructions on the Nicaragua entrance landing page). This needed to happen at least 36 hours before I left El Salvador for Nicaragua. As long as I sent it in before 3 a.m. on Sunday, I was good which I did. The flights remained on time, and I had about 12 hours to spare after landing at my final destination.
In retrospect, how crazy was this process? At the time, I was doing what was necessary to leave Canada and travel. I remember the stress and praying that a flight delay wouldn’t kill everything. At this point, I was preparing for Nicaragua, and that was it. It was Nicaragua or bust. Well, that’s at least how it felt at the time.
Send Personal Information to the Airline
I then had to send my personal information to the airline 36 hours before arrival. So that they have the necessary information, including my passport details, flight number, and where I was staying, so it could be reviewed in advance. There was another form that the Nicaraguan government required to be filled out one week before arrival. This form overlaps with the one I sent to the airline 36 hours before arrival. The Nicaraguan embassy in Canada directed me back to the airline, which had no mention of sending anything one week in advance. However, Visit Nicaragua states that it needs to be filled out as well. At this point, I will be safe and do both. Better safe than sorry, right? So that’s it, that’s your Nicaragua COVID-19 entrance requirements.
Clear as mud? Yep! That was the time and the life we were living. But to my surprise, once I got out there, I learned that people were traveling, especially backpackers. When I reflect on the process to travel it was crazy times we were living in. And in every single country I visited, I had to research what I would need for that particular country. But at the end of the day, I had my vaccination documents, and I had no issues entering any country around the world. Travel is so easy now. Learning how to travel the world in our most complex time for travel was the best thing that could have happened. And I’ve never looked back.
The Start OF My Journey, Including The COVID-19 Tests in Toronto Before Leaving
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