Cautious tour operators have suspend sales for Nicaragua and redirected upcoming tours as political protests continue across the country’s capital.
Civil unrest broke out across one of South America’s most sustainable countries in April this year, after President Daniel Ortega was accused of mishandled forest fires in the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, cutting pensions and using “lethal force” to block demonstrations.
Protests have resulted in nearly 200 deaths within two months, including at least two university students. Click here for more information on the civil unrest.
US calls for early elections in #Nicaragua, as National Dialogue awaits Ortega's response. After two months of protests, and 180 deaths, the country is becoming "ungovernable." Meanwhile, US sends a new delegation to meet #Ortega.https://t.co/0qpC0tQR3L pic.twitter.com/5DC7SpXKu9
— Univision News (@UnivisionNews) June 19, 2018
Due to the unstable situation, tour operators have decided to cease operations in the “land of the lakes and volcanoes” and travellers are being advised to hold off on visiting Nicaragua, home to the second-largest rainforest in the Americas.
Bunnik Tours confirmed to KARRYON that in light of the current political situation, it has suspended all tours to the country until at least March 2019. The tour operator said it will monitor the situation and advise of any further updates.
#Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign news: Nicaraguan government rejects biased IAHCR report https://t.co/7c5EviPaxr #NicaraguaQuierePaz #NicaraguaQuiereSeguridadYPaz #NoCoupForNicaragua 🇳🇮🇬🇧🕊 pic.twitter.com/UZs7xYln66
— Embassy of Nicaragua (@embaniclondon) June 24, 2018
Eclipse Travel has also suspended Nicaragua tour sales and will continue to divert any upcoming trips to Costa Rica or Panama, as it has been doing over the last couple of months.
“Unfortunately, the situation has quickly deteriorated over the past few weeks with permanent road blocks and some clashes between the police and civilians.”
Eclipse Travel
“The Eclipse team will continue to monitor the situation and will recommence bookings once the issue subsides and Nicaragua once again becomes a peaceful country as it has been for the past 30 years.”
Image: Pierre T. Lambert/Unsplash
Intrepid Group‘s Central America & Caribbean Destination Manager, Rachel Uberti, confirmed that Intrepid has also decided to re-route any Central America tours featuring Nicaragua.
Uberti said safety is the “number one priority” for the company and the business would continue “monitoring the situation closely”.
G Adventures said it too has made the decision the adjust Central American itineraries to avoid Nicaragua due to safety concerns.
Itineraries are being amended on a case-by-case basis and the team are monitoring the situation for a safe return.
“Our itineraries have been travelling to Nicaragua for many years now, so we can appreciate the impact that tourism dollars can have on the local communities, however as always, our passengers safety is our upmost priority.”
G Adventures
“It is our hope that our itineraries will be restored to their normal route via Nicaragua in the not-so-distant future, but for now we are making the decision to reroute.”