Concept of Time

Hay más tiempo que vida. (There is more time than life.) So why hurry? The day-to-day approach to living life in Nicaragua [1] may come from the necessity of survival, or it may just be an effect of the hot sun. Probably both.

Nicaraguan life, in general, goes according to La Hora Nica (Nica Time), which means a meeting scheduled in Managua for 2:30 p.m. might not start until 3 p.m., or an hour later in the countryside.

Foreign travelers accustomed to La Hora Gringa, in which everything starts and stops exactly when planned, will spend their days in Nicaragua endlessly frustrated (and consistently early for meetings). Appointments and meetings are loose, and excuses are easy to come by and universally accepted.

Gradually, as you experience Nicaragua, this concept of time will win you over; just be careful when you go home.