HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HUNTING PACKAGES IN NICARAGUA

Hello everyone, just wanted to add a quick update to this blog post. In light of recent events, the most important thing to choose the best hunting package is to make sure your outfitter is licensed. They are only 4 licenses given out by the government of Nicaragua to operate Duck and Dove Hunting trips. Nicaragua Hunting Adventures IS one of those 4. I can advise strongly, to make sure the outfitter you choose is one. Being a foreigner, and if caught up in a mess such as this, it will always be the fault of the one with the money. If you get my meaning. It could cost you lots of money to get out of this, if it happened to you.  Please see this article for more info :  Nicaragua Duck and Dove Hunting - Licensed Outfitters

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So you are looking for a hunting adventure in Nicaragua? You are searching all the different outfitter and booking agent sites, trying to find the right price and inclusions. Some have shells, some do not. Some have bird boys, some do not. Some do not offer any extras, and refuse to even consider it. It gets to be a job to find the best deal for the money, and get all the things you want and need, but still within a budget you can afford. You will find most outfitters offer just a basic package. Just enough to get by, but not to much. Here at Nicaragua Hunting Adventures, we look at more than just the hunt. We look at the whole experience. With this being our 50th year doing duck and dove hunting, fishing and tours in Nicaragua. We feel we have a good grasp on what different types of hunters want.

So, I am going to lead you through information and basic tips so you know how to choose what to ask for when taking your Nicaragua Hunting Adventure. No matter what outfitter you choose.

Airline Tickets 
Most outfitters do not offer Airline tickets as part of their packages for obvious reasons. Flight pricing changes throughout the year, and it is quite impossible to figure a set price for this, not knowing what time of year the client is planning to come. 
​Advise -  Book your own airline tickets, OR ask your outfitter if they can give you a price and add it on to your package, if you want all your costs in one basket.

VIP Arrival Service 
Most outfitters do not offer this service. We do offer it here at Nicaragua Hunting Adventures. Again, it is part of us knowing what makes the whole experience good. If you hate standing in long lines at the customs, and going through immigration. Then you will want the outfitter to include this. You are taken to the VIP lounge, with drinks and snacks, while your passports and visa are being processed. You will be greeted by the concierge, taken to the lounge, and wait in comfort as all your entrance papers are taken care of. Then straight on to the transports waiting for you.
Advise - If you do not like waiting in line at immigration. ( which is notorious for being slow in Nicaragua.) You will want this. If standing in line does not bother you and need to save a few bucks, it would not be for you. 

Transportation
Unless you plan to walk, or you have friends in Nicaragua, transportation is a must. You can break down your transportation into three basic categories. Airport / Hunt / Leisure -  Let me explain these.
Airport - You will need picked up and dropped off from the airport. This should be the outfitter who does this. This will give you more time to talk with and meet your outfitter, and talk about the upcoming hunt for the next days. Plus, do not have to deal with finding a airport taxi, which will surely overcharge a gringo.  

Hunt -  This surely should be in your package, seeing as how you will not know where the hunting fields are at, and trying to find them or meet the outfitter with your own transportation can be a headache and time wasted. So make sure your transportation to and from the fields is included. A special note, this should also include your trip to and from lunch. The outfitter has taken you to the fields, and he should take you and bring you back from lunch. God forbid they leave you in the fields, and come back in the evening to get you. I am sure you would be pissed and quite hungry. 

Leisure -  This is something that most outfitters do not offer. Here at Nicaragua Hunting Adventures, we do offer this, and feel it is a very important part of your all around experience. You arrive at lunch time, your hunt is not until the next day, you have the whole evening free, and your outfitter has dropped you off at the hotel, OR your hunt is finished for the day, your outfitter has dropped you back at your hotel, how will you get to dinner?  You want to go out after dinner, and visit the mall, clubs, spas, or just see the local culture. Here are your choices. Have a car and driver/guide as part of your package, or use hotel taxi, or local taxi. If using a car and guide supplied by your outfitter, you have a knowledgeable guide that knows Managua, will stay with you all evening, show you the best places to eat, to party, drink, or any other activity you would want to do. OR get public transport, haggle over the fair, maybe get taken to some taxi driver friends place, that might not be up to par with what you are looking for. Plus, the condition of some public taxi is less than desirable. By the time you pay for all of this, and the headache, been better off getting the car and driver from the outfitter. Now, I will make note, that if you are not planning to do much night out, or other activities. Just hunt, sleep, eat, having a car and driver might not be worth it. They are many fine eating places inside and close to the hotels, so it would not be a big deal getting to dinner.
Advise -  If you are planning on nite outs, and doing a lot of activities outside of hunting, the car and driver/guide is invaluable. You should have it included. If you are just after the hunt, and nothing else, it would not be worth the expense.

Guns 
I am always asked should I bring my own guns? The answer is no. While you can bring your own gun, and its not a problem. Why bring your gun and subject it to all that punishment of the travel, weather, and hundreds of rounds cycled through it. Plus, now days they give you such a big headache, and treat you like a terrorist in the airports, when you transport firearms. 
​Advise -  Make sure gun rental is part of your package, since most outfitters carry good firearms. 

Meals
This is more of a personal preference. If you want all your costs in one bill, then let the outfitters supply this. If you are not a big eater, and not even sure you will eat every lunch or dinner, better to pay for this yourself. Make note, if the outfitter supplies this, then you are bound to go. Most outfitters will not deduct a meal costs if you decide you want to sleep in or rest, and not attend one of the meals. 
Advise -  If you are not big eater, and want the freedom to eat when you want, do not include this in your package. If you want one bill, all the costs together, then include it in your package. 

All You Can Drink 
Most outfitters do not offer this option. We here at Nicaragua Hunting Adventures do offer this. This would be something you would want if you are taking clients, or plan to do a lot of entertaining at dinners, and around the hotels, in the transports. If none of that is your plan, it would not be something that would fit for you. You can just pay for your own, as you go.
Advise - If you are bringing clients, or plan to do a lot of entertaining, ask the outfitter to include this. Saves your money. If not, its something that would not be worth it. 

All Tips Included 
This again, is another one of those personal preferences. You need to look at what you are comfortable with, and again, if you want all your costs in one bill. For me, I do not like to worry if I am giving enough, did I offend this guy, am I giving to much? I would rather it be taken care of for me. On the other side of the coin, maybe you want to tip as you see fit for each occasion. 
Advise - Choose the personal preference you are comfortable with, then ask your outfitter to include or not include tips in your package. 

Snack Baskets 
Almost no outfitters offer this. But again, here at Nicaragua Hunting Adventures we do offer this. Reason, we have found over the years, hunters get that mid morning, or mid evening hunger, and just need a little something to tide them over. Plus, the most major factor, is that when hunters are in the field, and they see all the many children who gather around the fields to get some of the birds. and they see the poverty they endure. Most want to give them something. Bags of candy, and snacks are a big treat for these kids. So, good to have a supply with you, if this is something you feel you would like to do. 
Advise - For no more money than it is, I would have the outfitter include it. The smile on the children faces, and that snickers bar before lunch is worth it. 

Shells Included 
Some outfitters offer this and some do not. We do offer this and also feel that it is very important. Its money you are going to spend anyways. Shells are a must anyways, and paying for at least one case per day, per hunter in your package, makes life easier on everyone. You do not have to carry as much cash with you, or worry about how to withdraw it when you are there. The most important is that is make sure you have good quality ammo for your hunt. You can only buy ammo from the military here in Nicaragua. Since we are not so rich, and can not stock pile thousands of dollars worth of ammo, its better you include this. So we can go ahead and purchase it, since the money is already there way in advance. If you do not, then we buy only 30 days before your hunt, and they are times that no more stock of the best ammo, or shot size are available, and we have to take what they have. If you do not shoot all of what you have, we will take it back at the price you paid. If you shoot more, then pay for the extra boxes. 
Advise - For sure have the outfitter include at least one case per day/ per hunter in your package. 

Boys Night Out
Again, not many outfitters offer this in their packages, and again we do offer it. For the guys who want to add some excitement and even more adventure to an already awesome hunting experience.Boys Night Out is the thing. Now, if you have been to Nicaragua before, or have friends here to help you. This is something you can do on your own. If not, I would highly recommend that you allow the outfitter to take care of this. You do not want to end up in some place that you should not be. You want good quality entertainers and entertainment. That is something your outfitter and guide will know. They will direct you in the right direction. Now, also, if you have a car and driver included in your package, that is really all you need. You can pay for all your drinks and entertainment yourself. The guide will show you and tell you what is best. But, if you want it all in one bill, we do provide packages for this.
Advise - If you have the car and driver /guide in your package, that is all you need, you can pay for the rest yourself. If you want it all in one bill, then have the outfitter include it in your package. 

Basics
Then of course you have the basics, which no need give long explanations for these. Its obvious you have to have these in your package for the hunt to even take place. 

• Hotel Rooms - make sure of the quality of the hotel in your package.
• The Hunt - make sure how many days and if morning and evening, Also make sure if ducks are included, or just all doves. There is extra charge for duck hunting for most outfitters.
• Hunting Licenses
• Bird Boys
• Hunting Guide
• Cooler full of cold drinks for the field

Advise - Make sure all the basics are included in your package, and check the quality of the hotels, and if the hunt is all doves, or duck and dove combo.

I hope this has helped you to be able to know what you will want to include in your hunting packages for Nicaragua. Here at Nicaragua Hunting Adventures, we have always known that each hunter is different, each group is different. Not everyone wants the same things, or even needs them. We pride ourselves on be flexible, and doing our best to give each client what they want with their hunting experience. We have even dedicated a special web page for our client that the can Build Your Own Package. This allows you to pick and choose what you want and need, and then I will price it accordingly for you. 

Build Your Own Package

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