Banks and exchange Central branches that exchange foreign currency include Banpro and Bancentro, both on the Carretera a Masaya near the Hotel Princess , and Banco de AmA©rica Central, Plaza EspaA±a. ATMs can be found on the basement and third floors of the Plaza Inter.

Car rental Auto Express, from the Plaza Inter traffic lights, one block to the lake and two blocks west (tel 222-3816); Budget, one block west and one block south of the Montoya statue (tel 266-6266); Hertz, Edificio Lang (tel 266-8300 or Carretera a Masaya (tel 266-8400); Hyundai, Km 5, Carretera a Masaya (tel 278-1249 or 278-1382); Toyota, Casa Pellas, two blocks west of Gadala Maria (tel 266-3620).

Embassies and consulates Canada, north side of Telcor, Zacarias Guerra (Mon-Thurs 9am-noon; tel 228-7574, fax 228-4821); Costa Rica, two blocks north and one block east of the Montoya statue (daily 9am-3pm; tel 266-2404); El Salvador, in Las Colinas, Pasaje Los Cerros, Av del Campo, Casa #142 (Mon-Fri 8am-2pm; tel 276-0160, fax 276-0712); Guatemala, Km 11.5, Carretera a Masaya (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm; tel 279-9834, fax 279-9610); Honduras, Km 12.5, Carretera a Masaya (Mon-Fri 9am-2pm; tel 278-3043, fax 279-8228); PanamA?, one block north and half a block east of the Hotel ColA?n (Mon-Fri 8.30am-1pm; tel 266-8633); UK, Reparto Los Robles (Mon-Fri 9am-noon; tel 278-0014 or 278-0887, fax 278-4085); USA, Cancilleria, Km 4.5, Carretera Sur (Mon-Fri 7.30-9am; tel 266-6010 or 266-6012, fax 266-3865).

Immigration office Departamento de InmigraciA?n ExtranjerA­a, Km 7, Carretera Sur (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2-4pm; tel 265-0014 or 265-0020; www.migracion.gob.ni ).

Internet access A  Kiosk , Level 3, Plaza Inter (US$4/hr); KafA© Internet , Av Willams Romero, one block north of the Cine Dorado (US$3/hr); Cyber CafA© , Av Williams Romero, one block south of the Cine Dorado (US$3/hr); KafA© Internet , Km 5, Carretera a Masaya, adjacent to the King's Palace Hotel (US$3/hr). Enitel , main telephone office, three blocks west of the Catedral Viejo (US$3.50/hr).

Libraries and cultural institutes The Casa Ben Linder, three blocks south and one and a half blocks east of the MonseA±or Lezcano statue (tel 266-4373), is the Nicaraguan base for a number of primarily US voluntary groups and agencies. They maintain a small library.

Medical care The Hospital Bautista (Baptist Hospital) in barrio Largaespada, two blocks south and one and a half east of the Casa Ricardo Morales Aviles (tel 249-7070 or 249-7277), is a good private hospital with an emergency department. Dr Enrique SA?nchez Delgado, in Bosques de Altamira, Casa #417, two blocks east and half a block north of the Cine Altamira, speaks English and charges around US$30 for a consultation. Natural medicines are available from the FundaciA?n Julie Marciacq in barrio JosA© IsaA­as GA?mez, two blocks east and two blocks north of the SINSA hardware store on C Principal de Altamira, Casa M-153 (tel 278-6681).

Post office In the Enitel office (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 8am-noon), three blocks west of the Catedral Viejo.

Supermarkets The two main chains are La UniA?n and La Colonia, which both sell everything you might possibly need, though at higher prices than in the markets. La UniA?n has branches in the Centro Comercial Ciudad JardA­n and the Centro Comercial Belo Horizonte; La Colonia is in the Centro Comercial Plaza EspaA±a and the Colonia Centroamerica Plaza de Compras.

Telephone office Enitel office three blocks west of the Catedral Viejo (daily 7am-10.30pm).

Travel agents Flights can be bought and reconfirmed at the following places; several also run organized tours. Aeroamerica Tours, alongside the Banco Mercantil (tel 266-3487); Aventurismo, half a block north of Restaurante Wok , Los Robles, Casa 143 (tel 265-2063); Careli Tours, three blocks south of Plaza el Sol (tel 278-2572); Tours Nicaragua, half a block east of San Francisco Church, BolA?nia (tel 266-8689); Senderos Tours, one block south and two blocks east of Gimnasio Hercules (tel 278-3238); Tropical Tours, one block south and one west of La Casa de Obrero (tel 266-1387); Tropical Travel, one block west and half a block north of Ciudad JardA­n ITR (tel 249-7548).