Normal bank opening hours in Nicaragua are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8.30 a.m. to midday on Saturdays (closed Sundays). If you want to exchange money, bring your passport and be prepared for a long wait as banking can be a very slow process. Queues are longest on the 15th and last day of the month, as this is when most Nicaraguans get paid. Lines are usually shortest in the early afternoon.
If there isn’t a bank available, a much less safe option is to exchange money with individuals know as coyotes. If you are going to use these money changers be sure to know both the exchange rate, and the amount of córdobas you should be receiving, before the exchange, and count your money carefully after the transaction. Although many coyotes are honest, others will see a foreigner like you as an opportunity to make a quick buck.