The 5.0 magnitude jolt was felt across the northern half of the country and neighboring parts of Honduras at 11:50 a.m. local time.
It was followed by a magnitude 4.1 aftershock seven minutes later.
The country’s Institute of Territorial Studies said it determined the epicenters were 95 miles (154 km) north of the capital, Managua, at a depth of 38 miles (62 km).
The secretary from the Municipal Council of San Juan del Rio Coco, Carla Solis, told the EFE news agency that the towns of La Dalia, Barrio Nuevo, San Lucas and San Pedro de las Canas were the most affected.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries due to the shaking.