There is no direct bus: you change in San Carlos (Río San Juan) and Managua. The whole trip takes about 11 h 40 min.
Type of trip
Journey time
Fare
Leaves from
First bus
Last bus
El Castillo (Río San Juan)
San Carlos (Río San Juan)
Change in San Carlos (Río San Juan): you arrive at Muelle and the next bus leaves from Terminal. Take a taxi between terminals.
Managua
Change in Managua: the next bus leaves from the same terminal, Mayoreo.
Estelí
Worked out from each leg's timetable plus time to change buses. Confirm at the terminal.
Places worth seeing when you arrive.
Estelí is the tobacco capital: several factories offer tours to see cigars rolled by hand.
The city's walls tell its story in bright murals.
Cloud forest with orchids, birds and stays on family farms.
Mountain lookouts and a tall waterfall surrounded by forest, close to town.
Do you run a restaurant, guesthouse or tour in Estelí?
Show up here, right where travellers plan their arrival.
The fare is C$415 – C$530 (≈ US$11–14). Cooperatives set the prices and they can change; check at the terminal.
About 11 h 40 min, depending on the type of bus and traffic.
It leaves from Muelle de El Castillo.
The first leaves at 5:00 AM and the last at 2:00 PM.
No. Take the bus to San Carlos (Río San Juan) and Managua and change there. Each leg and its times are on this page.