Bus travel guides

From Managua airport to anywhere by bus

Augusto C. Sandino airport sits on the Carretera Norte, 15–25 minutes by taxi from the bus terminals. There are no tourist buses from the airport itself: the trick is a short taxi to the right terminal and the bus from there.

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How to get to Ometepe island by bus and ferry

Ometepe is reached by ferry or small boat from the port of San Jorge, 15 minutes from Rivas. From Managua the whole trip takes about 3 hours and costs under C$200 (US$5).

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How to get to San Juan del Sur by bus

San Juan del Sur is 2 h 30 from Managua. There are direct express buses from Huembes mid-morning and in the afternoon; at any other time, go to Rivas and change buses.

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Managua → Granada: UCA minibus or Huembes bus

Granada is one hour from Managua. The UCA minibus is the fastest and most comfortable way; the Huembes bus is cheaper and stops in Masaya.

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How to get to Laguna de Apoyo

No bus goes down to the lake shore. Any bus between Granada and Masaya or Managua drops you at the entrance, and from there you go down by taxi, mototaxi or on foot.

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How to get to Masaya volcano by bus

The entrance to Masaya Volcano National Park is at km 23 of the Managua–Masaya highway: any bus between the two cities drops you there. Inside the park you go up by vehicle.

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Managua → León and León → Las Peñitas

León is 1 h 30 by minibus from UCA. The beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas are 30 minutes further on a bus that leaves from the Subtiava market.

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Granada ↔ León by bus (via Managua)

There is no direct bus between Granada and León. You take two minibuses via UCA in Managua, about 3 hours in total, or a direct tourist shuttle.

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How to get to the Corn Islands

Two ways: the La Costeña flight from Managua (1 h 30) or the long overland route: bus to El Rama or Bluefields, speedboat, and then the boat to Corn Island, which only sails on certain days.

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Río San Juan: getting to San Carlos, El Castillo and Solentiname

San Carlos, on the shore of Lake Cocibolca, is the gateway to the Río San Juan. It is 6 hours by bus from Managua; from there everything moves by boat: El Castillo downriver and the Solentiname islands across the lake.

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How to get to Somoto Canyon by bus

The canyon is 30 minutes from Somoto, on the road to the El Espino border. Any bus to El Espino drops you at the entrance at km 231.

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Estelí and the Miraflor reserve by bus

Estelí, the cigar city, is 2 h 30 from Managua by express bus. Miraflor, its cloud-forest reserve with farm homestays, is reached on a rural bus from the COTRAN Norte terminal.

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Nicaragua → Costa Rica by bus: direct coach or the Peñas Blancas border

You can take a direct international coach from Managua to San José (Tica Bus or TransNica, about 9 hours) or, cheaper, local buses to the Peñas Blancas border and Costa Rican buses onward.

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How to get to Bluefields and Pearl Lagoon

The southern Caribbean coast is reached by bus to El Rama and a speedboat down the river, or by the new road via Nueva Guinea. From Bluefields, pangas run to Pearl Lagoon and the boat to Corn Island.

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How to get to Popoyo by bus

Popoyo, Tola's surf beach, has a single direct afternoon bus from Managua. At any other time, get to Rivas and take the Las Salinas bus, about 3 h 30 in total.

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