Getting around Nicaragua

Distances

MANAGUA BLUEFIELDS BOACA CHINANDEGA ESTELÍ GRANADA JINOTEGA JINOTEPE JUIGALPA LEÓN MASAYA MATAGALPA OCOTAL PT. CABEZAS RIVAS SANCARLOS SOMOTO MANAGUA 03838813214845162461399329130226557111300216 BLUEFIELDS 3830322510462402476422243476386444540842461351530 BOACO 8832202201571071811277918191149425517166240235 CHINANDEGA 13251022001611771941772713716118123859124343229 ESTELÍ 1484621571610166103185219141151717849822638368 GRANADA 454021071771660180411841381614824457668318234 JINOTEGA 162476181194103180020223217516532181459240377171 JINOTEPE 464221271771854120201711223717026660365346256 JUIGALPA 139243792712191842322020229141198296599208160297 LEÓN 90476181371411381751222290122143219650187394209 MASAYA 29386911611511616537141122013022955873301219 MATAGALPA 13044414918171148321701981301300428297297343139 OCOTAL 22654042523878244181266296229229149057630445529 PT. CABEZAS 5578425175914985764596035995585584285760625760566 RIVAS 111461166243226682406520873732973046250318244 SAN CARLOS 300351240433833183773461603013013434557603180447 SOMOTO 21653023522968234171256297219219139295664474470

By bus

Bus is definitely the main mode of travel in Nicaragua. Most of the buses are old decomissioned yellow US school buses. Expect these buses to be packed full. You'd better be quick or you may be standing most of the trip. For schedules visit www.thebusschedule.com Another method of traveling cross country are minibuses, though these are not always available. These are essentially small japanese minivans, some hold up to 15 people. Minibuses have regular routes between Managua and Granada, Leon and Masaya. These cost a little more than the school buses, but are much faster, making fewer stops. As with the school buses, expect these to be packed, arguably with even less space as drivers pack up to ten or twelve people in a vehicle designed to handle much fewer. On the other hand, most drivers are friendly and helpful, and will help you store your baggage.

By plane

At the international airport there are two offices right to the right of the main terminal, these offices house the domestic airlines. These are great if you want to get to the atlantic coast. I will not give prices as they change but it take 1.5 hours to get to the corn islands as opposed to 2 days by overland route. If you are trying to save time, then this is the best way to get to the corn islands or anywhere on the atlantic coast.

By boat

Boat is the only way to get to the island of Isla Ometepe or to the Solentinames. Be aware that high winds or other bad weather can cancel ferry trips leaving you stranded. That might not be such a bad thing, though. Note that windy/bad weather can make the Ferry trip unpleasant for those prone to seasickness, and the boats used to access Ometepe are old and mostly open to the water. Boat is also a cool way to get to the Corn Islands. Take a bus to Rama at the end of the road. This used to be rough and hard, but the road has been newly paved and it is an easy trip now (2006). Then ask around and see if you can get onto the weekly ship to the corn islands, there are bunk beds on the ship. Or you can get on a speedboat to bluefield or El Bluff and catch the boat from there, or take a flight out of Bluefields. They are mush faster and more expensive, the large cargo boat takes two days from the islands to Rama with an overnight in El Bluff to take on cargo.

By taxi

The taxi drivers in Managua are agrresive and there are loads so it is easy to find a fare that suits you. You can also split the cost of taxi to get to destinations that are close to Managua by like Masaya, if you should prefer to travel with modicum of comfort. Taxi's in all the cities are generally fair and well mannered and a nice way to see local scenery. Take care in bargaining, the general fare is per person, not per taxi.

Hitchhiking

Easy and Comfortable. Just stick out your thumb and go. Nicaraguans themselves usually only travel in the backs of trucks, and not inside of a vehicle - unless they are traveling with a group of people (3 or more). Some people will ask for a little money for bringing you along - Nicaraguans see this as being cheap, but will usually pay the small amount (US$1/person).