Getting Around Nicaragua

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There are two airlines flying from Managua to Big Corn Island and they are La Costeña and Atlantic Airlines. If you arrive with an international flight and are continuing to Corn Island it is not far to walk to the domestic departur/arrival hall. It’s in the end of the same building you arrive to.

I bought the ticket for the flight from a travel agent in Granada about 10 days ahead of the journey. A return ticket with La Costeña was 177 US dollars (July 2009).

4.30 in the morning I took a shuttle from the hostel in Managua to the airport. It took half an hour to the airport and as I shared it with someone else it was 10 dollars, otherwise it would have been 15 dollars. Arriving at the airport I paid a tax of 40 cordobas (2 dollars) before checking in. When checking in my big backpack they did not only weigh it, but also my hand luggage and me. The domestic hall at the airport is not very big but there are two news stands/cafeterias. I bought a newspaper (7 cordobas) and toast and coffee for breakfast (44 cordobas).
The plane was supposed to leave at 6.30 but was a little bit delayed. On the way to Corn Island we went down in Bluefields. To Big Corn Island we arrived at 8.30. From the airport I shared a taxi to the Municipal Wharf and we paid 20 cordobas each (August 2009). Also when I went the opposite way a few days later I paid 20 cordobas, even if I was alone in the taxi.

Also flying from the airport on Big Corn Island you pay an airport tax of 2 dollars (41 cordobas). Going back to Managua I took the afternoon plane. Both La Costeña and Atlantic Airways have a morning flight and an afternoon flight. The plane left at 15.55, 15 minutes after schedule, and made a short stop in Bluefields before continuing to Managua. Back in Managua I took a taxi to the hostel and paid 15 dollars.

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They are absolutely safe. Take from Managua UCA a minibus to Granada, it will safe you some time and is only 20 cordobas, that is 1 $. From Rivas to San Juan del Sur the colectivo taxi is 35 cordobas p.p. it runs from the bus station and if you dont want to wait until the bus leaves a good solution. From Managua UCA there are also minibuses to Leon (40 cordobas) and other places, so you dont have to change bus stations.

Oh, the phenomenon called taxi is... something special in Nicaragua.
In Managua they are a necessity, but more on that on the Managua pages...
Apart from their use within an urbanized area, it is possible to go by taxi from one town to another, if they are not too far.
Examples... In an attempt to get as fast as possible to Somoto, there was an expreso bus leaving from Managua to Ocotal. Now... since the road passes close to Somoto, at the point where the roads divide, there are always taxis waiting. And the taxi took us two and one more passenger to Somoto for... 20 cordobas.
Another example... taxi from San Juan del Sur to ANY of the nearby beaches (popular surfers' destinations)...
Or, from San Jorge to Rivas...
The prices always vary... It is cheaper in the northern region, since there are much more tourists in San Juan del Sur.
Also... the taxis in Managua always charge much more... And if they see an obvious "extranjero" face, they'll add 10, 20 cordobas more.

The little town of San Jorge is the main departure point of the ferries and the boats that take you from the mainland to Ometepe island, arriving at Moyogalpa. There is also an option to take a boat from Granada to Altagracia, but it takes much more time and it is not a frequently used option.
...
the time-table I have (from summer 2007) for the boats doing the route: San Jorge - Moyogalpa is:

S. Jorge - Moyogalpa
7:45 am
9:30 am
10:30 am (ferry)
11:30 am
12:30 (ferry)
1:30 pm
2:30 pm (ferry)
3:30 pm
4:30 (ferry)
5:30 pm

Moyogalpa - S. Jorge
5:50 am
6:00 am (ferry)
6:30 am
6:45 (ferry)
7:00 am
9:00 am (ferry)
11:00 am
12:30 (ferry)
1:30 pm
4:30 pm (ferry)

Not sure how precise this info is... but at least it gives you an idea...

Between Managua and some major destinations, like Leon, there are so called micro-buses. Or “intermortales”, supposedly because of the suicidal behaviour of their drivers. Can’t say that they are that extreme, but that little thing (twelve passengers only) GOES FAST. We got in 75 minutes from Leon to Managua. These microbuses leave as soon as they get full. Which happens in ... maybe ten, fifteen minutes. If I remember correctly there are micro-buses covering routes such as: Managua-Leon, Managua-Masaya, Managua-Granada.

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There is a difference between “expreso” and “ruteado” buses. And yes, in deed, there is a difference. The expreso buses normally stop only at larger stations, or some “points on the road” that are known to people, and thus many people get on or off there. Unlike the “ruteado” bus that stops at EVERY SINGLE corner where a potential passenger can be found. I have been only on one ruteado, on the WORST road: San Isidro – Leon, and even though I made it fun, I wouldn’t like to repeat those three hours. What I’m saying is... stick to expreso buses.

On the photos... you can see me in the Ruteado bus from San Isidro to Leon. Ok, some extra info that maybe you can find useful. We took an expreso bus from Somoto to Managua. HOWEVER, we asked the driver to leave us in San Isidro, so that we can take a bus from there to Leon. Now... the bus left us on the road, some 4-5 kilometers from San Isidro, or past San Isidro, at a point where the road separates and to the west it leads to Leon. One of the photos is actually taken at that "crossroad" while we were waiting for the bus to Leon. That one was in a particularly bad shape, though we made it... The other buses we took on our trip far better than that one. In any case you have to settle for a... relatively dirty buses.

The so-called bus terminals are actually part of Markets. So they tend to be big, loud, dirty, chaotic and very fun to watch, unless you feel completely lost. I'd say these are the only places where I have kept a close eye on... my belongings and everything. On the other hand, great food can be found close to the buses, since, like I said, the terminals are part of markets and... you don't have to travel hungry. :-)
In Managua there are several bus terminals (stations) depending on the direction of the bus route. If it goes to Somoto, or to the north, they you need to go to Mayoreo. Huembes, on the other hand, is the station where buses heading south leave. For places like Rivas, for example.

The picture accompanying this tip is taken at HUEMBES, in Managua. Oh my... the craziest place I have seen in Nicaragua. In case you are wondering, the woman is carrying a basket full of coco sweets.
:-)

Moving around Nicaragua? Well, I'd say BUSES. Period. Ok, maybe renting a car, if you have the money. The rental itself is not that expensive, but then there is the issue of insurance. So, when the time came to decided, car was out of the question. Though, I have to say, would be a very comfortable and practical solution.
Anyways, I can say a thing or two about the buses.

Before going to Nicaragua, I did some research here on Virtual Tourist (of course) and I ran into the suggestion of checking out ViaNica’s website. While that website is not bad, I have to say one thing: don’t take it literally. The schedules of the buses, in particular.
See, when you come from a Balkan country, like I do, you learn not to confide too much in schedules, “horarios”, working hours, etc. I’m not saying this as a negative thing, not at all. On the contrary, one learns to be more flexible, and also, more efficient at finding solutions to unexpected situations. So anyways, ViaNica’s website says something like... from 4 am to 7 pm, every 20 minutes, it doesn’t mean that between those hours there are buses literally every 20 minutes.
Don’t despair however, because buses are VERY frequent. DO have in mind that as soon as the sun sets... all activities stop. Bus rides included. So... if you see a schedule saying that at 7 pm there is a bus... Well, NO, MOST probably there is none.