Nicaragua Buses

Crossing the border on an international bus is also an easy process as the driver will help you with any problems you may have. Due to the high prices of international flights, many visitors chose to cross the Nicaraguan border by bus.

Two companies, Transnica and Ticabus, operate fast, reliable and reasonably priced international buses that service Nicaragua.The buses that operate on these routes are modern, complete with air-conditioning, toilets, TVs and they make regular stops for food. Buses are a great way to travel quickly to and from Nicaragua without spending a fortune. As such, they are very popular and should be booked in advance.

• Bus from Managua to Tegucigulpa, Honduras. Once daily for about $40 (6 hours)
• Bus from Managua to Choluteca, Honduras. Once Daily for about $15 (4 hours)
• Bus from Managua to San Salvador, El Salvador. Twice daily for about $50 (10 hours)
• Bus from Managua to San Jose, Costa Rica. Four times daily for about $20 (8 hours)

Ticabus offers the following services from Managua:

• Bus from Managua to Panama City, Panama. Departs three times daily, but the connection leaves once daily from San Jose, Costa Rica for about $52 (27 hours, plus a considerable lay over in Costa Rica)
• Bus from Managua to San Jose, Costa Rica. Three times daily for about $23 (10 hours)
• Bus from Managua to San Salvador, El Salvador. Once daily for about $35 (11 hours)
• Bus from Managua to Guatemala City, Guatemala. Once daily for about $52 (16 hours, plus an overnight stay in El Salvador)
• Bus from Managua to Tapachula, Mexico. Once daily for about $69 (21 hours, plus an overnight stay in El Salvador and a transfer in Guatemala)
• Bus from Managua to Tegucigulpa, Honduras. Once daily for about $23 (8 hours)
• Bus from Managua to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Once daily for about $37 (11 hours, plus a transfer at Tegucigulpa)

If you have more time, then a cheaper, and possibly more fun, option is to ride a local bus to the border, walk across, and then continue your journey again by bus. Although they are undoubtedly less expensive, local buses can take considerably longer, be much less comfortable and mean that you must cross the border without assistance (which the international bus drivers provide).

However, if you are walking across, all you need is an up-to-date passport and $7. Then you just have a short wait in the queue (unless you happen to arrive at the same time as an international bus when the queues become much longer).

Nicaragua Cars

If you intend on taking a motor vehicle across the border this is a longer process. As long as you have proof of ownership and $20 (keep the receipt -- you will need it when you leave the country) you shouldn’t have any problems.

Of the three possible border crossings between Nicaragua and Costa Rica it is only possible to drive across one only one, as the other two involve river trips. The only road crossing is at Peñas Blancas, and it is relatively safe, efficient border crossing.

There are three major road crossings into Honduras. The crossing between Las Manos and Ocotal is a well-run border on the shortest route between Managua and Tegucigalpa. The other two crossings are to the north of Léon, on the Panamerican Highway, between Guasule and Choluteca, and through the highlands between Somoto and Choluteca.

It should also be noted that there are plenty of rental car agencies at the airport, if you should chose that option:

• Budget
• Alamo
• Dollar
• Hertz
• National
• Thrifty
• Toyota