There are 5 ways to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua by plane, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Managua Airport (MGA)plane SJO - MGA
3h 36m$221–452Bus via La Cruz
cheapest- Take the bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to La Cruzbus Sjo
- Take the bus from Rivas to Managua Mercado Huembesbus Regular
8h 24m$24–34Drive 417.6 km
- Drive from San José to Managuacar 417.6 km
6h 26m$56–81Bus
- Take the bus from Terminal TransNica to Managuabus San José
9h$30–50Bus #2
- Take the bus from Terminal NicaBus to Managuabus San José
9h 4m$37–38
Costa Rica to Nicaragua by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is to bus via La Cruz which costs $24 - $35 and takes 8h 24m.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is to fly which takes 3h 36m and costs $220 - $460.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Terminal TransNica and arriving at Managua. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h.
The distance between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is 349 km. The road distance is 417.6 km.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua without a car is to bus via La Cruz which takes 8h 24m and costs $24 - $35.
It takes approximately 3h 36m to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, including transfers.
Costa Rica to Nicaragua bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), depart from Terminal Atlántico Norte station.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is to fly which takes 3h 36m and costs $220 - $460. Alternatively, you can bus via La Cruz, which costs $24 - $35 and takes 8h 24m.
Costa Rica to Nicaragua bus services, operated by Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter), arrive at La Cruz station.
Yes, the driving distance between Costa Rica to Nicaragua is 418 km. It takes approximately 6h 26m to drive from Costa Rica to Nicaragua.
What companies run services between Costa Rica and Nicaragua?
SANSA, Copa Airlines, and World Ticket fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Managua Airport (MGA) twice daily. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Managua Mercado Huembes via La Cruz, Peñas Blancas, Rivas, and Rivas in around 8h 24m.
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Managua Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $240–270
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Managua Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $40–300
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Managua Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $200–550
- Phone
- +504 9919 5375
- Website
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to La Cruz
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $20–29
- Schedules at
- cristobalcolon.com.gt
- Road
- $20–29
Bus from Rivas to Managua Mercado Huembes
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Phone
- +506 4404 0500
- info@transnica.com
- Website
- transnica.com
Bus from Terminal TransNica to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- transnica.com
- Book at
- ventas.transnica.com
- Phone
- +505 2222 2276
- Nicabusinternacionalsa@gmail.com
- Website
- nicabus.com.ni
Bus from Terminal NicaBus to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $37–38
- Website
- https://nicabus.com.ni/en/
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