There are 5 ways to get from Nicaragua to Costa Rica 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 Managua Airport (MGA) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)plane MGA - SJO
3h 38m$222–474Bus via Liberia
cheapest- Take the bus from Managua Mercado Huembes to Rivasbus
- Take the bus from Peñas Blancas to Liberia - Estación de Servicio EMESAbus Mga
- Take the bus from Terminal Pulmitan Liberia to Gran Terminal del Caribe, San Josébus
8h 23m$18–24Drive 417.7 km
- Drive from Managua to San Josécar 417.7 km
6h 32m$56–81Bus
- Take the bus from Managua to Terminal TransNicabus Managua
9h$30–50Bus #2
- Take the bus from Managua Mercado Huembes to Granadabus Managua
- Take the bus from Granada to Terminal Atlántico Nortebus Mga
13h 33m$30–46
Nicaragua to Costa Rica by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Nicaragua to Costa Rica is to bus via Liberia which costs $18 - $24 and takes 8h 23m.
The fastest way to get from Nicaragua to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 3h 38m and costs $220 - $480.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Managua and arriving at Terminal TransNica. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h.
The distance between Nicaragua and Costa Rica is 339 km. The road distance is 417.7 km.
The best way to get from Nicaragua to Costa Rica without a car is to bus via Liberia which takes 8h 23m and costs $18 - $24.
It takes approximately 3h 38m to get from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, including transfers.
Nicaragua to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Nicaragua Local Buses, depart from Managua Mercado Huembes station.
The best way to get from Nicaragua to Costa Rica is to fly which takes 3h 38m and costs $220 - $480. Alternatively, you can bus via Liberia, which costs $18 - $24 and takes 8h 23m.
Nicaragua to Costa Rica bus services, operated by Nicaragua Local Buses, arrive at Rivas station.
Yes, the driving distance between Nicaragua to Costa Rica is 418 km. It takes approximately 6h 32m to drive from Nicaragua to Costa Rica.
What companies run services between Nicaragua and Costa Rica?
SANSA, Copa Airlines, and World Ticket fly from Managua Airport (MGA) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) twice daily. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Managua Mercado Huembes to Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José via Rivas, Rivas, Peñas Blancas, Liberia - Estación de Servicio EMESA, and Terminal Pulmitan Liberia in around 8h 23m.
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Managua Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–600
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Managua Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $240–280
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Managua Airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $45–320
Bus from Managua Mercado Huembes to Rivas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- estelibuses.web.app
Bus from Managua Mercado Huembes to Granada
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- estelibuses.web.app
Bus from Peñas Blancas to Liberia - Estación de Servicio EMESA
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $5–8
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $5–8
Bus from Granada to Terminal Atlántico Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $29–45
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $29–45
- Phone
- +506 2222 0610
- info@caribeños.com
- Website
- Pulmitan de Liberia
Bus from Terminal Pulmitan Liberia to Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10–13
- Schedules at
- Pulmitan de Liberia
- Phone
- +506 4404 0500
- info@transnica.com
- Website
- transnica.com
Bus from Managua to Terminal TransNica
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- transnica.com
- Book at
- ventas.transnica.com
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