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 47m$221–452Bus via Liberia
cheapest- Take the bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Liberiabus
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Peñas Blancasbus
- Take the bus from Rivas to Managua Mercado Huembesbus
7h 6m$15–19Drive 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 Atlántico Norte to Granadabus Sjo
- Take the bus from Granada to Managua Mercado Huembesbus Managua
11h 28m$31–43
Costa Rica to Nicaragua by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is to bus via Liberia which costs $15 - $19 and takes 7h 6m.
The fastest way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is to fly which takes 3h 47m 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 Liberia which takes 7h 6m and costs $15 - $19.
It takes approximately 3h 47m to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, including transfers.
Costa Rica to Nicaragua bus services, operated by Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, depart from Central Autobusera Inteligente station.
The best way to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is to fly which takes 3h 47m and costs $220 - $460. Alternatively, you can bus via Liberia, which costs $15 - $19 and takes 7h 6m.
Costa Rica to Nicaragua bus services, operated by Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste, arrive at Liberia 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 Central Autobusera Inteligente to Managua Mercado Huembes via Liberia, Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia, Peñas Blancas, Rivas, and Rivas in around 7h 6m.
- 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
- $190–550
- Phone
- +506 4404 0505
- [email protected]
- Website
- tiguanacaste.com
Bus from Central Autobusera Inteligente to Liberia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 51m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $9–18
- Schedules at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Book at
- tiguanacaste.com
- Phone
- +506 2666 0517
- [email protected]
- Website
- Grupo Tranbasa
Bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Peñas Blancas
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $3–5
- Schedules at
- Grupo Tranbasa
Bus from Rivas to Managua Mercado Huembes
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
Bus from Granada to Managua Mercado Huembes
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Phone
- +506 4404 0500
- [email protected]
- 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
Bus from Terminal Atlántico Norte to Granada
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $29–45
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $29–45
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