Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COSTA RICA
There are several bus companies running direct services between San José and Managua. The journey
usually takes around nine to 10 hours and costs around US$25.
EL SALVADOR
Although there is no common border, there are several direct buses a day to San Salvador passing
through Choluteca in Honduras. The journey costs US$35 to US$50 and takes around 11 hours but
may be significantly longer if there are delays at any of the two border crossings.
HONDURAS
There are two main bus routes between Honduras and Nicaragua. From Tegucigalpa it's around seven
to 10 hours and costs US$23 to US$30, while from San Pedro Sula it's 11 hours and costs US$37.
Car & Motorcycle
To bring a vehicle into Nicaragua, you'll need the originals and several copies of the ownership papers
(in your name), your passport and a driver's license.
You'll get a 30-day permit (lose it and you'll be fined US$100) and you will need to purchase oblig-
atory accident insurance for US$12. You may also be required to pay US$4 for the fumigation of your
vehicle. Your passport will be stamped saying you brought a vehicle into the country; if you try to
leave without it, you'll have to pay import duty.
You can only drive across one border crossing to Costa Rica, at Sapoá-Peñas Blancas. You can drive
across the Nicaragua-Honduras border at El Guasaule, Somoto-El Espino and Ocotal-Las Manos.
River
The one main river crossing into Costa Rica (from San Carlos to Los Chiles) is a breeze - a gorgeous
boat ride down an egret-lined river. From Los Chiles there are regular bus services onto Ciudad
Quesada and San José.
You can also cross into Honduras from Waspám to Puerto Lempira, but it's a serious jungle adven-
ture.
Sea
It's now possible to travel directly between Nicaragua and El Salvador by boat through the Golfo de
Fonseca.
Cruce del Golfo
(
www.crucedelgolfo.com
)
runs a boat from Potosí on the Cosigüina penin-
sula to La Union (US$65, two hours) every Tuesday and Friday. It also runs connecting minibus
shuttles to Leon (US$34) and San Salvador (US$34). Prices do not include
migración
(immigration)
fees.
