Advice for getting to Nicaragua from San Jose, Costa Rica.

December 22, 2007 10:51 AM

In mid-January, I will be going to Nicaragua and Costa Rica for about 10 days. We will be flying into San Jose, Costa Rica - and do a day there, with the rest of the time spent in Nicaragua. I need advice on inter-country buses.

I've lived in Nicaragua before, so i know it pretty well - but I have never come from Costa Rica via bus. I was planning to take TicaBus or TransNica from San Jose to Managua, and then rent a car in Managua for the remainder, before catching a return bus to San Jose from Managua.

I've never ridden either of these before, however. Anyone have any advice? Is it possible to get reservations ahead of time? (it looks like you used to be able to do that on Ticabus's site, but it's under construction now).

Also, does this sound like a good plan? Or would trying to rent a car somewhere south of Managua be better?

posted by waylaid to Travel & Transportation around Nicaragua (6 answers total)

If no one around here can give you first hand advice, I'd recommend asking at Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Travel Forum, they have a good archive to search, as well.

FWIW, I went from Guatemala to Honduras, to El Salvador and then back to Guatemala City on buses, and found the experience very manageable. No reservations were necessary. The VIP buses were extremely nice and comfortable. I imagine the situation in Costa Rica and Nicaragua would be similar. Have a nice trip.
posted by bluejayk at 11:11 AM on December 22, 2007

I took TicaBus from San Jose to Grenada. It was a fairly comfortable ride. I made reservations one or two days before at the San Jose office. I think if you stop by there during your day in San Jose, you'll still be able to get a seat.

When you reach the border, everyone has to get off the bus to get an exit stamp from CR migration. You'll be confronted by hoards of money changers (bring your own calculator and research the exchange rate if you plan on changing here). When you return to the bus, the driver will collect your passports, customs forms, and the $8 Nicaragua entry fee. He'll then get them stamped by Nicaraguan migration, while everyone stands in the parking lot (a slight improvement over standing in line yourself).
posted by ecrivain at 3:04 PM on December 22, 2007

Yeah, I think you should be ok buying your ticket in San Jose the day before. If that doesn't work, there are bound to be other nice (non-chicken) buses going this route.

I loved Ticabus - super comfortable and easy.

As for renting a car - Managua should be fine, or else you can catch a taxi to Granada (turista central) and rent a car there. I assume that since you've lived in CR, you're accustomed to driving in the region?
posted by lunasol at 7:02 PM on December 22, 2007

Response by poster: Yes - ive driven in DR, Puerto Rico and Honduras before, so this should be fine. Any recommendations on other non-chicken buses? Is the border open 24-7?
posted by waylaid at 7:40 PM on December 22, 2007

I had the same experience as the others; I did this a couple of months ago on Ticabus. I bought the ticket the afternoon before, but I was going to Granada and the bus left at 5am or so. I don't know if you could buy it just before if you were leaving on a later bus. And yeah, Ticabus's website is pretty much useless. The border was easy, just stand in line where they tell you and don't worry when the bus guy takes your passport for twenty minutes or so to get it stamped.

I think your plan to rent a car in Managua sounds good. Although I was only in Nicaragua for about 2 weeks, it seems like it would be way easier to rent a car there than in, say, Rivas (the major stop between the border and Granada/Managua).
posted by ruby.aftermath at 9:16 PM on December 23, 2007

Response by poster: ruby i have sent you a message, since this thread is off the frontpage now.
posted by waylaid at 3:18 PM on December 24, 2007