After spending some days in one of the warmest cities in Nicaragua, you might wander where could you go next. Thankfully, the city of Leon is not only the gateway to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala but is also extremely well connected with the rest of the country. Whether you’re planning to explore canyons & cloudy misty forests to the North or enjoy the sandy beaches & city life to the East, don’t you worry: there will be always be the right transport for you!

Key Facts for Transport

The Northern Terminal (a.k.a. the main bus terminal) of Leon serves all major routes leading to Matagalpa, Estelì or Managua is located at the corner of 8th Avenue NE-6th Avenue NE.

The Mercadito Sutiava Terminal (a.k.a. beach terminal) of Leon mainly serves the route to Las Peñitas and it’s located in Plaza Sutiava on the 14th Avenue SO.

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The Mercado Israel Lewites Bus Terminal of Managua is the hub for all buses arriving/heading West (e.g. Leon, Chinandega or El Transito).

The Mercado Roberto Huembes Bus Terminal of Managua is the hub for all the buses arriving/heading East (e.g. Peñas Blancas border, San Juan del Sur, Rivas, Vera Cruz, Granada, Masaya, San Jorge Harbour a.k.a. Ometepe).

The UCA Microbus Terminal (on Pista Juan Pablo II, just next to Radio Ya) is the hub for microbuses arriving/heading to Leon, Masaya, Granada or Jinotepe.

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In order to check bus times, the best option is to go to the terminal and ask locals themselves for up-to-date infos; alternatively, another very reliable method is to check the website horariodebuses.com and then select Nicaragua from the country list.

Around the North

1. Leon to Esteli or Matagalpa

Direct buses to Esteli or Matagalpa usually runs only twice a day (first around 6-7am and second around 4-5pm) with a third bus running at around 12pm being an uncommon thing. Expect to pay anywhere in between 60-75C/pp including the luggage/backpack you might carry with you.

Alternatively, during the day there is a great variety of buses running back and forth to San Isidro, a small “cruce” (junction) located at the end of the highway that leads up to the North. Once in San Isidro, you just need to jump on one of the frequent buses doing the route Estelì-Matagalpa. Expect to pay around 50-60C/pp to San Isidro, then 10-20C/pp for the bus to Estelì or 20-25C/pp to Matagalpa.

If you don’t fancy chicken buses, at the Northern Terminal you can find plenty of minivans running all day back and forth to Estelì or Matagalpa. Expect to pay a little higher for these, around 75-90C/pp to both destinations

2. Leon to Somoto or Jinotega

In order to reach Somoto, first you need to take a bus to Estelì (read point above) and then take one of the frequent buses that connect Estelì with the Frontera El Espino. Expect to pay 45C/pp.

In order to reach Jinotega, first you need to take a bus to Matagalpa (read point above) and the take one of the frequent buses that connect Matagalpa with Jinotega. Expect to pay 25C/pp.

Around the East

1. Leon to Las Peñitas

Strangely enough, direct buses to Las Peñitas leave from a small terminal just outside the city called Mercadito Sutiava Terminal. Buses are pretty frequent and run all day long. Expect to pay around 13-15C/pp.

Alternatively, shuttle service is offered many hostels around the city and although being more expensive is the way to go for a more comfortable chicken-free ride.

2. Leon to Managua

Direct buses heading to Managua are incredibly frequent (every 30min ca.) and all leave from the main Northern Terminal. Make sure to catch an “expreso” instead of a normal one, this will save you around half-an-hour of of trip just for a couple of cordobas more. Expreso buses cost around 50-60C.

Another option, is taking microbuses from the same terminal of the expreso buses. These are usually slightly more expensive (55-65C) but take half-an-hour less than the expreso; taking the mentioned microbuses can also be convenient if you’re planning on not stopping in Managua for the night (read next section).

3. Leon to Granada

Currently, there is no direct bus/microbus from Leon to Granada and the only way to do this route is travel to Managua and there change bus/microbus.

ALERT: Chicken buses arriving in Managua will stop at Mercado Israel Lewites Bus Terminal but chicken buses to Granada leave from Mercado Roberto Huembes; the two markets are not close to each other so you’ll need to take a taxi from one to the other.

For a bus from Mercado Roberto Huembes in Managua to Granada expect to pay 40-50C/pp.

QUICK TIP: The best way to get to Granada and avoid terminal changing in Managua is to get a microbus in Leon. The microbuses usually arrive at the UCA (microbus terminal in front of University of Managua) and from that same spot you’ll be able to take another direct microbus to Granada.

For a microbus from UCA in Managua to Granada expect to pay around 60C/pp.

Bus and Microbus Journey Length


REMEMBER: The times mentioned here could vary a lot depending on driver, number of stops the bus takes and road conditions! Always make sure to ask the driver for more precise times!

Around the North

Leon to Matagalpa (chicken bus) – 3h30
Leon to Matagalpa (microbus) – 3h
Leon to Esteli (chicken bus) – 3h30
Leon to Esteli (microbus) – 3h
Leon to San Isidro – 2h45min
San Isidro to Matagalpa – 1h
San Isidro to Esteli – 1h
Matagalpa to Jinotega – 1h15min
Esteli to Somoto – 1h15min

Around the East

Leon to Las Peñitas (chicken bus) – 45min
Leon to Las Peñitas (shuttle) – 30min
Leon to Managua (chicken bus) – 2h15min
Leon to Managua (expreso) – 1h45min
Leon to Managua UCA (microbus) – 1h45min
Managua to Granada (chicken bus) – 2h
Managua to Granada (microbus) – 1h30min
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PLANNING A TRIP TO NICARAGUA? CHECK MORE GUIDES BELOW!