Last updated on November 26th, 2023 at 07:00 pm
How To Get From Managua to San Jose Best Way – You can go by bus, shuttle bus and private transfer.
What Is The Distance From Managua to San Jose?
The distance from Managua to San Jose is 422 kilometers. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and day trips
The travel time by car from Managua to San Jose is around 7 hours. You will have to cross the border but it’s a really fast and easy process. Read here how to get from San Jose to Managua the reverse way.
What Is The Best Way From Managua to San Jose?
The best way from Managua to San Jose is by bus for $29 USD you can book online and the bus travel time is around 8-9 hours with the waiting time included.
What Is The Cheapest Way From Managua to San Jose?
The cheapest way from Managua to San Jose is by local buses for $19 USD. The bus travel time will be around 12 hours with the transfers and the waiting time included. Check out Managua activities and night visit to Masaya Volcano
How Much Is The Crossing Border Taxes Between Nicaragua And Costa Rica For Foreigners?
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $4 USD when leaving Nicaragua and when entering to Costa Rica you don’t have to pay taxes but you will have to show proof a flight out ticket or bus ticket within 90 days for leaving Costa Rica.
Read here how to get from San Juan del Sur to San Jose, San Juan del Sur to Liberia, San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna and San Juan del Sur to Tamarindo
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JOSE
There are dormitory rooms that you can rent the bed for as low as $8 USD a night if you want the cheapest option. AirBnb is also available, mostly for about $20-25 USD a night. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.
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HOW TO GET FROM MANAGUA TO SAN JOSE
BY BUS FROM MANAGUA TO SAN JOSE (BEST WAY)
The Nica Expreso Bus from Managua to San Jose is the best way for travelers you can book online. There is one daily direct bus going from Managua to San Jose leaving early morning.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM MANAGUA TO SAN JOSE
The bus from Managua to San Jose schedule is leaving at 7 50 am from Nica Transportes Expreso Terminal (check the exact location in Google Maps) 5 minutes to the city center in Managua and gets to San Jose 7-10 Bus Terminal (check here the exact location in Google Maps) at 3 30 pm.
The bus fare from Managua to San Jose is $29 USD you can book online and the travel time by bus is around 8-9 hours.
Click here to book online Managua activities and day trips
PUBLIC BUS FROM MANAGUA TO SAN JOSE (CHEAPEST WAY)
The cheapest way from Managua to San Jose is by local bus. There are no direct public buses going from Managua to San Jose only shared vans or shuttle buses for tourists (you can book online).
You will have to take a few buses. First a bus from San Jose to Rivas, from Rivas to Penas Blancas and cross the border. Once you cross the border a bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia. Once in Liberia, you can get a bus from Liberia to San Jose Costa Rica.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM MANAGUA TO RIVAS
The bus schedule from Managua to Rivas is leaving every 20-30 minutes to Managua. The bus fare is around $2 USD and it will take around 2 hours.
BUS SCHEDULE RIVAS TO PENAS BLANCAS
The bus schedule from Rivas to Penas Blancas is leaving very often during the day when they are full every 20-30 minutes. If not you can get shared taxis from Rivas to Penas Blancas in the border.
The bus fare from Rivas to Penas Blancas is around $2.5 USD and the travel time from Rivas to Penas Blancas is around 1 hour.
Bus From Penas Blancas to Liberia
Once you crossed the border. You will have to get the bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia. The bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia will take 1 hour and 30 minutes. The bus fare from Penas Blancas to Liberia is around $4-5 USD.
Bus From Liberia To San Jose
The bus schedule from Liberia to San Jose is running every 1-2 hours starting from 6 am to 8 pm. The bus fare from Liberia to San Jose is around $10 USD. The travel time from Liberia to San Jose is around 4-5 hours.
The total bus fare from Managua to San Jose is around $19 USD and the total travel time by local buses is around 12 hours with the transfers and waiting time. You will have to leave Managua early morning at 6 am to get to around 6 pm at San Jose
CAR RENTAL IN MANAGUA
There are many options for renting a car in Managua. But for this time with a border crossing between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I wouldn’t recommend renting a car and I would choose a shared van or a bus if you are on a budget. Or a private transfer if you wish for more comfort.
Click here to get the best deals renting a car in Costa Rica!
BEST WAY FROM MANAGUA TO SAN JOSE
NICA BUS VS PUBLIC BUS
The best way from Managua to San Jose is by bus for $29 USD you can book online and it will take around 8-9 hours.
The best way from Managua to San Jose is by local buses for $19 USD if you go on a tight budget and it will take around 10-12 hours or even longer depending on the transfer and waiting time.
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $9 USD when leaving Costa Rica and $14 USD when entering to Nicaragua.
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Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.