There are 6 ways to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua by plane, bus, rideshare, 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
1h 28m$230–600Bus via Liberia
cheapest- Take the bus from Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José to Terminal Pulmitan Liberiabus
- Take the bus from Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia to Peñas Blancasbus
- Take the bus from Rivas to Managua Mercado Huembesbus
8h 54m$22–28Airport Transfer
- Take the rideshare from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Managua402.7 km
6h 20mDrive 402.7 km
- Drive from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Managuacar 402.7 km
6h 20m$54–78Bus
- Take the bus from El Cacique to Paseo Colon Frente A Torre Mercedesbus 200
- Take the bus from Terminal TransNica to Managuabus San José
10h 54m$37–48Bus #2
- Take the bus from Puente Villa Bonita to Terminal Managua - CCAbus Sjo
13h 38m$35–51
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Managua Airport (MGA) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua is to bus via Liberia which costs $21 - $29 and takes 8h 54m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua is to fly which takes 1h 28m and costs $230 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua. However, there are services departing from Entrada Fatima and arriving at Managua Mercado Huembes via Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José, Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia, Peñas Blancas and Rivas. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 54m.
The distance between San Jose Airport (SJO) and Nicaragua is 345 km. The road distance is 402.7 km.
The best way to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua without a car is to bus via Liberia which takes 8h 54m and costs $21 - $29.
It takes approximately 1h 28m to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua, including transfers.
San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua bus services, operated by Pulmitan de Liberia, depart from Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José station.
The best way to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua is to fly which takes 1h 28m and costs $230 - $600. Alternatively, you can bus via Liberia, which costs $21 - $29 and takes 8h 54m.
San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua bus services, operated by Pulmitan de Liberia, arrive at Terminal Pulmitan Liberia station.
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua is 403 km. It takes approximately 6h 20m to drive from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Nicaragua.
What companies run services between San Jose Airport (SJO), Costa Rica and Nicaragua?
Copa Airlines, World Ticket, and SANSA fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Managua Airport (MGA) twice daily. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from San-Jose-Airport-SJO to Managua Mercado Huembes via Entrada Fatima, Terminal San Carlos, Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José, Terminal Pulmitan Liberia, Terminal de Buses Municipal de Liberia, Peñas Blancas, Rivas, and Rivas in around 8h 54m.
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Managua Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $50–360
- Website
- worldticket.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Managua Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–800
- Website
- flysansa.com
Flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport to Managua Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $400–1,300
- Phone
- +506 2222 0610
- info@caribeños.com
- Website
- Pulmitan de Liberia
Bus from Gran Terminal del Caribe, San José to Terminal Pulmitan Liberia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $10–13
- Schedules at
- Pulmitan de Liberia
- Phone
- +506 2666 0517
- info@grupotranbasa.com
- 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
- Schedules at
- estelibuses.web.app
- Phone
- +506 2442 6900
- contraloriadeservicios@grupotuasa.com
- Website
- grupotuasa.com
Bus from El Cacique to Paseo Colon Frente A Torre Mercedes
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Schedules at
- grupotuasa.com
- Phone
- +506 4404 0500
- info@transnica.com
- Website
- transnica.com
Bus from Terminal TransNica to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $32–40
- Schedules at
- transnica.com
- Book at
- ventas.transnica.com
- Road
- $40
Bus from Puente Villa Bonita to Terminal Managua - CCA
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 45m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $30–45
- Website
- https://www.mozio.com
Rideshare from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- Frequency
- On demand
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Booking & Getting There
There are 123+ hotels available in Nicaragua.
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between San Jose Airport (SJO) and Nicaragua. A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.