How To Find Us

From Managua to the Islands

 

By Plane

Flights are operated by La Costeña and  run twice daily from Managua to Corn Island at 6:20am and 2:00pm and from Corn Island to Managua at 8:00am and 4:00pm.  The flight takes between 1 and 1.5 hours, depending on whether or not it is direct. Flights can be booked on their website, by phone on (505) 2298 5360, through travel agents/tour operators in Granada/Leon, or in person at the airport.

A return journey from Managua costs from $164. Note there is an $18 fee for online bookings and you have to fix your return date. If you book in person then you can avoid this fee and also buy an open return and book your return ticket at a later date. For your return journey you will need to reserve a seat either on arrival at the airport on Corn Island, or by calling the airport there on (505) 2575 5131.

Any changes to fixed dates or times will incur a fee of $40 and has to be paid for either in person or through their website.

Please make your reservations in advance as seats can be limited. 

Checked in baggage is limited to 30lbs per person with an excess charge of $1.20 per pound over this. Excess baggage may be treated as standby baggage so there is no guarantee it will arrive on the same flight as you. Other baggage information can be found here.

The Panga

Once you arrive at the airport you can get a taxi to the wharf for the panga to Little Corn for $1 per person.

Once you arrive at the wharf you can buy a ticket for the panga to Little Corn Island for C$150 each way. The journey will take from 20 to 45 minutes depending on weather. If the ocean is choppy, seat at the back are more comfortable but you will get wet, so please pack all  valuable items in your baggage and have these stowed below. It might also be wise to take out your rain jacket.

 

By Bus and Ferry

Bus Option 1

A new daily direct bus service between Managua and Bluefields, that does not go through El Rama, has been launched, costing C$280 each way. The journey takes around 8.5 hours leaving Mercado Israel Lewites in Managua at 6:00am, 9:00am, 2:00pm and 9:00pm and leaving Barrio San Pedro in Bluefields at 4:00am, 5:30am, 6:30am and 4:00pm. You must buy your ticket in person, in advance, at the ticket office at both locations.

Bus Option 2

Express buses leave from the Costa Atlantica Terminal in the Mercado Ivan Montenegro every day starting at 6:00am with last bus at 9:00pm, taking around 8 hours to Rama. The cost of this service is $8 or $16 including the boat fare to Bluefields.

Chicken buses leave from the Mercado Mayoreo at 6:00am, 8:00am, 10:00am, 2:00pm, 6:00pm and 9:00pm and cost $7, but make many stops on the journey.

Once in Rama the boats to Bluefields operate when full, starting when it gets light, and cost $9. On occasions there may be other supply boats running from the mainland to Big Corn but there are no schedules available for these so it’s just a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Please note though that boat times may vary so it is worth getting there in advance to check sailing times and to reserve a space.

The Ferry

The Rio Escondido passenger ship runs between Bluefields and Big Corn, taking between 5 and 6 hours and costing $12 each way. The boat leaves once a week on Wednesday morning 9am from Bluefields, returning from Big Corn at 9am on Thursday.

As of September 2017 there is now an additional service on the Rio Escondido ferry, leaving Bluefields on Saturday mornings and returning from Corn Island on Sunday mornings, 9am both ways.

Cargo ships may take passengers on Thursday or Friday from the mainland, but departure ports and times are not fixed and spaces may not be available.

They do take passengers back from Big Corn to Bluefields/Rama though on Sundays, check locally for times as they vary.

The Panga

Once you arrive at the wharf you can buy a ticket for the panga to Little Corn Island for C$150 each way. The journey will take from 20 to 45 minutes depending on weather. If the ocean is choppy, seat at the back are more comfortable but you will get wet, so please pack all valuable items in your baggage and have these stowed below. It might also be wise to take out your rain jacket.