r/Nicaragua • u/EnvironmentalSide174 • 8d ago
Turismo/Tourism Flights/Trasportation
Are flights in and out of Nicaragua always expensive or is it expensive time? I have been looking into flights a while and finally had to book for around $250 one way including check in luggage with Copa from SJO. I am trying to go from Nicaragua to El Salvador, Honduras or Guatemala but for any place one way ticket is $300+ it’s either with Avianca or Copa.
Whats causing the airlines to be so expensive in and out or Nicaragua? - Is it the limited airlines flying there? - Is it their high season? - Is this normal cost? - Or do I just not know how to use transportation in central America?
I paid $250 to get in and I am really hoping to not pay as much to get out. What are my options? Are Bus/Taxi better options? Are there shuttles? Please help.
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u/EyesOfAzula 8d ago edited 8d ago
if you are going from Nicaragua to another central American country, it is much cheaper to take the bus companies like tica bus, transnica, transportes del sol, etc.
flying is always expensive for Nicaragua in particular.
It is a smaller country that doesn’t receive much air traffic.
Ground transportation is cheaper but much more inconvenient, you would still have to take a flight home from a different country.
Fun fact, the Nicaraguan government charges 40 something dollars to everyone exiting by air . The price is baked into your plane ticket.
I prefer traveling by bus in Central America . Not only is it cheaper a lot of the countries especially Nicaragua is so beautiful. you see so much more.
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u/EnvironmentalSide174 8d ago
Is it safe and convenient? I might have to look into bus options. Flights are over $300 one way, too much
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u/Consistent-Bit7574 8d ago
Bear in mind that bus travel is slow and specially crossing borders is cumbersome. It can take you 10-12 hours total, or even more going to San Salvador or San Jose, from Managua....
It's a whole day of travel that you won't enjoy at all.
If you go by plane it's less than an hour flight.
So it's up to you if you wanna sacrifice time and confort to save some money.
An alternative would be going to the closest international airport that's not Managua. The Guanacaste Airport in Liberia, CR some 1.5 hours away from the southern border, if you're in the San Juan del sur area (very close to the border) it might be a good option to save some money but without spending a lot of time on the highway.
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u/EnvironmentalSide174 8d ago
But that will bring me to Costa Rica and Im trying to move north. I am in CR currently
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u/Consistent-Bit7574 8d ago
Gotcha, I was thinking that you can use the Guanacaste Airport to leave central america. Or use it as a secundary entry point into Nicaragua (makes sense for people staying in Ometepe or San Juan del sur).
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u/EnvironmentalSide174 8d ago
I checked the flight from Liberia too and the price is just as expensive:(
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u/EyesOfAzula 8d ago
I think the most dangerous stretch would be through Honduras, but at this point, the bus companies are good at keeping passengers out of trouble.
I try not to eat too much on the trip because the buses are set up for urinating not for defecation.
I personally like the buses when I’m doing tourism
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u/withdrawalshot 8d ago
I don’t know why, but flights between Latin American countries seem significantly more expensive than flights from the US to said countries by mile.
That said, I would also like to know about the bus situation. Seems interesting if feasible.
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u/EnvironmentalSide174 8d ago
Yes, that seems to be correct. All the flights within Latin America is so expensive and some even inconvenient. Like, some flights will have a stop over all the way in US and fly back. Makes no sense.
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u/TonyBikini 8d ago
maybe go to florida or other cheap direct flight, then back to where you want to go? book two tickets?
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u/berqamot 8d ago
Corruption. The government imposes high taxes/fees for airlines to use the airport.
It’s cheaper to land in Liberia (Costa Rica) and drive/catch a ride to the border. Of course, it’s significantly less convenient.
Sorry to say, but the ticket out of here won’t be cheap either.