Traveling in Nicaragua- Helpful Tips about Taxis and Buses!

Travel tip- When you get off a bus and are trying to figure out where to go from there it can be overwhelming how many people will approach you and ask you where you are going. We’ve learned that it’s best to push past these initial people and get out of the station area for a minute. Get yourself organized and make a plan and then you can ask a person or taxi how to get to the city center or your hotel. The initial mob will always be there if you can’t find someone to help you, you can walk back and talk to one of them. They will usually give you a quote that is very high so make sure you know what the taxi ride should cost you before you go. 

You should never pay more than 50 cordobas or $1.50 a person for a transfer in a taxi, Laguna de Apoyo has been the only exception we’ve found so far. 

Travel tip- Very often the bus stations are located next to the market areas. If you get a city map from hotel or tour office, the bus stations will not always be marked on the map but the markets will be. That’s a good starting point 

Travel tip- You do not pay the bus fare when you enter the bus. During the drive an attendant will walk through the bus and collect the money. The mini buses will stop halfway through the trip and collect the money from everyone. 

Travel tip- Certified taxis with have a license plate with red strips on the top and bottom. License plates for normal cars will not have red stripes and will have a blue shape of the country behind the plate number.