Reviewed Oct 29, 2026
Augusto C. Sandino airport sits on the Carretera Norte, 15–25 minutes by taxi from the bus terminals. There are no tourist buses from the airport itself: the trick is a short taxi to the right terminal and the bus from there.
Granada, Masaya, León and Carazo: minibuses from UCA (the most comfortable). Rivas, San Juan del Sur, San Jorge (Ometepe ferry) and Costa Rica: Mercado Roberto Huembes. Estelí, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Juigalpa, El Rama: Mercado Mayoreo, which is also the closest terminal to the airport. Chinandega, Corinto, Pochomil: Mercado Israel Lewites.
Official airport taxis (desk in arrivals) charge about US$20–25 to anywhere in Managua. If you walk out to the Carretera Norte, a street taxi costs C$300–450 (US$8–12) to UCA or Huembes; agree the price before getting in. Mayoreo is 10 minutes away.
At UCA the minibuses leave when full, every 10–20 minutes. At Huembes and Mayoreo ask for the express (expreso): faster and only slightly more expensive than the local bus (ruteado).
Several companies and hostels run shared shuttles straight from the airport to Granada (US$15–20), León (US$20–25) or San Juan del Sur (US$25–35), and private transfers for US$40–120. Book a day ahead.
Approximate cost
Taxi to town US$8–25 + bus C$25–130 depending on destination. Shared shuttle US$15–35.
Send it to whoever is travelling with you.