How To Get To Corn Island From Managua: Revealed!

This article about how to get to Corn Island from Managua may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see my disclaimer here.

Table of Contents

How To Get To Corn Island From Managua
1. Option: How To Get To Corn Island From Managua By Plane (The More Expensive Way)
2. Option: How To Get To Corn Island From Managua By Bus (The Cheaper Way)
1. Take A Bus From Managua To Bluefields
2. Take A Ferry From Bluefields To The Big Corn Island
How To Buy Tickets For The Ferry From Bluefields To The Big Corn Island
How Long Is The Ferry From Bluefields To The Big Corn Island
3. Take A Panga Boat From The Big Corn To The Little Corn Island
More Tips For Central American Travel

You’re in the right spot if you’re looking for ways to get to Corn Island from Managua. But before I explain everything, let me give you a little spoiler. You found the true paradise for your vacation. The Corn Islands are amazing, and I’m sure they’ll leave you speechless, as they did with me. However, before, you’ll have to get there, and it’s slightly more challenging (if you don’t fly). But hey, nothing good comes easy.

I’ll explain in detail how to get to Corn Island from Managua in this article. So stay tuned!

How To Get To Corn Island From Managua

There are two ways to get to Corn Island from Managua.

The first option is to fly with an airline called La Costeña from Managua to the Big Corn Island.

The second option is to take a bus from Managua to Bluefields (a town on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua), then take a ferry from Bluefields to Big Corn Island. Finally, you’ll have to take a ‘panga’ boat to visit Little Corn Island. The panga boat leaves from Big Corn to Little Corn Island twice daily.

During bad weather, the schedules change, or the ferry and pangas are suspended completely. So be flexible and plan your trip accordingly.

Now that you know how to get to Corn Island from Managua, let me give you a detailed explanation.

NOTE: There are two Corn Islands, the Big Corn Island, and the Little Corn Island. So I’ll refer to them this way in this article.

1. Option: How To Get To Corn Island From Managua By Plane (The More Expensive Way)

If you decide to fly from Managua to the Big Corn Island, it’ll be the easier option but also a more expensive one.

The only airline that operates this route is called La Costeña. It has daily flights, twice a day, at 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. The airfare costs more than $130 one way per person. Check the La Costeña website for the exact price, as they might change over time.

The flight from Managua to the Big Corn Island takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.

PRO TIP: If you buy your flight ticket more than a month before departure, it’ll be slightly cheaper.

Only Big Corn Island has an airport. Little Corn Island doesn’t have one, and neither has cars. It’s a car-free island, only for passengers. And the only way to get there is with the local ‘panga’ boat.

You’ll have to take the panga boat from Big Corn to Little Corn Island. It leaves twice a day and costs $10 per person (one way). It’ll take between 20 and 30 minutes to get there.

2. Option: How To Get To Corn Island From Managua By Bus (The Cheaper Way)

While flying to Big Corn Island is a matter of one day, getting to the Corn Island by bus and ferry takes 2 full days. Yet it’s way cheaper than flying. So for all budget travelers, I have detailed information on how to get to the Corn Islands paradise.

Here is a quick overview of the cheaper way of getting to Corn Island from Managua:

1. Take a bus from Managua to Bluefields (departs several times per day)
2. Take a ferry from Bluefields to the Big Corn Island (departs only Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:00 am, if the weather is bad, there is no departure until it gets better)
3. Take a ‘panga’ boat from the Big Corn to the Little Corn Island (departs twice a day)

 

So now that you have the outline of the cheaper journey to Corn Island open Google Maps and visualize it. Let me give you more details for each step.

1. Take A Bus From Managua To Bluefields

First, you’ll have to take a bus from Managua to Bluefields.

The bus departs from the Mayoreo Bus Station in Managua. It takes between 7 and 8 hours to get to Bluefields. There are several buses throughout the day, with the earliest one departing at 6:00 am, to the latest one at 11:00 pm (as of February 2023).

If you take the bus during the day, you’ll have to stay overnight in Bluefields.

Taking the overnight bus from Managua to Bluefields will save you even more time and money since you won’t have to stay an extra night in Bluefields. However, I wouldn’t recommend taking the overnight bus. Everyone says it’s unsafe to travel or walk at night in Nicaragua. So rather be cautious and travel during the day.

NOTE: Many people told me that the bus from Managua to Bluefields was pretty dangerous (a hotel receptionist and another Nicaraguan woman specifically). They said people tend to rob you and you should be very careful. My personal opinion? The bus journey was pretty comfortable. Nobody tried to rob me. It might happen, but I felt safe traveling on that bus.

So don’t always believe what people say.

If you want detailed information about the bus ride from Managua to Bluefields, read my article about how to get from Managua to Bluefields. It has detailed information, prices, and things you must know before traveling, so check it out.

2. Take A Ferry From Bluefields To The Big Corn Island

Once you’re in Bluefields, another adventurous journey is ahead: the ferry from Bluefields to the Big Corn Island.

The ferry from Bluefields to the Big Corn Island only leaves twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:00 am.

Yet it’s not always so straightforward. In case of bad weather (strong wind and big waves in the sea), the ferry won’t depart. It doesn’t matter that the weather gets better the next day (Thursday or Sunday). The ferry doesn’t go.

Suppose it doesn’t depart according to its schedule (Wednesday or Saturday). In that case, you might get stuck in Bluefields for several days waiting for another ferry departure.

That’s what happened to us (with my boyfriend). We arrived in Bluefields on Tuesday evening and were excited to take the ferry on Wednesday morning. Then we came to queue for the tickets in the early morning only to find out (after an hour) that the ferry wouldn’t leave that day. Apparently, the waves were too big.

So we were waiting in Bluefields for three days until the following Saturday. Luckily, it then departed on Saturday. We went the port every morning to double-check whether the boat was leaving. You never know; the weather might change from one hour to another, and they decide to leave, leaving us behind. At least I made some local friends, lol.

So if that happens to you, go and ask locals at the port or the ticket office throughout the day whether the ferry might leave later or the next day.

How To Buy Tickets For The Ferry From Bluefields To The Big Corn Island

You’ll have to buy tickets for the ferry at the harbor in Bluefields. The office is inside the green door on your right-hand side when you enter the harbor. It opens on the day of departure (Wednesdays and Saturdays) at 6:30 am (sometimes later, around 7:00 am).

Be sure to arrive at the harbor between 5:45 am and 6:00 am, but no later. There will already be people queuing for the tickets. The spots are limited, and many people want to go to the island. The captain told me that the ferry has 255 places. But sometimes, people are left behind just because they can’t get tickets.

So go to the office early in the morning, and wait until it opens to buy the ticket.

The ferry ticket from Bluefields to the big Corn Island costs 260 cordobas per person (as of February 2023).

How Long Is The Ferry From Bluefields To The Big Corn Island

The ferry from Bluefields to the Big Corn Island takes between 6 to 7 hours. Here are some tips on how to prepare for it.

1. Wrap your backpack into the waterproof cover (if it has one)
2. Put all your valuables into a smaller bag that will always be with you
3. Buy a pill for seasickness (if you tend to get it)
4. Bring something to entertain yourself (I listened to an audiobook and spoke to other travelers)
5. Bring some snacks, food, and drink
6. Board the ferry at least 1 hour before departure and secure your seat on the upper floor

TIP 1. & 2: I recommend taking all your luggage with you and keeping it in your sight or close to you. If your backpack has a waterproof cover, use it. The ship is not the cleanest. You also never know if it might come into contact with water.

TIP 3: This ferry ride is hard even for those who never feel seasick. Believe me. Luckily, I barely get seasick. So even a brutal boat ride can be enjoyable to me. I didn’t feel seasick on this ferry either. But my stomach was slightly worse in the middle of the ride for like half an hour.

So if you easily get seasick, go to the pharmacy and buy a pill. You’ll be glad you did. The ferry is on the open sea for over 5 hours. The waves are quite big, and so it’s constantly shaking. It’s one of the more difficult ferry rides you’ll experience. Still, it’s a great adventure.

TIP 5: There is a shop/cafe on the ferry, so you can buy snacks, food, and drinks during the journey. But I recommend buying it before as it’s challenging to walk around the ferry. Also, it’s full of people (also sleeping on the floor), and it’s shaking.

TIP 6: The most important tip for you is to secure a seat/spot on the upper floor of the ferry. The best is to get in at least one hour before departure. Then, go immediately up and get a seat. Or, if you have a hammock, go outside on the upper floor and set it up there. The lower part of the ferry is super crowded, and there is no air or air conditioning.

3. Take A Panga Boat From The Big Corn To The Little Corn Island

Last but not least, once you arrive in the Big Corn Island, you’ll still have to take a speed panga boat to the Little Corn Island (if that’s your destination).

There are only 2 boats per day, at 10:00 am and at 4:30 pm. The panga boat is pretty small and probably can’t fit all the people coming from big ferry. So get off the ferry as quickly as possible and go fast to buy your ticket for the boat.

The panga boat ticket from Big Corn Island to Little Corn Island costs $10. The boat ride takes between 20 and 30 minutes.

You’ll see the panga boat from the ferry. The guy from the boat will point out where you can buy a ticket. So buy one and go back to the panga boat.

PRO TIP: For this ride, I highly recommend packing your backpack into the waterproof cover, and wrapping your valuables, especially electronics, into plastic bags so that everything stays dry. On top of that, wear a jacket and glasses. It’ll be a crazy ride.

PRO TIP: Sit at the front of the boat. It’ll be much bumpier, but you won’t get so wet. If you sit in the back side of the boat, you’ll come to Little Corn Island completely soaked.

P.S. I’m sorry the photo is blurry. It was difficult to take photos during that panga ride :D.

Congratulations! You made it to your final destination. You got to the true paradise on Earth. Stay as long as you can, because it might be difficult to leave. Enjoy and soak up the atmosphere as much as you can.

RELATED ARTICLE: Is Nicaragua Safe To Travel? Safety Tips For First-Timers

More Tips For Central American Travel

This is how to get to Corn Island from Managua. It was a crazy but very adventurous journey. It might get too much if you decide to go the long way, taking a bus and a ferry. But I can assure you that it’s all worth it. Both islands are incredibly beautiful, so it’s worth the long journey.

Get my Nicaragua backpacking itinerary for 7 days and explore the highlights of Nicaragua.

In case you’re in Costa Rica and want to visit Nicaragua, including the Corn Islands, check out my article about how to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua.

Enjoy the little paradise on earth at the Corn Islands. Get the most out of your stay.

Happy travels!