The Corn Islands are two Caribbean islands off the east coast of Nicaragua: Big Corn, which has the airport, and Little Corn, which has no roads or cars. Getting there means a La Costeña flight from Managua of about 80 minutes, then a panga boat for Little Corn. Monkeys Travels & Tours organizes the trip from Rivas or San Juan del Sur; the Managua to Big Corn flights are included in the package and the hotel is quoted separately.
What to do
Snorkel the reef off Big Corn
Big Corn is the island with the airport, the hotels with road access and the reef water that brings people here. Our package includes snorkeling equipment, a bilingual guide and transfers on the island, so the days are built around the water and the beaches on the side with the calmest sea that day.
Cross to Little Corn
The panga, an open boat, leaves Big Corn at 10:00 and 16:30 and comes back from Little Corn at 6:30 and 13:30. The crossing takes 20 to 30 minutes and costs between US$7 and US$10 depending on the source (seen November 3, 2026). Little Corn has no roads and no cars; from the dock you walk on footpaths to the hotels, the reefs and the white-sand beaches on the far side.
Eat lobster and Caribbean cooking
Lobster dinners are the meal people remember from Big Corn. Meals are not included in our packages, so budget for them separately and carry some cash; the food here is Afro-Caribbean, different from anything on the Pacific side where we are based.
Walk Little Corn on foot
With no vehicles, the whole island is covered on foot. Our Little Corn package runs 2 to 4 days with a local guide, the panga crossing, snorkeling equipment and water, from US$130 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$220 solo.
Combine the Caribbean with the Pacific
Our seven-day route, Pacific to Caribbean, starts on the Pacific beaches, continues through the volcanoes and the colonial cities and ends on the Corn Islands. It runs 7 days and 6 nights from US$350 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$650 solo, with domestic flights to the Corn Islands, hotels and daily breakfast.
How to get there from Rivas or San Juan del Sur
The trip has three legs, and we handle the first and arrange the rest around the flight times.
First, Rivas or San Juan del Sur to Managua airport (MGA). The drive takes about 2 hours according to the usual times of the Monkeys team, in a private vehicle, only your group, from US$30 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo. For the 7:00 flight that means leaving Rivas before dawn or sleeping in Managua the night before; we tell you which we recommend for your dates.
Second, the flight. La Costeña is the only airline flying Managua to Big Corn Island. It runs 2 to 3 flights a day: 7:00 daily, 9:30 depending on demand and 14:00 daily, with returns from Big Corn at 8:20, 11:10 and 15:20. The flight takes about 80 minutes. A round trip costs about US$180 according to the Little Corn Island guide, while a guide updated on October 27, 2026 quotes around US$100 one way; there is a US$2 airport tax paid at the counter (prices seen November 3, 2026), and checked baggage has been charged since October 1, 2025. These flights are included in the Monkeys price; the hotel is quoted separately with your itinerary so you see the full cost before you confirm.
Third, for Little Corn, the panga from Big Corn at 10:00 or 16:30. The 7:00 flight from Managua connects with the 10:00 boat; the 14:00 flight connects with the 16:30 boat.
There is also a boat from El Rama or Bluefields on Wednesdays around 9:00, about 6 hours to Big Corn. We do not use it for our packages because it ties the whole week to one departure. How our departures work from Rivas is on the Rivas page.
Best time to visit
Nicaragua's dry season runs from November to April and the rainy season from May to October, with September and October the wettest months. The Pacific side is drier than the Caribbean, so expect more rain on the islands than in Rivas in any given month. Demand is highest from December to April. The US Department of State advisory for Nicaragua, dated May 14, 2026, lists hurricanes among the natural risks; in the rainy months we watch the forecast with you before confirming flights. Month-by-month detail is in our guide to the best time to visit Nicaragua.
What to bring
- Your passport, as for any flight, and cash in córdobas and US dollars for meals and the panga.
- Light luggage: checked baggage has been charged on La Costeña since October 1, 2025.
- A dry bag for the panga crossing; it is an open boat.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a rash guard; snorkeling equipment is included.
- Insect repellent for the evenings.
- Walking shoes or sandals you can use on footpaths; there are no vehicles on Little Corn.
