Managua Airport to San Juan del Sur: Shuttle, Taxi, Bus, Private

Managua airport (MGA) to San Juan del Sur is about 132 km, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes by car. As of November 3, 2026, a shared shuttle starts at US$34.50 per seat, a booked private car at US$116, public buses cost about US$3 with a change in Rivas, and the private Monkeys Travels & Tours transfer runs from US$30 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo.

San Juan del Sur has no airport, so almost everyone flying into Nicaragua lands in Managua and drives south. Below is each option with the time it really takes, what it costs for one, two or four people, and what to do after you clear customs.

The route in numbers

• Distance: 132 km and 2 hours 18 minutes of driving according to Daytrip; Rome2rio gives 128.6 km and about 2 hours.
• Rivas sits on the way. Daytrip lists Rivas to Managua airport at 105 km and 1 hour 53 minutes, so most of the drive is done by the time you pass Rivas.
• Shared shuttles list about 3 hours because they may change vehicles or pick up other passengers.
• Public transport takes 4 to 5 hours door to door, counting the ride from the airport to the bus terminal and the change in Rivas.

Comparison table, as of November 3, 2026

Option	Price	Time	What you get	Watch out for
Public bus via Huembes and Rivas	about US$2 to Rivas, then C$40 to San Juan del Sur	4 to 5 hours	A seat	Getting to the terminal first; two buses with luggage
El Espino Travel, shared shuttle	from US$34.50 per person (1 to 3 people)	about 3 hours	Pickup outside customs, drop-off at a central point in town	Possible vehicle change and up to two extra passenger stops
Other shuttles on Bookaway (from Managua)	US$15 to US$55	2 to 4 hours	Shared van, departures from 05:00 to 20:00	The route starts in Managua city, check airport pickup
Daytrip, private car	from US$116 per car	2 hours 18 minutes of driving	Private car, door to door	Platform booking
Lokalee, private transfer	US$135 per group	2 to 3 hours	Driver with a name sign after customs	US$20 extra at night or outside town, paid to the driver
Taxi from the rank	Rome2rio estimate US$140 to US$180	about 2 hours	Private car	Agree the price before leaving
Monkeys, private transfer	from US$30 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo	door to door	Private vehicle for your group only, pickup at any hour, stops on request	Per-person price depends on group size

Third-party prices change. Check each operator's page before you book.

Option by option

Public bus through Roberto Huembes and Rivas

This is the cheapest way and the slowest. First you need to reach the Roberto Huembes market terminal in Managua. Gamintraveler, in a post updated in December 2023, put a taxi from the airport to the bus terminal at about US$20 and described a city-bus alternative that starts with a 15 to 20 minute walk from the airport.

From Huembes, Rome2rio lists buses to Rivas about every 30 minutes, about US$2 and 1 hour 45 minutes. In Rivas you change to the local bus for San Juan del Sur, which Destinationless Travel reported at 40 córdobas and about an hour in April 2025. Rome2rio also lists a direct Managua to San Juan del Sur bus about 4 times a day for about US$3; Gamintraveler says there is no direct bus. Ask at the terminal on the day.

The bus suits a solo traveler with a backpack who lands early in the day. With a big suitcase, children or a late flight, it is hard work.

Shared shuttles

El Espino Travel lists the airport shuttle from US$34.50 per person for 1 to 3 travelers, about 3 hours. The per-person price drops for larger groups, down to US$16.50 each for a group of 10. The driver picks you up outside customs and leaves you at a central corner of San Juan del Sur, a short walk from many hotels. The listing allows one bag and one personal item and warns that some routes need a vehicle change and up to two additional passenger stops.

On Bookaway, shuttles from Managua to San Juan del Sur range from US$15 to US$55, with departures between 05:00 and 20:00 and trips of 2 to 4 hours. Those routes start in Managua; confirm airport pickup before paying.

Private car on a platform

Daytrip lists a private car from Managua airport to San Juan del Sur from US$116, for 132 km and 2 hours 18 minutes of driving. Lokalee lists a one-way private transfer at US$135 per group, 2 to 3 hours, with the driver waiting at the main exit after customs holding a sign with your name. Lokalee adds US$20 for night travel or destinations outside the main town, paid directly to the driver.

Taxi from the airport

Rome2rio estimates a taxi at US$140 to US$180 for about 2 hours. That is above the booked private cars listed here, so a taxi makes sense mainly when your booking falls through. Agree the total before you load the bags.

Monkeys private transfer

Our Airport Transfer MGA or LIR is door to door from Managua airport to your hotel in San Juan del Sur, or to any hotel in Nicaragua. We pick you up at any hour, night flights too. The vehicle is private, only for your group, and we stop along the way when you ask.

Travelers	Per person	Total for the group
1	US$55	US$55
2 to 3	US$38	US$76 to US$114
4 to 6	US$30	US$120 to US$180
7 to 10	US$28	US$196 to US$280
11 to 15	US$25	US$275 to US$375
16 or more	Quote	Quote

What to do after you land at MGA

1. Before the flight, send us your details. On WhatsApp at +505 8506 1173: flight number, arrival date, number of people, number of bags and the name of your hotel in San Juan del Sur. We reply in under an hour, every day from 7:00 to 20:00.
2. Immigration and customs. If you fly in, the airline handles Nicaragua's advance immigration form; travelers who arrive by land do it themselves. The details are in our Peñas Blancas border crossing guide.
3. Meet your driver after customs. Booked shuttles and private drivers wait just outside customs. Do not hand your bags to anyone you did not book.
4. Cash and phone. Carry small US dollar bills and some córdobas for the road. Our guides on money in Nicaragua and SIM cards and mobile data cover both.
5. The drive south. About 2 hours 20 minutes through Rivas to San Juan del Sur.

Late flights and night driving

If your flight lands late, part of the drive happens after dark. Lokalee charges US$20 extra at night, and the bus option is a poor fit for a night arrival. If you book with us, we pick you up at any hour and confirm the final price in writing before you pay.

Official advice applies on the road. The U.S. Department of State rates Nicaragua Level 3, "Reconsider Travel" (advisory of May 14, 2026). Canada advises a high degree of caution (updated November 2, 2026). We summarize both in our guide to the travel advisories.

Which option fits your group

• One traveler, light bag, morning arrival: the bus through Huembes and Rivas is the lowest cost.
• One traveler, evening arrival: Espino from US$34.50 or our transfer at US$55.
• A couple: Espino at about US$69 for two, ours at US$76 for two, Daytrip from US$116 per car.
• Four people: Daytrip from US$116 per car, ours at US$120, Espino at US$122 (US$30.50 each for 4 to 5), Lokalee at US$135. Close in price; ours is door to door, private and picks you up at any hour.
• Going on from San Juan del Sur to Granada later: see our guide San Juan del Sur to Granada.

If you land in Costa Rica instead, compare the Liberia to Nicaragua options and prices.

What Monkeys does

Monkeys Travels & Tours is a private tour operator based in Rivas, founded in 2018 by Everth Palma, who was born and raised in Rivas.

• Private transfer, only your group, never mixed with other travelers.
• Pickup at Managua airport at any hour, day or night.
• Stops along the way when you ask.
• Door to door to any hotel in San Juan del Sur or elsewhere in Nicaragua.
• Price and inclusions confirmed in writing. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
• WhatsApp +505 8506 1173, every day from 7:00 to 20:00, replies in under 1 hour.
• Not included: meals, tips and travel insurance.