¿How to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua by bus?

Costa Rica is very well known as a top touristic destination for people who like nature and adventure. It is ideal for family vacations, and adventure lovers. If you are planning to come to Costa Rica and are wondering if it is worthy to visit our neighbor country Nicaragua during your visit, you will find your answer here. 

Costa Rica is a small country, and the distance from Capital San Jose to the Nicaragua´s frontier is of 7 to 8 hours by car. National public bus may take a little longer, and other public transportation such as TicaBus or Nica bus will probide with all the basic commodities to make your trip a little less tiring. Normal costarican public bus will take you to Peñas Blancas and the you will continue your trip on your own. TicaBus will leave you either in Managua or Granada. If you are going to Nicaragua by bus, buy your ticket in the main bus stop at San Jose, or in the main office of TicaBus:

200 mts North y 100 mts West from Torre Mercedes, Paseo Colón, in front of Funeraria del Magisterio Nacional.
 

Once you are in the frontier: Peñas Blancas, you will be asked to do costums and migration. Make sure you have your passport, all your legal documents and a returned ticket to enter to Costa Rica on your way back (it is one of the requisit to reenter Costa Rica). If you are lucky you will go throught in no time, but normally the authorities make you make a line to check all your packages and bags both ways. Depending on your nationality you may have to pay a entry visa to get to Nicaragua, and later a $2 Nicaraguan tax.

From Peñas Blancas to Granada, the colonial city of Nicaragua, the distance is very short, taking approximately 45 minutes. To Managua, the main city, it is around 1 hour 30 minutes.

If you are coming to Costa Rica and rent a car, you will not be allowed to cross the frontier with the car. All vehicles that cross the frontiers of Costa Rica have to have a special permit from the government. 

Hope this info is useful!