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How to get from Managua Airport to León

Stunning coastlines, dreamy sunsets and untouched rainforests are what you’ll be greeted with when you visit the town of León, tucked away on Río Chiquito in western Nicaragua. One of the few places you can try volcano boarding – down the impressive Cerro Negro Volcano – and then relax along a beautiful beach all on the same day. For a taste of the local cuisine, head to the daily market to try delicacies such as vigorón, the Nicauragan’s answer to tacos, and finish off with some quesillo for dessert.

There are only two ways to travel from Managua Airport to León: taxi or private transfer, and the bus. Taking a local taxi or private transfer is the fastest way to get from Managua Airport to León, they are also the most reliable and provide door-to-door service in around 2 hours, during light traffic. 

The public bus is the cheapest way to get from Managua Airport to León although, you’ll first need to take a taxi or private transfer from Managua Airport to the city centre in order to catch the bus. In total, this option takes around 2 hours 25 minutes, excluding wait times.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Managua at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €122 120min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €121.80 120min 24/7
Bus €12.30 145min 04:30–20:00

How to get from Managua Airport to León by taxi

The fastest way to get from Managua Airport to León is to take an airport taxi. Taxis are available at any time of day and the journey takes around 2 hours if you’re travelling during light traffic.

How much does a taxi cost?

Managua taxis generally use a taximeter to calculate their fares, although tariff rates can vary between companies. Furthermore, some taxi drivers offer flat rate fees instead, so always check which method your driver is using before departing, and agree on a rate if necessary. Nevertheless, when using the taximeter, you’ll pay around €121.80 (NIO 4,848) for a vehicle that seats 4 passengers.

If you prefer to avoid having to negotiate your fare with your driver, especially after a long day of travelling, we recommend securing a competitive set rate by booking your transfer in advance with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

€121.80

Trip Duration

120 Min.

*Fares will vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis from Managua International Airport are available 24/7.

Where can I take a taxi from?

From Managua Airport, taxis depart from outside the Arrivals terminal. Only ever take official taxis with a company name or number clearly displayed, along with the driver details to ensure your safety and avoid being overcharged.

Convenience

When you travel from Managua Airport to León by taxi you’ll be transported directly to the door of your desired destination without having to worry about finding the right bus from downtown Managua and squeezing onto crowded buses. 

Editor’s Note

Always agree on a fare upfront or confirm if the fare will be calculated using the taximeter.

Useful Tips

Managua taxi drivers don't accept card payments so you'll need to have enough local córdobas on you to make the fare payment in cash.
Tipping isn't expected in Managua but for longer journeys such as this one you might like to show your appreciation for good service by rounding up the fare or leaving the change.

How to get from Managua Airport to León by bus

The cheapest way to get from Managua Airport to León is to take a bus. Buses to Leon depart from Israel Lewites Terminal, which is located in the market of the same name, and the UCA Terminal located in front of the Universidad Centroamericana. To get to either terminal you’ll need to take a taxi or private transfer which takes around 25 minutes.

There are two types of buses that depart from each terminal; express buses which are normal buses that make numerous stops along the way and are slightly cheaper, or microbuses which only take up to 15 passengers, are air-conditioned, faster, and don’t leave the bus terminal until they are full. Whichever option you choose, you can expect the journey to take 90 to 120 minutes, in addition to your ride to the bus terminal. 

How much does the bus cost?

You can expect to pay about €8.70 (NIO 350) for a taxi or private transfer from Managua Airport to León City. From there, an express bus costs around €1.80 (NIO 71), and a microbus costs €2 (NIO 78), bringing the total cost of the journey to €10.50 (NIO 421) per person. Payment can be made on board directly to the driver.

Cost

€10.50

Trip Duration

145 Min.

Express buses leave approximately every 30 minutes. Microbuses depart when they are full.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

From UCA, buses depart between 04:30 and 20:00.

Where do buses depart from?

Airport taxis depart from in front of the Arrivals terminal at the airport. Buses depart from either the UCA terminal at the University of Central America or from the Israel Lewites bus terminal which is located on the north side of the Israel Lewites market in the southwestern part of the city. Look for the ‘Leon Express’ sign when taking the express bus.

Convenience

If you’re travelling on a budget, your best option is to travel from Managua Airport to León by local bus. They leave frequently from downtown León and there is no need to book in advance. Keep in mind, however, that a taxi is required on both ends of the journey and some buses don’t have a dedicated space for luggage storage. If you want to avoid the hassle and simply get from A to B quickly and easily, we recommend pre-booking a private transfer instead.

Editor’s Note

At certain times of day, regular buses can fill up quickly so you may need to wait for the next one and similarly, since microbuses don't leave until they are full you may have to wait quite some time before departing.

Useful Tips

On Sundays and holidays, buses usually run on a reduced timetable.
From the terminal in León, you will need to take a taxi or local tuk-tuk to your destination.
Keep a close on your belongings, especially at the terminal where scams and petty theft are known to happen.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Managua. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€122.0
NIGHTTIME
€146.4
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How do I transfer from Managua Airport to León?

There are two available transport options from Managua Airport to León. The most convenient and reliable connection is to take a local taxi or private transfer where you’ll arrive in around 2 hours under good traffic conditions. A cheaper alternative is to take the public bus which requires first travelling from Managua Airport to the bus terminal and takes 2 hours and 25 minutes, excluding wait times.

How much is a taxi from Managua Airport to León?

The average taxi fare from Managua Airport to León when using the taximeter is around €121.80 (NIO 4,848) for up to 4 passengers, excluding extra charges. Some taxi drivers provide a fixed fare rate so you should use this price as a guide for what is fair.

How much is the bus from Managua Airport to León?

As the cheapest way to get from Managua Airport to León, the price of the bus starts at €1.80 (NIO 71) per person, however, you’ll first need to make your way to the bus station which costs about €8.70 (NIO 350) in an airport taxi for 4 people.

How far is León from Managua Airport?

If you plan on travelling by taxi or private transfer, it will take around 2 hours to reach Leon, which is located approximately 100 km from Managua International Airport.

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