Buses from Estelí
Schedules, fares and terminals for every bus leaving Estelí, plus the ones arriving.
Estelí department
The essentials
Where to catch the bus
- COTRAN Norte de Estelí
Terminal for destinations to the north (Ocotal, Somoto, Jalapa, Condega, Pueblo Nuevo, Limay, Yalí, Quilalí, Wiwilí) and for the morning express buses to Managua.
Directions - COTRAN Sur de Estelí
Terminal for buses to Managua (express and local), Matagalpa, León, La Trinidad, San Nicolás and the Tisey nature reserve.
Directions
Buses to Jalapa, Managua, Ocotal and Somoto pass through Estelí. Catch them at the roadside stop.
Going to Managua
Direct express from COTRAN Norte, about 2 h 25 min
See times and optionsComing from Managua
Direct express from Mayoreo, about 2 h 30 min
See times and optionsFirst and last bus
The first leaves at 3:00 AM (to Wiwilí) and the last at 7:00 PM (to La Trinidad).
Getting around Estelí
Estelí has five city bus routes that cross town from north to south. All of them pass the San Juan de Dios hospital and four stop by the COTRAN Norte terminal, so they get you from your intercity bus to your neighborhood. New buses have been joining the fleet since 2023.
See the routes
Things to do in Estelí
Places worth seeing when you arrive.
- Culture
Cigar factories
Estelí is the tobacco capital: several factories offer tours to see cigars rolled by hand.
- Culture
Downtown murals
The city's walls tell its story in bright murals.
- Nature
Miraflor reserve
Cloud forest with orchids, birds and stays on family farms.
- Hike
Tisey and La Estanzuela falls
Mountain lookouts and a tall waterfall surrounded by forest, close to town.
Do you run a restaurant, guesthouse or tour in Estelí?
Show up here, right where travellers plan their arrival.
Express buses from Estelí
Direct buses between major cities with few stops. Faster and slightly pricier.
Leaves from COTRAN Norte
Managua
Express2 h 25 min9 departures, 4:45 AM–3:45 PM
C$110 (≈ US$3.01)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Managua
Express2 h 30 min10 departures, 4:45 AM–3:15 PM
C$110 (≈ US$3.01)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
León
Express2 h 30 min3 departures, 5:00 AM–6:45 AM
C$90 – C$110 (≈ US$2.46–3.01)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Masaya
Express3 h 30 min2 departures, 2:00 PM–3:05 PM
C$140 – C$160 (≈ US$3.83–4.37)
See times
Advertising spacePut your brand here
Local buses from Estelí
The famous “chicken buses”: they stop in every town along the way. Cheapest and slowest.
Leaves from COTRAN Sur
Managua
Local bus3 h 30 min29 departures, 3:30 AM–6:00 PM
C$90 (≈ US$2.46)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Ocotal
Local bus2 h12 departures, 6:00 AM–5:40 PM
C$45 – C$55 (≈ US$1.23–1.50)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Somoto
Local bus2 h17 departures, 5:30 AM–6:10 PM
C$46 (≈ US$1.26)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Jinotega
Local bus2 h7 departures, 5:45 AM–4:45 PM
C$60 – C$70 (≈ US$1.64–1.91)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Matagalpa
Local bus1 h 45 min25 departures, 5:15 AM–5:45 PM
C$45 (≈ US$1.23)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
La Trinidad
Local bus30 minEvery ~30 min, 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
C$20 (≈ US$0.55)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Condega
Local bus35 minEvery ~20 min, 5:00 AM–6:30 PM
C$20 – C$25 (≈ US$0.55–0.68)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Pueblo Nuevo
Local bus1 h9 departures, 7:45 AM–5:50 PM
C$35 – C$40 (≈ US$0.96–1.09)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
San Juan de Limay
Local bus2 h7 departures, 5:30 AM–5:05 PM
C$50 – C$60 (≈ US$1.37–1.64)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Yalí
Local bus3 h15 departures, 4:15 AM–4:30 PM
C$55 – C$65 (≈ US$1.50–1.78)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
San Nicolás
Local bus35 min7 departures, 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
C$20 (≈ US$0.55)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Tisey – La Estanzuela
Local bus40 min2 departures, 6:30 AM–1:30 PM
C$25 – C$30 (≈ US$0.68–0.82)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Jalapa
Local bus5 h2 departures, 4:10 AM–12:00 PM
C$100 – C$110 (≈ US$2.73–3.01)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Quilalí
Local bus3 h4 departures, 5:45 AM–1:40 PM
C$90 – C$100 (≈ US$2.46–2.73)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Wiwilí
Local bus5 h9 departures, 3:00 AM–8:40 AM
C$120 – C$140 (≈ US$3.28–3.83)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
San Juan del Río Coco
Local bus3 h3 departures, 10:15 AM–3:50 PM
C$80 – C$90 (≈ US$2.19–2.46)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Achuapa
Local bus2 h3 departures, 7:00 AM–2:15 PM
C$60 – C$70 (≈ US$1.64–1.91)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
El Sauce
Local bus2 h3 departures, 6:00 AM–12:00 PM
C$70 – C$80 (≈ US$1.91–2.19)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
La Concordia
Local bus1 h3 departures, 10:45 AM–5:45 PM
C$35 – C$40 (≈ US$0.96–1.09)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Miraflor nature reserve
Local bus1 h 15 min3 departures, 6:00 AM–3:45 PM
C$20 – C$25 (≈ US$0.55–0.68)
See times
Buses arriving in Estelí
Handy for planning the way back.
Leaves from Managua, Mayoreo
Estelí
Express2 h 30 min13 departures, 5:45 AM–3:50 PM
C$120 – C$140 (≈ US$3.28–3.83)
See timesLeaves from Managua, Mayoreo
Estelí
Local bus3 h 30 min27 departures, 4:00 AM–7:20 PM
C$90 – C$100 (≈ US$2.46–2.73)
See timesLeaves from Miraflor nature reserve, Paradas
Estelí
Local bus1 h 15 min3 departures, 7:15 AM–4:15 PM
C$20 – C$25 (≈ US$0.55–0.68)
See timesLeaves from Ocotal, Terminal
Estelí
Local bus1 h 30 minEvery ~30 min, 4:30 AM–5:30 PM
C$45 – C$55 (≈ US$1.23–1.50)
See timesLeaves from Somoto, Terminal
Estelí
Local bus1 h 30 minEvery ~45 min, 4:30 AM–5:00 PM
C$50 – C$60 (≈ US$1.37–1.64)
See timesLeaves from Jinotega, COTRAN
Estelí
Local bus2 h6 departures, 5:00 AM–3:30 PM
C$60 – C$70 (≈ US$1.64–1.91)
See timesLeaves from Matagalpa, COTRAN Sur
Estelí
Local bus1 h 45 min26 departures, 5:20 AM–5:50 PM
C$45 (≈ US$1.23)
See timesLeaves from León, La Terminal
Estelí
Local bus3 h3 departures, 5:20 AM–3:00 PM
C$110 (≈ US$3.01)
See timesLeaves from Masaya, Mercado
Estelí
Express3 h 30 min3 departures, 5:00 AM–1:30 PM
C$140 – C$160 (≈ US$3.83–4.37)
See times
Guides for Estelí
Estelí and the Miraflor reserve by bus
Estelí, the cigar city, is 2 h 30 from Managua by express bus. Miraflor, its cloud-forest reserve with farm homestays, is reached on a rural bus from the COTRAN Norte terminal.
Moving to Estelí to study
Estelí draws students from across the north. It has two terminals at opposite ends of town, so it pays to know which one you need before arriving with your suitcase.
How to get to Somoto Canyon by bus
The canyon is 30 minutes from Somoto, on the road to the El Espino border. Any bus to El Espino drops you at the entrance at km 231.
Missing a route from Estelí?
Tell us where it goes and when it leaves, and we will add it.
Advertising spacePut your brand here