Buses from León
Schedules, fares and terminals for every bus leaving León, plus the ones arriving.
León department
The essentials
Where to catch the bus
- Terminal de Buses de León (La Terminal)
León's main terminal: Managua (minibuses and local buses), Chinandega, Estelí, Matagalpa, El Sauce and Malpaisillo. About 15 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride from the cathedral.
Directions - Mercadito de Subtiava
Departure point for buses to the beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas, in the Subtiava neighbourhood west of the centre.
Directions
Buses to Chinandega, El Sauce, El Viejo and Managua pass through León. Catch them at the roadside stop.
Going to Managua
Direct minibus from La Terminal, about 2 h
See times and optionsComing from Managua
Direct minibus from UCA, about 2 h
See times and optionsFirst and last bus
The first leaves at 4:00 AM (to Managua) and the last at 7:30 PM (to Chinandega).
Getting around León
León has city buses, minibuses (colectivos) and converted pickup trucks (ruteras) linking the outer neighborhoods with downtown; more than a hundred new buses arrived in 2023. There is no public route list, so the easiest is to ask at your hotel or at the stop which route you need.
Things to do in León
Places worth seeing when you arrive.
- Viewpoint
Cathedral rooftop
Walk barefoot among the white domes of the UNESCO-listed cathedral, with a view of the volcano chain.
- Adventure
Cerro Negro
A young volcano where you slide down the black sand slope on a board; tours leave from León.
- Culture
Ortiz-Gurdián art museum
One of Central America's best art collections, in colonial mansions.
- Food
Quesillos on the León road
In Nagarote and La Paz Centro, roadside stalls sell fresh quesillos, tortillas with soft cheese and cream.
Do you run a restaurant, guesthouse or tour in León?
Show up here, right where travellers plan their arrival.
Express buses from León
Direct buses between major cities with few stops. Faster and slightly pricier.
Leaves from La Terminal
Matagalpa
Express3 h3 departures, 4:20 AM–2:45 PM
C$110 (≈ US$3.01)
See timesLeaves from La Terminal
El Guasaule (Honduras border)
Express2 h 30 min4 departures, 5:00 AM–1:00 PM
C$80 – C$100 (≈ US$2.19–2.73)
See times
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Local buses from León
The famous “chicken buses”: they stop in every town along the way. Cheapest and slowest.
Leaves from La Terminal
Managua
Local bus2 h 15 minEvery ~20 min, 4:00 AM–6:30 PM
C$55 – C$65 (≈ US$1.50–1.78)
See timesLeaves from La Terminal
Chinandega
Local bus1 hEvery ~20 min, 4:30 AM–6:30 PM
C$25 – C$30 (≈ US$0.68–0.82)
See timesLeaves from La Terminal
Estelí
Local bus3 h3 departures, 5:20 AM–3:00 PM
C$110 (≈ US$3.01)
See timesLeaves from Subtiava
Poneloya – Las Peñitas (beaches)
Local bus30 minEvery ~60 min, 5:00 AM–6:00 PM
C$15 – C$18 (≈ US$0.41–0.49)
See timesLeaves from La Terminal
El Sauce
Local bus2 hEvery ~60 min, 5:30 AM–5:00 PM
C$50 – C$60 (≈ US$1.37–1.64)
See timesLeaves from La Terminal
Malpaisillo
Local bus1 hEvery ~30 min, 5:00 AM–6:00 PM
C$30 (≈ US$0.82)
See timesLeaves from La Terminal
La Paz Centro
Local bus45 minEvery ~30 min, 5:00 AM–6:30 PM
C$20 – C$25 (≈ US$0.55–0.68)
See times
Minibuses (interlocal) from León
Express minibuses for 15 to 20 passengers that leave when full, like the ones from UCA in Managua.
Buses arriving in León
Handy for planning the way back.
Leaves from Managua, Israel Lewites
León
Local bus2 h 15 minEvery ~20 min, 4:30 AM–7:00 PM
C$55 – C$65 (≈ US$1.50–1.78)
See timesLeaves from Managua, UCA
León
Minibus2 hEvery ~20 min, 4:30 AM–8:00 PM
C$70 – C$80 (≈ US$1.91–2.19)
See timesLeaves from Estelí, 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 Matagalpa, COTRAN Sur
León
Express3 h3 departures, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM
C$110 – C$130 (≈ US$3.01–3.55)
See timesLeaves from Chinandega, Mercado Bisne
León
Minibus45 minEvery ~15 min, 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
C$35 – C$40 (≈ US$0.96–1.09)
See timesLeaves from Chinandega, Mercado Bisne
León
Local bus1 hEvery ~20 min, 4:30 AM–6:30 PM
C$25 – C$30 (≈ US$0.68–0.82)
See times
Guides for León
Managua → León and León → Las Peñitas
León is 1 h 30 by minibus from UCA. The beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas are 30 minutes further on a bus that leaves from the Subtiava market.
Moving to León to study
León runs on university time. How to get there from Managua, Chinandega, Estelí or Matagalpa, where the bus drops you and how weekend trips home work.
Granada ↔ León by bus (via Managua)
There is no direct bus between Granada and León. You take two minibuses via UCA in Managua, about 3 hours in total, or a direct tourist shuttle.
Events in León
August 14
La Gritería Chiquita in León
León's own version of the Gritería, commemorating the 1947 eruption of Cerro Negro: altars to the Virgin, fireworks and shouts of “¿Quién causa tanta alegría?” across the city.
Photo: DayanaFerraris, CC BY-SA 4.0 December 7 (with novenas from November 28)
La Gritería and La Purísima
The most Nicaraguan celebration of all: altars to the Virgin in every home, fireworks and gifts for those who shout “¿Quién causa tanta alegría?”. León and Granada are the classic places to experience it.
Missing a route from León?
Tell us where it goes and when it leaves, and we will add it.
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