Buses from Matagalpa
Schedules, fares and terminals for every bus leaving Matagalpa, plus the ones arriving.
Matagalpa department
The essentials
Where to catch the bus
- COTRAN Sur de Matagalpa (Tórrez Moreno)
The main terminal: buses to Managua, Jinotega, Estelí, León, Masaya, Chinandega and Sébaco, opposite the Mercado Sur.
Directions - COTRAN Norte de Matagalpa (Guanuca)
Buses into the coffee highlands: San Ramón, La Dalia, Río Blanco and Waslala.
Directions
Buses to Waslala pass through Matagalpa. Catch them at the roadside stop.
Going to Managua
Direct express from COTRAN Sur, about 2 h 30 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 3:05 AM (to Managua) and the last at 7:30 PM (to Sébaco).
Getting around Matagalpa
Matagalpa has 13 numbered city bus routes linking its neighborhoods with downtown (the Morazán and Darío parks, the Cerna Vega school and the Guanuca market) and with the regional hospital. Several pass the Guanuca market, next to the north terminal, and route 6 passes the COTRAN Sur terminal.
See the routes
Things to do in Matagalpa
Places worth seeing when you arrive.
- Hike
Cerro Apante
A cloud-forest reserve you can hike up from downtown, with views over the whole city.
- Nature
Selva Negra
A coffee farm and cloud-forest reserve on the Jinotega road, with trails and cabins.
- Coffee
Coffee museum
Tells how coffee built the region, and a good place to taste local coffee.
- Nature
Cascada Blanca
A waterfall about 15 metres high at km 147 of the La Dalia road; a short trail leads behind the water to a cave.
Do you run a restaurant, guesthouse or tour in Matagalpa?
Show up here, right where travellers plan their arrival.
Express buses from Matagalpa
Direct buses between major cities with few stops. Faster and slightly pricier.
Leaves from COTRAN Sur
Managua
Express2 h 30 min13 departures, 5:20 AM–5:20 PM
C$105 (≈ US$2.87)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
León
Express3 h3 departures, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM
C$110 – C$130 (≈ US$3.01–3.55)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Chinandega
Express4 h2 departures, 5:00 AM–2:00 PM
C$150 – C$170 (≈ US$4.10–4.64)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Masaya
Express3 h2 departures, 2:00 PM–3:30 PM
C$130 – C$150 (≈ US$3.55–4.10)
See times
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Local buses from Matagalpa
The famous “chicken buses”: they stop in every town along the way. Cheapest and slowest.
Leaves from COTRAN Sur
Managua
Local bus3 h 15 min29 departures, 3:05 AM–6:05 PM
C$90 (≈ US$2.46)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Jinotega
Local bus1 h 15 min28 departures, 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
C$40 – C$50 (≈ US$1.09–1.37)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Estelí
Local bus1 h 45 min26 departures, 5:20 AM–5:50 PM
C$45 (≈ US$1.23)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
La Dalia
Local bus1 h 45 minEvery ~60 min, 5:00 AM–5:00 PM
C$45 – C$55 (≈ US$1.23–1.50)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Río Blanco
Local bus3 hEvery ~60 min, 4:30 AM–4:30 PM
C$90 – C$100 (≈ US$2.46–2.73)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
Waslala
Local bus5 h4 departures, 5:00 AM–1:00 PM
C$130 – C$150 (≈ US$3.55–4.10)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Norte
San Ramón
Local bus30 minEvery ~20 min, 5:00 AM–7:00 PM
C$15 (≈ US$0.41)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Sébaco
Local bus45 minEvery ~15 min, 3:05 AM–7:30 PM
C$25 (≈ US$0.68)
See timesLeaves from COTRAN Sur
Ciudad Darío
Local bus1 h 10 minEvery ~30 min, 5:00 AM–6:00 PM
C$30 – C$35 (≈ US$0.82–0.96)
See times
Buses arriving in Matagalpa
Handy for planning the way back.
Leaves from Managua, Mayoreo
Matagalpa
Express2 h 30 min11 departures, 5:30 AM–5:00 PM
C$105 (≈ US$2.87)
See timesLeaves from Managua, Mayoreo
Matagalpa
Local bus3 h 15 min30 departures, 3:45 AM–6:50 PM
C$82 – C$83 (≈ US$2.24–2.27)
See timesLeaves from Estelí, COTRAN Sur
Matagalpa
Local bus1 h 45 min25 departures, 5:15 AM–5:45 PM
C$45 (≈ US$1.23)
See timesLeaves from Jinotega, COTRAN
Matagalpa
Local bus1 h 15 min27 departures, 5:00 AM–6:15 PM
C$40 – C$50 (≈ US$1.09–1.37)
See timesLeaves from La Dalia, Terminal
Matagalpa
Local bus1 h 45 minEvery ~60 min, 4:30 AM–4:30 PM
C$45 – C$55 (≈ US$1.23–1.50)
See timesLeaves from Waslala, Terminal
Matagalpa
Local bus5 h4 departures, 4:00 AM–12:00 PM
C$130 – C$150 (≈ US$3.55–4.10)
See timesLeaves from Río Blanco, Terminal
Matagalpa
Local bus3 hEvery ~60 min, 4:30 AM–4:00 PM
C$90 – C$100 (≈ US$2.46–2.73)
See timesLeaves from León, La Terminal
Matagalpa
Express3 h3 departures, 4:20 AM–2:45 PM
C$110 (≈ US$3.01)
See timesLeaves from Masaya, Mercado
Matagalpa
Express3 h3 departures, 5:00 AM–2:00 PM
C$130 – C$150 (≈ US$3.55–4.10)
See times
Guides for Matagalpa
Moving to Managua to study from another department
Which terminal is closest to home, how to get from the terminal to the UCA area, and how to plan Friday and Sunday trips without missing the last bus.
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.
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.
Missing a route from Matagalpa?
Tell us where it goes and when it leaves, and we will add it.
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