~6h 15mTotal estimate
~€37–125Rough fare per person
Flight to Managua
San José → Managua · about ~45m in the air · ~€35–120
Bus to Matagalpa
Managua → Matagalpa · about 2h 30m · ~€2–5
San José → Matagalpa
Costa Rica to Nicaragua · 1 border · Where else can you go from San José?
Your route
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Scroll for the full route →THE JOURNEY, STEP BY STEP
Your itinerary
About the trip from San José to Matagalpa
San José (Costa Rica) and Matagalpa (Nicaragua) are 388 km (241 mi) apart in a straight line. The way we suggest is by flight and bus, via Managua: ~6h 15m door to door with 1 change, for ~€37–125 per person. Without flying, it takes ~12h 40m by bus, via Chinandega. The trip crosses one border, so check what papers you need.
Step by step
- Flight from San José to Managua: ~45m in the air, 340 km, ~€35–120
- Bus from Managua to Matagalpa: about 2h 30m, 95 km, ~€2–5
Every route we know
- Flight + Bus, via Managua: ~6h 15m, 1 change, ~€37–125
- Bus, via Chinandega: ~12h 40m, 1 change, ~€48–107
Questions
How long does it take to get from San José to Matagalpa?
~6h 15m door to door by flight and bus, via Managua, including time for changes and airports.
How much does it cost to travel from San José to Matagalpa?
~€37–125 per person for the route we suggest. These are estimates from travel-guide prices and published tariffs, not quotes: check the operator for today's fare.
Can you get from San José to Matagalpa without flying?
Yes: by bus, via Chinandega, in ~12h 40m, for ~€48–107.
Times are rough door-to-door times, with time to change and to get through airports included. A "~" marks a rough time worked out from the distance. We don't have timetables, and fares are rough estimates, not quotes: check Google Maps or the operator before you travel.