The Mercadito in Chinandega is more like a busy street than a proper station. If you are coming from Managua or León the bus will arrive at the Mercado Bisne and will need to get a taxi here to the Mercadito – which should cost you about 20C$ and takes about 5 minutes. Don’t be shocked if the driver picks up others along the way, many of the taxis are colectivos.
Both the Mercado Bisne and Mercadito are indicated on the map so you can get oriented – the Mercadito is the marker on the left (see map).
**Keep you eyes on your luggage when travelling to Potosí and Asseradores, stories of theft from unattended bags is not uncommon.
Chinandega to Potosí
You only have one option for Potosí – chicken bus. Depending on who you ask, this bus takes anywhere from 3.5 to 5hrs. It leave several times per day and as of May 2017 the driver informed me the schedule is: 6am, 9:30am 10:30am 1:10pm, 2:20pm, 3:45pm and 5:30pm. The price is 50C$
Chinandega to Asseradores
You only have one option for Asseradores – chicken bus and there is only ONE bus per day at 12:45pm. The trip takes about 2hrs and costs about 30C$.
Chinandega to El Viejo
Both microbuses and regular buses are available. Note that the microbus departs around the corner from where all of the ordinary busses line up. They .
(microbus): 5am to 9pm, leave when they reach 12 people, 20min, 8C$
(bus): 5am to 6pm, approx every 15 minutes, 25min, 5.50C$
Chinandega to Playa Jiquilillo
Five buses per day at 7am, 10am, 11:30am, 3pm, 4:30pm. The cost is 25C$ and takes about 2hrs depending on time of day.
Chinandega to Mechapa
Only ONE per day at 1:40pm. This one is a long one, 5hrs.
Help your fellow traveller
If you have taken any of the buses on this page, please drop us a comment below about how the trip went, what time you left, how long it took and what it cost. And, definitely let us know if we have anything wrong.
Lets help each other in our travels!
Viejo to Jiquillo:
We also had a bus from Viejo busterminal to Jiquilillo that departed at around 12:30 pm at a Sunday.
Chinandega to Oposentillo:
Just to confirm the text above, the bus from Chinandega to Oposentillo leaves at 12:45 pm from the busterminal according to the woman in our hostel.