Estelí has two bus terminals. The Contran Norte and the Contran Sur.
We are missing a bit of info for this page, help us fill in the details if you have them!
Estelí to Matagalpa
Several buses per day to Matagalpa. Every half our from 5:15am to 5:30pm.
Matagalpa to Estelí: Several buses per day leave from Terminal Mercado Sur to Estelí. Every half our from 5:15am to 5:30pm.
Managua to Estelí
Several buses per day to Estelí with both regular and expreso buses. The expreso leaves every hour from 4:30am to 6:30pm and takes 2.5hrs and the regular bus that takes 3.5 hrs and leave often and costs a bit less.
One helpful traveller named Dave shared this schedule (March 2018) for all of the northern routs of expresso buses passing through the Mayorero Station:
Expresos from Managua: 5:10AM (Ocotal) — 5:45AM (Esteli) — 6:10AM (Jalapa) — 6:45AM (Ocotal) — 7:15AM (Somoto) – 7:45AM (Ocotal) — 8:15AM (Esteli) — 8:45AM (Ocotal) — 9:15AM (Esteli) — 10:15AM (Jalapa) *CAUTION: This is a school bus* — 10:45AM (Esteli) — 11:45AM (Ocotal) — 11:45AM (Esteli) — 12:15PM (Ocotal) — 12:20PM (Esteli) — 1:15PM (Esteli) — 1:45PM (Esteli) — 1:45PM (Somoto) — 2:15PM (Ocotal) — 2:45PM (Esteli) — 3:00PM (Jalapa) — 3:15PM (Esteli) — 3:30PM (Jalapa) — 3:45PM (Esteli) — 3:45PM (Somoto) — 4:15PM (Ocotal) — 4:45PM (Somoto) — 5:15PM (Ocotal) — 5:45 (Esteli)
** When buying ticket and boarding bus, always confirm there is a stop in Esteli **
Estelí to Masaya
A huge thank you to Ardennl for this:
“If you want to make it back south again, and want to bypass Managua there are a couple of options. You can take an expreso bus from Terminal Cotran Sur (actually stops along the road instead of in the Terminal) and get off in Tipitapa. From Tipitapa you can easily take buses to Masaya or Granada. This seem to be the most sane and flexible way to go back south again.
There are also two direct buses to Masaya that leave daily on 2pm and 3pm, except for Sunday. This one leaves from Cotran Norte. It doesn’t have an assigned stop, but you’ll recognise it when it rolls in as it says ‘MASAYA – ESTELI’ on the front. We thought 2pm and 3pm seemed like strange times, but it turns out the 3pm bus is there for those who don’t fit in the 2pm bus anymore. It can get pretty crowded, basically people were trying to get in before the bus even stopped. We still managed a spot on the 2pm bus and it was a great, albeit crowded ride. Gaseous were sold during the whole trip (not just at the stops by people who got on). The bus stops at Estación Mercado Masaya which is not that far from Parque Central. It takes about 3hrs and costs 65 Cordobas a person”
Estelí to León
One helpful traveller has let us know this schedule:
Cotran Sur : Estelí to León. Regular bus = daily at 5:45am, 6:45am. Takes about 2.5hrs.
Cotran Norte : Estelí to León. Regular bus = daily at 3pm. Takes about 3hr 15min. Microbus = 5 per day leaving between 5:30am and 12pm. They leave when full and take 2hrs 10min.
Estelí to the Canyon
Thanks to travellers Connie and Stephen for this one: Cotran Norte : Estelí – Somoto – 34c per person at 7:30am (to return we think the last bus was 5pm). Somoto bus station – got the El Espino bus (Honduras border) a got dropped off at Somoto Canyon entrance 10c per person.
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!
Esteli to Somoto bus now costs C$42
Hello everyone. Today we took a bus from Granada to Managua, it was about 3.5 hrs, 33 cordobas. In Managua we took the 110 to Mayoreo Terminal for 5 cordobas. Then caught the Express to Estelí at 13.45, 100 cordobas.
Hello. I was wondering, what’s the best and shortest/cheapest way to get from Estelí to Bluefields by bus? Thanks!
Dana
Hi Dana, we have never done this specific route, but in my experience, when doing long trips like this, it’s best to break it up or start really early. I also think the best idea is to go back to Managua and then get on the bus that goes all the way to Bluefields. Have a look at this page for information. We haven’t updated this page in a bit so maybe double check times, there is a phonenumber there to call. https://centrocoasting.com/nicaragua/bluefields/
I was wondering if there are any buses that go from Esteli by the airport? Appreciate any info! Thank you!
Hi Eva, I’m sorry I don’t think we have any details on this yet, but if you do it, please send us the info to help others!
For Managua to Esteli, here are all the northern routes that pass by Esteli
“Mayoreo” (name of bus station) I recommend EXPRESO BUSSES ONLY.
Expresos from Managua: 5:10AM (Ocotal) — 5:45AM (Esteli) — 6:10AM (Jalapa) — 6:45AM (Ocotal) — 7:15AM (Somoto) – 7:45AM (Ocotal) — 8:15AM (Esteli) — 8:45AM (Ocotal) — 9:15AM (Esteli) — 10:15AM (Jalapa) *CAUTION: This is a school bus* — 10:45AM (Esteli) — 11:45AM (Ocotal) — 11:45AM (Esteli) — 12:15PM (Ocotal) — 12:20PM (Esteli) — 1:15PM (Esteli) — 1:45PM (Esteli) — 1:45PM (Somoto) — 2:15PM (Ocotal) — 2:45PM (Esteli) — 3:00PM (Jalapa) — 3:15PM (Esteli) — 3:30PM (Jalapa) — 3:45PM (Esteli) — 3:45PM (Somoto) — 4:15PM (Ocotal) — 4:45PM (Somoto) — 5:15PM (Ocotal) — 5:45 (Esteli)
** When buying ticket and boarding bus, always confirm there is a stop in Esteli **
Thanks, Dave!!
Went to Somoto yesterday fron Esteli.
I paid 34c. Took the bus @contran Norte at 07.30 am – 2h to arrive at Somoto.
For return, at 02.30pm i took a chickenbus in Somoto canyon (in front of the entrance of the canyon) , costs me 10c.
And the from Somoto to Esteli, took a bus at 3.15pm , costs me 45c. It was a kind of Espresso. Took me about 1h15 to come back. They drop us in a gaz station on the main road in Esteli.
Just did this route today to go to the Canyon –
Cotran Norte : Estelí – Somoto – 34c per person at 7:30am (to return we think the last bus was 5pm)
Somoto bus station got the El Espino bus (Honduras border) a got dropped off at Somoto Canyon entrance 10c per person.
Hope this helps others! Thanks for your tips!
Thanks, Conned & Stephen! I am sure this will help another traveller along the way.
I am living in Estelí since early July. Here are some some infos for buses and mini-buses going to León.
Cotran Sur : Estelí – León –> bus = 5h45, 6h45 (todos los días) (duración aprox. 2h30)
Cotran Norte : Estelí – León –> bus = 15h00 (todos los días) (duración aprox. 3h15)
mini-bus = hay 5 minibus a partir de las 5h30 hasta 12h00. El minibus sale cuando está lleno. (duración 2h10)
Gracias, Alexadre!!