The first thing you need to know about this the UCA Microbus Terminal聽is that UCA is pronounced “ooka”. Learn this and every taxi driver in Managua will know where you want to go. The second thing to learn is that travelling by microbus is significantly more comfortable than travelling by an ordinary bus.聽They are faster and overall more comfortable for only a small price difference – although slightly less adventurous 馃槈
Looking for聽Pe帽as Blancas, Rivas or聽聽San Jan del Sur? You need to head to the Mercado Roberto Huembes聽.
This UCA microbus Terminal in Managua is essentially just a line up of small passenger vans with clear signage of who is going where. The drivers are generally quite friendly. The busses leave when they are full and so if there are a lot of people聽in line you may have to wait a bit – although unlikely very long. On average they leave about every 20 minutes.
If you arrive and you need a taxi – they pull up regularly here to drop people off so one is not hard to find. I am pretty sure that every time I arrive here I am quoted some astronomically high fare by the taxi drivers. The last one wanted $10 USD for 2km because聽I had a surfboard. Nope! I don’t tend to haggle on price too hard, if it is within 20-30C$聽I am ok with it, but if you feel like everyone is trying to rip you off by too much, try crossing the street and getting a taxi from there. There are definitely honest drivers out there in the city.
Most of the information on this page is from 2017 when I update the prices and spoke to each driver. They are as follows.
Managua UCA to Granada
Microbuses to Granada leave聽when full cost 33C$ (Dec 2018) and take 1hr 20min – 1hr 3omin depending on number of stops. Hours of operation are聽5am to 9pm Monday to Friday, Saturday 5:30am to 8pm and Sunday 6am to 7pm.
Managua to Masaya
Microbuses to Masaya leave when full and they cost 19C$. The trip takes just under 1hr. 聽Hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 6am – 7pm, Saturday and Sunday from 6am to 6pm.聽Halfway through the trip the bus will pass the entrance to the Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya so if you’re getting off here try to sit close to the front.
Managua to Le贸n
Microbuses to Le贸n聽leave聽when full, cost 71C$ as of Sept 2018 and takes between聽1.5 hrs and 2hrs depending on how many stops you take. 聽Hours of operation are 4am to 8pm Monday to Sunday.
Managua to Jinotepe
To Jinotepe microbuses leave when full, cost 33C$ and take a little more than 1hr. Hours of operation are 5am until 9pm Monday to Saturday and 6am to 7pm on Sunday.
Hustle
Don’t be shocked if you are almost accosted by the guys working for competing shuttles. The last time I did this I was literally pulled in two directions by two different people. I thought that this was because I was obviously a tourist, but I soon realized they do this to pretty much everyone. Even little old ladies. It is definitely annoying, but rest assured it isn’t dangerous – some even laugh a their game. 聽The drivers of these microbuses are definitely hustlers. Not in the sense that they will rip you off, but in that they will do everything they can to maximize their profit by getting as many people on the bus as possible.
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!
Hi! This is a great site, thanks for your hard work. We’re wondering if there is an UCA microbus from Managua to Matagalpa? We will be travelling with 2 young children and a bit of luggage. We’re weighing the benefits of being a more comfortable, quicker trip against the potential of having to sit for 3 hours with our luggage on our laps.
Thanks!
Hi Janelle, I only know of buses going from the Mercado Mayorero https://centrocoasting.com/nicaragua/managua-terminal-mayorero/. There are regular and express service buses. Most buses are your standard chicken bus, though there may be other options that I am not aware of. I don’t believe there are microbuses going to Matagalpa from anywhere in Managua. Have a great trip!
Hi there!
Do you think Microbuses run on Dec 25th (Christmas)? Arriving at MGA airport super early on the 25th and need to take one to Leon.
Also, 61 Cordoba = ~2 USD, right? Is that the cost of the bus ride to Leon or is my math/google wrong? 馃檪
Thank you!
Hey there, Travler_Noob, I am not sure if the buses will run normally on Christmas or not. There is a chance that service is stopped completely on that day, but also a good chance that they will run but on a slightly different schedule. Sorry that I can’t offer better information or not as I am not in Nica at the moment. If you already have a reservation in Leon, then you could ask the hostel as they may be able to find out for sure. And yes, 61 Cordobas is about 2USD! If you could… can you come back here and leave a comment about your xmas travels, that way other travellers can benefit from your knowledge! Thanks!
Does anyone know where to catch the bus from Managua ( ideally the airport) to San Carlos? I don’t really want to take a chicken bus. I have a tentative flight arriving at noon on a Saturday. Flights to San Carlos don’t operate on Saturdays which means spending a night in Managua as another option
Hi
Is that a typo 100$ is expensive
Oops, yes, 100$C it should be. Thanks, Jim.
Hi,
Thought I’d share something of interest about going to Le贸n. My partner and I took the UCA bus, quick journey with A/C which was nice. However at the end, the bus driver stopped at a fuel station at what looked like the edge of town.
As we and some other backpackers (no locals) were ushered off, a swarm of harassing taxi drivers approached us to the point of trying to take our bags. We went with one guy who said 60Cors. Half way along the journey he stopped and tried to sell us more stuff like trips. When he dropped us off, he was actually expecting 60Cors EACH! Normally we have been quite good at avoiding being ripped off like this. Lyne I’m a cynic but it seemed like it was a deal between bus driver and taxi drivers to go for tourists.
I would suggest insisting you go all the way to the terminal or maybe walking away from the taxi rank and hailing another down, there are plenty about.
That’s a pretty frustrating experience! Thank you for sharing so that other travellers can get a heads up and be extra cautious with taxis!! I have taken the UCA to Le贸n many times and we always arrive at the station so it is good to know that they may try to drop you at the gas station instead. It is just as hectic in the station with taxi drivers though. They are quite intense. But I agree its better to be dropped there. I have heard more and more reports from travellers about things like extra bag charges. Now this, which does sounds like a tourist type scam for sure. And I completely agree with just walking away from the first taxi drivers that approach you and go and you find one to approach. Hope the rest of your trip rolls smooth!
hi i will like to know if there is a bus direct from the managua airport to granada? or i have to go from managua airport to the bus station ucla? how i get there? with a taxi? how much it will be?
thx
br
pat
Hi Patricia! There is no direct bus from the airport to Granada. You will need to get to the UCA station. You can do this by taxi or by bus. Have a look at the airport page https://centrocoasting.com/nicaragua/managua-airport/ for more info. Basically you need the Tipitapa bus to the Mercado Roberto Huembes station and then another bus, 110, to the UCA. It saves you a few dollars but it is a longer trip. I personally would just take a taxi to the UCA since its not too expensive and about a 20 minute taxi ride. A Taxi to the UCA should cost around $100. Have a great trip!
HI i wil like to know how i get from managua airport direct to granada? or i have to go first to bus station ucla? how i get from managua airport to the bus station ucla? thx
hi i will like to know how i get from managua airport direct to granada? Or how i get from the managua airport to UCLA? THX pat