León department
Terminal de Buses de León (La Terminal)
León's main terminal: Managua (minibuses and local buses), Chinandega, Estelí, Matagalpa, El Sauce and Malpaisillo. About 15 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride from the cathedral.
Mercadito de Subtiava
Departure point for buses to the beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas, in the Subtiava neighbourhood west of the centre.
Managua → León and León → Las Peñitas
León is 1 h 30 by minibus from UCA. The beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas are 30 minutes further on a bus that leaves from the Subtiava market.
Read guide →
Granada ↔ León by bus (via Managua)
There is no direct bus between Granada and León. You take two minibuses via UCA in Managua, about 3 hours in total, or a direct tourist shuttle.
Read guide →
León's own version of the Gritería, commemorating the 1947 eruption of Cerro Negro: altars to the Virgin, fireworks and shouts of “¿Quién causa tanta alegría?” across the city.
The most Nicaraguan celebration of all: altars to the Virgin in every home, fireworks and gifts for those who shout “¿Quién causa tanta alegría?”. León and Granada are the classic places to experience it.
Direct buses between major cities with few stops. Faster and slightly pricier.
→ Matagalpa
Leaves from La Terminal · León
→ El Guasaule (Honduras border)
Leaves from La Terminal · León
The famous “chicken buses”: they stop in every town along the way. Cheapest and slowest.
→ Managua
Leaves from La Terminal · León
→ Chinandega
Leaves from La Terminal · León
→ Estelí
Leaves from La Terminal · León
→ Poneloya – Las Peñitas (beaches)
Leaves from Subtiava · León
→ El Sauce
Leaves from La Terminal · León
→ Malpaisillo
Leaves from La Terminal · León
→ La Paz Centro
Leaves from La Terminal · León
Express minibuses for 15 to 20 passengers that leave when full, like the ones from UCA in Managua.
Handy for planning the way back.
Managua → León
Leaves from Israel Lewites · Managua
Managua → León
Leaves from UCA · Managua
Estelí → León
Leaves from COTRAN Sur · Estelí
Matagalpa → León
Leaves from COTRAN Sur · Matagalpa
Chinandega → León
Leaves from Mercado Bisne · Chinandega
Chinandega → León
Leaves from Mercado Bisne · Chinandega
Missing a route from León?
Tell us where it goes and when it leaves, and we will add it.