How to Get to the Corn Islands (2024)

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How to Get to the Corn Islands

The Corn Islands are two absolutely stunning tropical Islands off the Nicaraguan coast. Transportation can be confusing, so we’re going to explain exactly how to get to the Corn Islands with different options dependent on budget, time allowance, and location. The Corn Islands are often skipped on people’s backpacking routes do to cost of transportation as well as cost of food, housing and activities once you get to the Corn Islands. However, there is absolutely a way to do this on a budget, so you have no excuse not to visit!

If you don’t read the full article, know this:

If you’re flying, make sure to book over phone, email, or in person to save 22% on your booking. Don’t book online!!
The boats between the corn islands leave twice a day, once in the mornings and once at night, so budget your time accordingly.
Bluefields is fairly dangerous so if you’re doing the bus-ferry budget option, be wary.
If you get sick easily, take motion sickness pills before the flights and boat rides.
You get a free checked bag if you are flying.

Now let’s get into the detailed guide on how to get to the Corn Islands!

Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase.

The 3 Main Ways to Get to the Corn Islands

There are three primary options for getting to the Corn Islands:

Flying from Managua to Big Corn (this is the most convenient and most expensive)
Taking the 7-8 hour bus from Managua to Bluefields, and taking the 7 hour ferry from Bluefields to Big Corn (this is the best budget option)
Taking the 7-8 hour bus from Managua to Bluefields, then flying to Big Corn (we don’t recommend this, but will cover it anyway)

Option 1: Flying from Managua to Big Corn

Round trip flight tickets cost around 180 USD per person during the high season. Prices are certainly subject to change depending on time of year and demand.

In order to get the cheapest possible tickets in advance, call the airline directly to book (you can call them at +505-2298-5360). You can also email them at [email protected] (though the wait time for this will obviously be longer) or if you’re very flexible and will be in Managua beforehand, you can book your tickets in person at the airport.

All of these methods should result in better prices than booking online, partially due to a 35 USD fee for doing so. We paid 180 USD each for round trip tickets, but if we had booked online for the same date, we would have paid 229 USD due to added fees!

Tips for Flying with La Costeña to the Corn Islands

Check-in opens early, and while you can show up after check-in time, we recommend checking in on time as La Costeña has been known to sell your ticket to someone else if you don’t show up in time.
You pay a 2 USD fee for going to the Corn Islands (which you’ll also pay on the way back).
La Costeña Terminal is in a different building than the other airlines – it’s right next door to the main airport building.
They have bathrooms and a small convenience store with fast food after security, but there are more options in the main terminal.
You can check a bag free of charge, and there is only overhead storage on the big plane, so if you want to go on the small plane, check your bags! You’re also more likely to stop in Bluefields if you take the big plane.
We actually left 45 minutes before our scheduled departure time, and the flight took an hour and a half. We didn’t stop in Bluefields on the way there because we were in the small plane but we did on the way back.

Option 2: Bus and Boat to the Corn Islands

Note: For this option, you need to be in Bluefields on a Wednesday or Saturday because those are the days on which the ferries run. Bluefields has high drug-related crime rates as it is a hotspot for trafficking, so be careful!

To get from Managua to the Corn Islands by bus and boat, follow the instructions below:

Take the bus from Managua to Bluefields which leaves from the Mayoreo Market at 6 am, 9:15 am, 11:15 am, 2:30 pm, 5 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:30 pm, and 11 pm, takes 7-8 hours, and costs 320 Cordobas or 9 USD. If you can, show up a day early to buy your bus ticket in advance.

From the Bluefields bus station, take a taxi to the city center or port for 40 cordobas or 1 USD.

You can stay the night here for 12 USD, but you could also just take a night bus if you don’t want to pay for accommodation that night.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays the boat from Bluefields to Big Corn leaves at 9 AM and costs 280 Cordobas or 8 USD. This will take 7 hours. Be aware that if the weather is bad, they won’t leave and you’ll lose a few days waiting for the next one.

Approximate Total Cost not staying the night in Bluefields: 18 USD
Approximate Total Cost staying the night in Bluefields: 30 USD

Option 3: Bus to Bluefields and Fly to the Corn Islands

If you don’t mind a 7-8 hour bus ride for 9 USD but don’t want to take an 7 hour ferry (or just happen to be in the Bluefields area already) this option works best for you. You can take the bus from Managua to Bluefields, take a taxi from the bus station to the airport, then catch a flight from Bluefields to the Corn Islands.

If you’re coming from Managua, this option saves about 43 USD and adds 8 or so hours to your journey. The flight usually leaves before 8 AM so you’d have to take the night bus and arrive at a potentially unsafe hour. Check-in is an hour and a half before flight time, and if you don’t get there fast enough, your ticket may be sold to someone else.

Just as you would if you were leaving from Managua, make sure to call La Costeña at +505-2298-5360 to book your flights. You can also email them at [email protected] or book your tickets in person. The round trip tickets online cost 163 USD but if you book via phone, email, or in person they’ll cost around 127 USD.

How to Get from Big Corn to Little Corn

If you were dropped off at the airport, you’ll need to take a 5 minute taxi that will cost around 1 USD to the ferry port.

The panga (the little boat) from Big Corn to Little Corn only leaves twice a day at 10:00 am and 4:30 pm.

This will cost 10 USD if the weather is good as they can do the journey in the panga. If the seas are choppy, they’ll get a bigger and slower boat that costs 20 USD. The ride takes around 30 minutes in the panga and an hour in the big boat.

How to Get from Little Corn to Big Corn

The boat from Little Corn to Big Corn leaves at 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM every day. The costs are the same as detailed above. Make sure to confirm with your accommodations the day to ensure that the panga will be running – if they’re using the bigger boat, departure times may change.

Tips for Traveling between the Corn Islands

The people running the boats kind of just leave whenever they feel like it. These times are subject to change but your accommodations will inform you of any changes. On our way to Little Corn, the boat had already filled up by 9:30 so they left before the scheduled 10 AM departure time. One person told us this hadn’t happened since before 2018, so hopefully it won’t affect your travel plans! The ride on the pangas is VERY bumpy, so take motion sickness pills if you need them. The ride is a bit smoother in the back of the panga than the front, but you’ll likely get wet from the spray!

Traveling between the Corn Islands outside of the Two Daily Travel Times

If you want to get to the other Corn Island outside of travel times, you’ll need to take a private water taxi. This will cost anywhere between 70 and 120 USD depending on how many people you are, how much luggage you have, if the boat driver is in a friendly mood, if it’s full or half moon, and if the driver’s favorite baseball team won last night. I’m only kidding, but they will definitely try to overcharge you for every reason possible, so make sure to negotiate! Texting these numbers directly versus going through the people at the docks will be much cheaper. Here are the numbers for a few of the water taxis:

Carlos, David & Rosa: +505 8405 5896

Capitán Alan: +505 8702 3114

If the above numbers do not respond, this guy will know someone: +505 5715 3199

That’s a Wrap! How to Get to the Corn Islands

We hope this travel guide on how to get to the corn islands helps you find your way to this tropical paradise. You can get to the Corn Islands by plane, bus and plane, and bus and boat. The Corn Islands are certainly worth the journey, although part of the beauty is in the journey itself!

Make sure to check out our guide to visiting the Corn Islands!!

Keep Exploring Nicaragua….

Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.

Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.

Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.

Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.

International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.

eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.

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