Granada Getting there & around

Getting there & around

Granada is not actually on the Interamericana (Pan-American Hwy), but instead is linked to the Costa Rican border and Managua by two spur roads. This means that Managua-bound buses from Rivas bypass Granada, so have the driver drop you off at Nandaime, which marks the turnoff to Granada, where regular Granada-bound buses arrive every 15 minutes or so.

Local transport

Taxi

Taxis are plentiful and quality varies - choose a nice one if you're taking a trip of any distance. Always agree on a fare before getting in the taxi, which should be US$0.50 per person during the day and US$0.70 at night in the city. Always take a taxi between the beach bars and downtown. Horse-drawn carriages, available at the parque central, are a more romantic, if recently more expensive, way around the city.

It's inexpensive and convenient to take taxis to other destinations, including Masaya (US$10/15 market/volcano), Laguna de Apoyo (US$10), Rivas (US$20), San Juan del Sur (US$25) and Managua (US$30), keeping in mind that fares vary according to gas prices and your bargaining skills.

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Bus & tram

Bus

Both Transnica (522 661; www.transnica.com), with buses at 6:20am, 8am and 11am, and Tica Bus (552 4301; www.ticabus.com), with buses at 7am and 1pm, have offices located on Av El Ena Arellano; they both have daily buses to San José (US$12), Costa Rica. For other international services, you'll need to go to either Rivas or Managua.

Granada does not have one central bus terminal. Buses to Managua's Mercado Roberto Huembes (US$1, one hour, 4am to 7pm, every 15 minutes) depart from near the old hospital. Microbuses leave for Managua UCA (US$1.20, one hour, 4:20am to 6pm, every 25 minutes) from two places: the convenient lot just south of the parque central on Calle Vega, and Parque Sandino, near the old train station. Buses for Masaya (US$0.40, 30 minutes, 5am to 6pm, every 30 minutes) leave from two blocks west of the market, around the corner from Palí.

The main lot for southbound buses is one block south of the market, across from the Shell station. Normally no direct buses go to the border at Peñas Blancas (but ask during the Christmas rush from the border), so you'll need to change buses in Rivas.

Carazo US$0.70, 50 minutes, 6am to 5:05pm, every 20 minutes; for San Marcos, Diriamba (with connections to the Carazo Beaches) and Jinotepe

Catarina & San Juan de Oriente US$0.50, 30 minutes, 5am to 5:50pm, every 20 minutes; also serves Niquinohomo

Nandaime (Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho) US$0.60, 20 minutes, 5am to 6pm, every 30 minutes

Pueblos Blancos/Carazo US$0.40-0.70, 5:50am, 8:30am, 2:10pm and 5:10pm; for Diriomo, Diría, Catarina, Niquinohomo, Masatepe, San Marcos and Jinotepe

Rivas US$1.10, 1½ hours, 5:45am, 6:30am, 7:10am, 8am, 9:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 3:10pm; catch the 1:30pm bus to make the last boat to Isla de Ometepe

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Air

Tiny Granada International Airport (233 2791), about 3km from the city center, has one flight daily to La Ceiba, Honduras, at 11:30am.

Nature Air (www.natureair.com) flies to Liberia, Costa Rica (US$65/130 one way/return, 40 minutes), with a continuing service to San José (US$120/240, two hours). Flights leave Granada at 8:15am and 5pm on Wednesday and Friday, and 5pm only on Sunday. Flights leave San José at 6:15am and 3pm on Wednesday and Friday, 3pm only on Sunday. The same planes leave Liberia one hour later.

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Car & motorcycle

Rental car

It's generally cheaper to rent cars in Managua, where your rental is probably parked right now - so be sure to allow a couple of hours for it to arrive. This region has good roads, and many attractions, including Los Pueblos Blancos, make excellent road trips. Although you can take cars to Isla de Ometepe, it's an expensive hassle.

Alamo (552 2877; www.alamonicaragua.com) At Hotel Colonial.

Budget (552 2323; www.budget.com.ni) At the Shell station.

Dollar (552 2947; www.dollar.com.ni) At Hotel Gran Francia.

Hertz (552 8103; sergiouca@yahoo.com) At Eco Expedition Tours.

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Boat

Ferries leave the ferry terminal (552 2966; 10am-5pm) at the end of Calle La Calzada at 3pm Monday and Friday, stopping at Altagracia (Isla de Ometepe; US$2, three hours), San Miguelito (nine hours) and San Carlos (US$6/3 1st/2nd class, 13 hours). First-class seats, on the upper deck, have padded chairs and access to the TV, which will be on all night. Stake out a sleeping spot early and don't forget your seasickness medication.

Puerto Asese (552 2269; www.aseselasisletas.com), about 2km southeast of town, has boats for the Isletas de Granada and Parque Nacional Archipiélago Zapatera.

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Bicycle

While bicycling in town might require nerves of steel, there are several mellow bike rides from town, including Laguna de Apoyo, Peninsula de Asese north of the Centro Turistico, and for strong bikers any of the Pueblos Blancos. The Bearded Monkey(552 4028; www.thebeardedmonkey.com; Calle 14 de Septiembre) rents bikes (US$5 per day), as do Bicicletería (bikes US$9), half a block south of the park, Tierra Tour(862 9580; www.tierratour.com), Posada Don Alfredo(552 4455; alfredpaulbaganz@hotmail.com), and other hotels.

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