Managua to Corn Island BY BUS / Hostels on Corn Islands

Hey folks,

since the kind people on this form have helped me out quite a lot, I hope you can provide me with some advice once again.

I'd like to go to Corn Island from Managua by bus. The information on the route, however, derive from two friends who travelled the route almost three years ago, I therefore would like to know if myinformation is still correct:

1) The route is:
Managua - Rama (bus)
Rama - Bluefield (river boat)
Bluefield - Big Corn Island (sea boat).

2) I also remember that you have to leave Managua for Rama precisely on TUESDAY 9:00pm arriving on WEDNESDAY 3:00am. The boat for Bluefield leaves at 6:00am already and arrives at 8:00am;

3) I was told it is necessary to arrive on Wednesdays, because the only reliable boat that definitely leaves from Bluefield for Big Corn is the Bluefield Express - Rio Escondido Boat leaving Bluefield for Corn Island only on WEDNESDAY at 9:00am arriving at Corn Island at 2:00pm.

Is all this correct still or are there more flexible ways to go, if you want to go by bus? Are there eny places where you can place reservations for either of the two boats?

Also, which budget accomodations can you recommend on the Corn Islands? We're a bit of a party crowd, so music & Dance would definitely not bother us, but rather be appreciated....

Many thanks for your help,

alemantico

Casey at www.rightsideguide.com has the most current list of boats and schedules. He updates it regularly.

The thing you have to keep in mind is the schedules are VERY FLUID. The Express (Rio Escondido) from Bluefields to Corn Island on Wednesday is the only "passenger" vessel, all of the others are primarily cargo vessels that also carry passengers.

Buses to Rama from MGA leave from both Mayoreo and Montenegre Mercados, some leave around 8-9pm so you arrive Rama before daylight.

The trip from MGA to Corn Island can take a long time and if the weather is bad is can be an extremely miserable long trip.

My advice to people, fly here, take the boat back. I have made the r/t to Rama twice, and the r/t to Bluefields once in the past 5 months. The trip to Rama is always much quicker than the trip down (coming down there can be many stops to pick up freight). The bus to/from MGA-Rama is not so bad, but even the express buses make plenty of stops.