• This is the information about going from San Miguel El Salvador to Leon Nicaragua using the local bus and colectivo.
  • This is going to be a very long day including transfer and immigration. It’s impossible to expect the waiting line for immigration So I would recommend leaving as early as possible. The bus from San Miguel leaves around 4 am. It took me about 12 hours in total.

San Miguel El Salvador to El Amatilo (El Salvador - Honduras border) cost: $2 time: about 2 hours

The bus leaves around 4 a.m. at the earliest. I walked a bit around that time but it was safe. Make sure that the entrance of your accommodation is open. They likely lock the gate and only staff can unlock the gate. In that case, let the staff know that you leave early morning before. I told them but they were not in the staff room so I was a bit scared that I might miss the bus but they were in a different room and unlocked the door. Also, based on the information I searched, the bus goes to Santa Rosa and transfers there then goes to the Honduras border. However, I did not need to transfer to Santa Rosa. Bus Terminal San Miguel

El Amatilo to Guasaule, Honduras-Nicaragua border. cost #7 time: about 2.5 hours

When you leave El Salvador, there is no fee to exit. However, you need to pay $3 when you enter Honduras at the immigration. They refuse to take quarter coins so give them cash or $1 coin. They have cambio. Outside of the immigration office, there is a shuttle or collectivo that goes straight to Choluteca aka Honduras - Nicaraguan border. Otherwise, you will take the chicken bus and transfer, but it’s worth spending $7 to take the direct bus if you are not planning to go somewhere in Honduras. If you want to take the chicken bus, I assume that you transfer to Choluteca to go to Guasaule. There was a very long line in the immigration office in Guasaule. When I arrived there, there was a group of people from Tica bus(big shuttle bus traveling between cities). It took a pretty long time. Once you are in Honduras immigration in Guasaule, very notorious Nicaragua immigration is waiting for you. This is the immigration office in Guasaule

At Nicaragua immigration cost: $13 time: about 1 hours

A lot of articles I’ve read explain that Nicaraguan immigration is very slow and ask for extra money. Even the Google map review is pretty low. Luckily I was able to go there before a group of people from the Tica bus got there. Once you cross the bridge, there is a small room and staff will ask questions about your basic information. Once you pass that, you go inside the building to do the actual immigration work. Then, the officer will ask questions like before. You need to pay a total of $13 for entry fees($10 + $3). Compared to the other people going through immigration, it took quite a long time. I didn’t see any foreigner-looking people there so I can’t compare with them, but I don’t know why it is taking so long.

Guasaule to Chinandega Nicaragua cost: 60 C贸rdoba time: about 1 hour

Once you pass the immigration, you will walk a bit to the bus terminal. I think this is the bus terminal. There is a normal chicken bus and collectivo. Because such a crazy long day and it makes you very exhausted, I recommend taking a collectivo. It goes directory to Chinandega as far as I remember(I was sleeping so I don’t quite remember). Once you get to Chinandega, find a bus that goes to Leon.

Chinandega to Leon cost: 30 C贸rdoba time: about 1 hour

Finally, it is the last bus. I took the chicken bus, but unfortunately, that bus died in the middle of the road. However, because a different bus was running on that line, they stopped and picked us up. I was very last one to get on the bus from the door in the back of the bus. The chicken bus started as I was getting on the bus and almost fell off. Other than that, there is no big trouble. Everyone got off in the meracado-looking street, but I assume it was near the bus terminal. I walked for about 30 minutes to get to the hostel. Tuk Tuk is running everywhere, but they are cycling.