The year 2026 has begun, and I’m sure many of you have made the classic list, and on it, adventures. Well, here I’ll tell you about one I had last year when I travelled to my homeland, Nicaragua. I invite you to take a seat… although, a warning, seat belts aren’t used here, so get ready for an adventure!
In June, I travelled to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, and from there I took a bus at the Mayoreo market terminal to go to my Caribbean region, Puerto Cabezas, Bilwi. The road distance between Managua and Puerto Cabezas is 521 km ( 323.5 miles). I got on the bus and was ready for more than 9 hours of travel, prepared to arrive home and be with my family. If you visit Nicaragua, here are some tips!
Information
The bus ticket costs 600 córdobas ($16.21)
You board the bus at the Mayoreo market
There are several departure times
A hand luggage bag is allowed
You pay for additional luggage
Road and Bus Conditions
The bus I boarded was a Yutong (that’s what they call it; it’s a Chinese brand). It has reclining seats, air conditioning, and a television. The older buses that still run there don’t have these comforts. Now, with the new road and the bridge at the Wawa Boom river, we no longer have to deal with potholes or delays at the ferry, which used to make the journey much longer.
The trip is long, but much more comfortable than before. It’s a “luxury” adventure. This was my first bus trip on the hydraulic concrete road. Before, when the road was dirt, the journey felt endless. The road was in terrible condition, and crossing the Wawa Boom river on a ferry was quite an ordeal, depending on the weather or any other excuse nature might have that day.
I had the window seat, so I sat down, relaxed, and dedicated myself to admiring the landscape, the towns we passed through, listening, smelling, and observing everything around me. The bus made stops for food, so everyone could stretch their legs and use the bathroom.
Between curves, green landscapes, hills, and shops, we passed Boaco, Muy Muy, Río Blanco, Mulukukú, and the mining triangle (Siuna, Rosita and Bonanza). On this bus trip in Nicaragua, you pass many cities. I noticed that now there are more shops, restaurants, and paved streets. It almost seemed like a different world!
Street Vendors
Every time the bus stopped, vendors would get on. They sold everything: food, fruit, pills, and if you forgot some travel essentials like phone chargers, headphones, batteries, etc., don’t worry, you can buy them here. It’s a rolling market.
At one of the stops, a pill vendor got on, and no, I’m not exaggerating, it looked like a mobile pharmacy, and without needing a prescription. He explained the purpose of each pill while going past the seats to see if anyone was tempted. He was more persistent than my Monday morning alarm. Listen! (in Spanish).
When the vendors got off, there was less noise, but the music kept playing.
Mobile Disco
The driver played music videos; music is a must on a trip like this. I heard a bit of everything: romantic songs, bachata, rancheras, and much more. There was something for everyone’s taste. In my opinion, there was a lack of soca, calypso, and reggae.
Artists like Romeo Santos, Marisela, Los Ángeles Azules, Daddy Yankee, Wisin y Yandel, Selena, and many more were played. With so much music at full volume, listening to anything on your phone was mission impossible, so I joined the party from my seat, watching the landscape until it began to get dark.
Arrival
After 10:00 p.m., we arrived in Puerto Cabezas, Bilwi. My parents were waiting for me, and what joy! Finally free from my bus seat, I could stretch my legs and have a fresh shower before collapsing into bed.
Yes, it’s a long journey, but it has two positive sides: it’s cheap, and it allows you to experience the culture, food, and places from a different perspective.
I hope you have come to the end of this adventure with me in Nicaragua. This year, I’d love for you to join me in discovering more topics I write about. Be patient with me; little by little, we learn together.
What would you like me to write about?
I look forward to your reply!
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