Domestic Flights

With most of the country’s key destinations located within relatively close proximity, Nicaragua has a very limited domestic flight market.

That said, there is one vital domestic flight route for which there is no alternative, and which a large number of our clients will end up utilizing, namely flights between Managua and the glorious Caribbean beaches of the Corn Islands.

	Beyond The Ordinary arrange fully bonded, tailor made holidays and tours to Nicaragua. Contact one of our experts on 01580 764796, email travel@beyondtheordinary.co.uk or contact us via our website.

La Costena Airlines

There is just the single domestic airline in Nicaragua, La Costena, which is based at Managua.

Aside from a solitary ATR aircraft, they operate a small fleet of 12 seater Cessna Grand Caravans that potter back and forth like mini-buses in the sky.

Besides the all important flights to the Corn Islands, they also operate flights between Managua and San Carlos as well as to Bluefields on the Caribbean coast.

On occasion, flights between Managua & the Corn Islands will stop enroute at Bluefields on the coast while there are also sometimes standalone flights between Bluefields & the Corn Islands.

Luggage

The main issue to be aware of when flying with La Costena is luggage allowance. Due to the size of the aircraft, passengers are limited to 1 piece of checked in luggage weighing up to 30lbs (just under 14kgs). Of equal importance, the dimensions of the checked luggage must not exceed 45 linear inches or 114cm – that is the length x height x width.

One small piece of hand luggage is also permitted, ie a lady’s handbag, laptop etc.

As most clients visiting Nicaragua for a 2 plus week holiday will probably be taking more than 14kgs of luggage with them, this would ordinarily present something of a problem.

Fortunately, for clients travelling to the Corn Islands with Beyond The Ordinary there is a simple solution – excess luggage can be safely left with our agents in Managua and will be ready for you on your return.

So, for example, let’s assume you are spending 10 days exploring Nicaragua followed by 4 or 5 days on the Corn Islands before ending with a final night in Managua.

For the initial 10 days you can travel around Nicaragua with a normal suitcase, weighing say 20kgs per person. Within that suitcase you would have a spare, secondary weekend-style bag that fulfils the criteria laid down by Costena.

Before being transferred from your hotel to Managua airport, you would transfer whatever you need for the next 4 or 5 days into your smaller, spare bag. Having been dropped off at the airport, your main bag with the rest of your luggage will be dropped off at our agents office in Managua and will then reappear when you are collected from the airport on your return.

We’ve done it – it works.

The Experience

There is just the single, small international terminal at Managua Airport and, at one end of that, the tiny domestic terminal.

Having checked in (passengers will also be weighed), you will be given receipts for your checked luggage which you will need to present on arrival to claim your bags.

Before proceeding through security, you will need to pay the domestic flight tax which is currently US$2 or the equivalent in local currency.

Having cleared security, there is a very small departure lounge with a kiosk-style café selling coffee and snacks.

There is no assigned seating on flights, with passengers simply being called up by name when it is time to board.

Flights between Managua and the Corn Islands take anything from 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours depending on the weather.

On arrival, and having claimed your luggage, you will then proceed to the relevant booked hotel.