How to get from Nicaragua to Honduras - Las Manos Border Crossing
Posted: October 11, 2022
This post details my experience of how to get from Nicaragua to Honduras, via Las Manos:
Important:
Visitors can travel between El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua for up to 90 days, under the Central America Border Control Agreement (also known as CA-4). However, from 15 August, British nationals are required to have a visa.
Visitors can travel between El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua for up to 90 days, under the Central America Border Control Agreement (also known as CA-4). However, from 15 August, British nationals are required to have a visa.
I used, as ever, public transportation, and that means riding the chicken buses. This is my border crossing strategy. No Gringo Shuttles, no Tica Bus, no Nica Bus.
As I hot-footed my way back north to Mexico and Miss CDMX, I travelled to Honduras, one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
Honduras, my 104th country that I personally recognise and my 97th UN-listed Member State.
I stayed a night at the El Viajero Hostal in Ocotal, thus strategically poised, to enter Honduras. The bus, the day before from Esteli, had taken 2 hours and was packed and slow, so I was very glad about my decision to make 1 final stop in Ocotal:
As I hot-footed my way back north to Mexico and Miss CDMX, I travelled to Honduras, one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
Honduras, my 104th country that I personally recognise and my 97th UN-listed Member State.
I stayed a night at the El Viajero Hostal in Ocotal, thus strategically poised, to enter Honduras. The bus, the day before from Esteli, had taken 2 hours and was packed and slow, so I was very glad about my decision to make 1 final stop in Ocotal:
Breakfast was a coffee just near the bus station.
I rode the 7.55 am chicken bus for 25 C$, for the final 25 km to the border at Las Manos
The last Nicaraguan Chicken bus:
For once, the process of clearing Nicaraguan immigration was fast. I filled in the immigration form, checking the EXIT box and then presented myself to the immigration officer. Paid my 3 USD departure tax in USD ONLY! Make sure you have change, as they don't!
I changed my remaining Cordobas into Lempiras at quite a good rate. I had already acquired 20 USD worth, back in San Miguel, El Salvador for the eventuality that I would visit Honduras at some future point but with what I got from changing my Cordobas at the border, I had 50 USD worth.
Always good to have a comfortable amount just in case!
Always good to have a comfortable amount just in case!
To enter Honduras, you still need a negative COVID-19 test or to have been fully vaccinated. I had to do an online PreCheck, but the link I had doesn't work any more.
And a health form where you upload photos of your passport and your COVID-19 vaccination
It's processed quickly, and within minutes, you get confirmation.
I had the immigration form printed out, but it was never asked for; you still need to do it online.
Honduras is mostly fucked but they are pretty good at immigration. Their computer system works! And I learned you need to have one for leaving the country, too. Just put the destination as the next country.
I entered one office for all the Covid vaccination paperwork and was asked for a little cadeau. I gave them 50 cents just because!
And then to the immigration office. Again, all was very easy. Everyone was nice. No stern faces like in Mexico or Nicaragua. Smiles do go a long way to make everyone's life a little brighter.
And a health form where you upload photos of your passport and your COVID-19 vaccination
It's processed quickly, and within minutes, you get confirmation.
I had the immigration form printed out, but it was never asked for; you still need to do it online.
Honduras is mostly fucked but they are pretty good at immigration. Their computer system works! And I learned you need to have one for leaving the country, too. Just put the destination as the next country.
I entered one office for all the Covid vaccination paperwork and was asked for a little cadeau. I gave them 50 cents just because!
And then to the immigration office. Again, all was very easy. Everyone was nice. No stern faces like in Mexico or Nicaragua. Smiles do go a long way to make everyone's life a little brighter.
Honduran entry stamp:
It was 9.40 am. The border crossing, done and dusted. I waited until 10:20 am for the chicken bus to El Paraiso to leave. 20 Lempira, it took about 40 minutes.
I will write a little about the next part of the journey to the capital in another post, but just to say, it all got a bit crazy.
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