The colonial city of Granada is a sensible and popular next stop after a few days of volcano climbing and motorbiking around the magical Isla de Ometepe.

The main way to travel between the two is via a combination of ferry, taxi, and bus (Option A), but there is also the far less frequent and seasonal option of a direct boat from the island to the city (Option B).

In this post, we've shared a clear overview of both routes, including costs, connections, and tips to avoid hassle along the way.

This is how to travel from Ometepe to Granada.

Option A | By Boat, Taxi, and Bus

Step One // Ferry from Moyogalpa to San Jorge

The Ometepe to San Jorge ferry has frequent daily departures from 5.30am, but you don't have to set off super early. As total travel time to Granada is around three hours though, we recommend setting off at a time which ensures you arrive in the city before dark.

Depending on where you're based on Ometepe, walk, bike, tuk-tuk, or take a bus to the Moyogalpa ferry terminal (here on Google Maps). There's no need to reserve or buy your ticket in advance as you can simply turn up and buy in person or on board; we do however recommend arriving with 20-30 minutes to spare before departure to grab yourself a seat.

You can find the 2022 schedule* below, and note that on Sundays all ferry and bus services run a limited schedule, meaning you should arrive with a clearer idea of departure times than during the week. Note that there are three departures from San José port, which may be a little more convenient if you’re staying on the Maderas side of the island.

Price and comfort levels vary slightly from boat to boat, but majority charge 50 córdoba per person.

Cost | C$ 50C pp + Time | 1 hour

*We will do our best to keep this schedule accurate and updated for you, so please let us know in the comments or via email if times change.

Step Two // Taxi or Bus To Rivas

When disembarking in San Jorge terminal (maps), there are sometimes buses leaving directly from the portside to Managua, but we've never seen or heard of one which goes direct to Granada - if that changes, do let us know in the comments.

Therefore, your best bet is to jump in a private or shared taxi to Rivas bus station (maps), which is 6 km / 10 minutes away.

On the walk from the dock to the port entrance / exit, you'll have no shortage of taxi drivers offering you rides into Rivas or even direct to Granada. We were quoted C$120 for a private fare to Rivas or $50 USD to Granada, but decided to first head into El Navegante restaurant (maps) for wine and pasta by the lovely Italian owner.

Outside his restaurant is also where you'll find colectivo / shared taxis waiting, which will take you to Rivas market - right next to the bus terminal - for C$35 ($1 USD) per person. We waited around for others to share the taxi, then negotiated a fair price of C$100 with him to leave sooner on the proviso he could pick up people along the way to top up his fare.

As we explain in 23 Things To Know Before You Travel Nicaragua (published soon), a little negotiation is fine and expected with taxistas, but don't take the piss. It's best to have a rough idea of a fair price in advance as some will absolutely try to rip you off, but it's also important to agree to a fair price once it's offered. In any scenario, ensure you always agree and know the price before setting off though!

Note that there is also the potential for a taxi to drop you off at la rotunda, a roundabout by the UNO petrol station where buses from Granada will pass by and collect passengers. This can save you a little time and a little cash overall, but we think it’s simplest for most of you to go into Rivas where the bus journey starts.

Cost | C$35 + Time | 15 minutes

Step Three // Jump on The Next Bus To Granada

We've discussed our difficult relationship with the small but scammy Rivas bus station in 23 Things To Know Before You Travel Nicaragua (published soon), but the main piece of advice we can give you for this journey is to simply not believe any of the touts who will tell you there are no more buses or charge you for a ticket before you board.

Thankfully, there are frequent chicken bus departures from Rivas to Granada, so you should always be able to find someone trustworthy to point you in the right direction if you’re uncertain. It's not uncommon to board the bus a good 20-30 minutes before it departs, and this ensures you can grab a good seat for the ride and some snacks or drinks from the stalls outside.

Your backpack will either go on top or at the back of the bus.

On prices, we wish we could give you a clear answer and certainty on how much it should be, but the truth is that it will come down to the whims of the ayudante on the route. We paid C$50 each on one occasion, and then C$100 on another due to a charge for our bags and the fact it was an 'express' service (it wasn't). As we also explain in 23 Things To Know Before You Travel Nicaragua, such unpredictability on prices and made-up charges for bags is very common in the south of the country.

Regardless, we’re pretty sure the correct price should be C$50 each but you might have no option but to pay more.

Note that you may be also advised to take a bus from Rivas to Nandaime first, in order to connect with another heading to Granada. Though this is a legit route and can save you a bit of time if the next direct one doesn't depart for another hour, it's more convenient for you to wait for a direct bus.

Cost | C$50 + Time | 2 hours

Step Four // Arrive in Granada + Walk

It’s about a 2 hour journey to cover the 70 kms from Rivas to Granada. The bus will usually finishes up a little outside the city centre (here on Google Maps), meaning you have a 10-15 minute walk to the Central Park or other areas where hostels and hotels are situated; this is a big reason for our recommendation that you arrive before dark. Shared taxis are numerous and the fare to anywhere in the city will cost you C$20 per person, with the potential for an extra charge for backpacks, so jump in one if you prefer.

Still making your plans for Granada? We’d love if you get your information and inspiration from our guide - 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Granada.

Option B | The Ometepe To Granada Ferry

There was once a bi-weekly ferry running between Granada - Ometepe - San Carlos, providing a more direct route between the island and the city, but operations ceased in 2016.

After hearing that it had reopened recently, we planned to take this on our return to Nicaragua in 2022. Good information online was however very difficult to find, and we received about five different answers from locals working in tourism about whether it was still in operation and why not; due to this we decided that buses and taxis remained the best option for us.

However, as our sole focus here at Along Dusty Roads is to help travellers travel better, we kept on digging and were eventually told the right information direct from EPN, the national port organisation.

The Granada to Ometepe ferry, at time of writing, runs every Monday. It departs the city at 5pm, arriving in Altagracia (Ometepe) at 9pm, before continuing on to San Carlos at 10 pm and arriving at. 6am.

The return ferry journey leaves San Carlos on Tuesdays at 5pm, arriving in Altagracia at 1am, then departing for Granada at 2 am. It arrives in the city at 6am on Wednesday morning. Tickets cost C$100-150 per person.

As most of you won’t be based in Altagracia on the island, and those travel and arrival times are a bit ridiculous, we don’t presently recommend the Ometepe to Granada ferry. If you take it and think differently, please do let us know in the comments!