Little Corn island is situated approximately 70km off mainland Nicaragua and is accessed from Big Corn Island, which can be reached either by plane or boat.

Air

Flights run twice daily from both Managua and Bluefields, operated by La Costena, a subsidiary of TACA airlines. La Costena can be contacted on 505-22632142 or by email to jcaballero@lacostena.com.ni

Flights depart Managua at 6.20am and 2pm, taking approximately 50 minutes to reach Bluefields where they stop for 10 minutes to pick up/drop off passengers before continuing onto Big Corn which takes an additional 20 minutes. It is advised that you make reservations before your journey as seats can be limited, especially in busy periods. A return journey from Managua costs $164 and you will need to reserve a seat for your return trip either on arrival at the airport in Big Corn, or by calling the airport there on 505-2575-5131

Please note though that checked in baggage is limited to 30lbs per person with an excess charge of $1.20 per pound over this. You are however allowed two carry on bags so it worth giving some though to packing before boarding.

Also note that some websites refer to Atlantic Airlines also operating this route. At the time of writing though, June 2009, Atlantic Airlines have not been operating for approximately 12 months, hence the need to reserve seats with La Costena in advance as less seats are available on this route.

Once you arrive at the airport you can get a taxi to the wharf for the panga to Little Corn for $1 per person.

Boat

Boats to Corn Island leave from Bluefields which can be reached either by plane from Managua as above, or you can get a bus from Managua to Rama, and then take a boat downriver from Rama to Bluefields.

Express buses leave from the Costa Atlantica Terminal in the Mercado Ivan Montenegro each evening at 9pm, arriving in Rama at approximately 3am. The cost of this service is $8 or $16 including the boat fare to Bluefields.

Chicken buses leave from the Mercado Mayoreo at 6am, 8am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm and 9pm and cost $7, but make many stops on the journey.

Once in Rama the boats to Bluefields operate when full, starting when it gets light, and cost $9.

There are two scheduled boats leaving from Bluefields to Big Corn island. One leaves on Wednesday at 9am taking approximately 5 hours ($11), returning from Big Corn island to Bluefields on Thursday morning at 9am.

The Captain D leaves on Wednesday at 5pm from El Bluff (just outside Bluefields) taking approximately 5 hours ($13), returning from Big Corn on Saturday at midnight.

 Please note though that boat times may vary so it is worth getting there in advance to check sailing times and to reserve a space.

Panga to Little Corn

There are two or three boats per day from Big Corn island to Little Corn each of which take approximately 30 minutes and cost $6.

There is currently a boat leaving at 7am, but this service is fairly new so it remains to be seen whether or not this continues.

Other scheduled boats leave at 10am and 4.30pm which are timed to connect with the arriving flights to allow you reach Little Corn direct.

Pangas depart Little Corn at both 7am and 2pm to connect with the morning and afternoon flights out of Big Corn which leave at 8.30am and 3.30pm respectively. The newer service also offers a 4pm departure from Little Corn to Big Corn.