How to get here

Big Corn to Little Corn

By Panga

Small open ‘panga’s leave Big Corn taking around 30 minutes to make the crossing.

Price is $10 and tickets must be bought at the office at the dock before boarding the boat. There is a dry storage area for your main bags, but both yourself and any hand luggage may get wet so be prepared, or buy a sack to keep belongings dry, especially when windy.

Panga departs 7 days per week from Little Corn, return from Big Corn

Leaves Little Corn at 6.30am and 1.30pm to Big Corn

Returns from Big Corn 10am and 4.30pm

NOTE – the 10am panga from Big Corn to Little Corn (returning from Little Corn at 1.30pm), requires a minimum of 15 people to run. During high season this should be reliable and run every day, but in low season less so

    first get to Big Corn

    By Plane

    Flight from Managua or Bluefields

    Flights run daily from both Managua and Bluefields, operated by La Costena. Flights can be booked on their website, or in person at the airport. At busier times e.g. weekends and holidays, flights can get booked up a week or two in advance.

    Flights depart Managua at 6.20am and 2pm, taking between an hour and an hour and a half depending on the plane they use and whether is flies direct or stops in Bluefields on the way. Return flights from Big Corn to Managua run at 8am and 3.20pm.

    INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS

    We recommend that if arriving into Managua on one of the flights arriving late morning or around noon (American Airlines, United) that you plan on spending a night in Managua before flying over to the Corn Islands. It is common for those flights to be delayed by an hour or more which will result in you missing the afternoon La Costena connection. If you’re not checked in with La Costena by 1pm then there’s no guarantee you will make the flight.

    Clearing customs and immigration can take over an hour, and therefore any delay in your international flight will mean missing your connection, and maybe having to wait a week or more for the next available seat.

    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 from $190 (see official price list above, from 1st October 2025) and you if you buy an open return then you will need to reserve a seat for your return trip either on arrival at the airport in Big Corn, or by calling the airline in Managua. Generally if you have an open return then you should call to reserve your seat 2-3 days in advance, or a week in advance for busy periods.

    Please note though that checked in baggage is limited to 30lbs per person with an excess charge of $1.95 per pound over this. Note also that excess baggage is treated as standby baggage so there is no guarantee it will arrive on the same flight as you.

    You are however allowed a carry on bag and a personal item so it worth giving some though to packing before boarding (see airline website for full luggage allowance details)

    By Taxi from the airport to the dock

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

    By Bus

    and Ferry

    Take a bus to Bluefields

    There are buses direct from Managua to Bluefields operating from the Terminal Costa Caribbean in Mercado Mayoreo, costing approx C.300 and taking around 8 hours

    Take a ferry from Bluefields to BigCorn

    Passenger boats leave Bluefields to Big Corn at 9am on Wednesday and Saturday, taking around 5-6 hours. These return from Big Corn to Bluefields at 9am on Thursday and Sunday. Tickets are around $8.

    You need to get to the dock around 6am in order to buy tickets as boats can fill up quickly. You can also buy tickets the day before at the Port Authority office in Bluefields, ask around for directions.

    Boats to Corn Island leave from the main dock in 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.

    The ferry experience is likely to be chaotic, badly organised and stressful. They tend to prioritise nationals over tourists, and you may be told the ferry is full, but persevere and stay on the dock until the last people board, and generally speaking you should be OK, or not…..