Should You Fly Into Managua or Costa Rica to Visit Nicaragua? MGA vs. LIR

“Is it better to fly into Managua or Costa Rica?” This is one of the most common questions people ask when planning a trip to Nicaragua. It’s an important one: your flight is the first thing to book before making any other travel decisions.

Both Managua, Nicaragua’s Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) and Liberia, Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Airport (LIR) are popular ports of entry, but the two experiences are very different. Let’s compare MGA vs. LIR and help you decide which airport to fly into when you visit Nicaragua.

Flying into Managua (MGA)

Read on for an overview of entering Nicaragua through the Managua airport, including the pros and cons.

Where is MGA?

Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) is located on the outskirts of Managua, Nicaragua. It’s just shy of an hour’s drive from Granada, and a little over two hours from popular destinations León and San Juan del Sur.

MGA is Nicaragua’s principal international airport. It’s not large (just seven gates!), but it welcomes the bulk of the country’s incoming flights.

HN Hint: Thanks to its popularity, there are lots of nice hotels located in close proximity to MGA. Check out our list of the best airport hotels in Managua for recommendations.

Pros and cons of flying into MGA

Pros of flying into MGA

Convenient location:

Flying into Managua airport gives the huge advantage of landing directly in Nicaragua. You’re centrally located and well-positioned to go anywhere in the country. It’s a great feeling to step off the plane and know that you’ve truly arrived–no more international transfers required.

If you want to rent a car for Nicaragua, you can do that right at MGA. Plus, if you’re driving to a region that’s farther away, you get to take in the country’s culture and beauty along the way instead of worrying about the next steps. It brings peace of mind to fly right into Nicaragua.

Easier entry:

When you land in MGA, it’s a pretty standard international arrival procedure. Like most airports, you deplane, go through customs, grab your bags and send them through a final security scan. Once you exit the airport, you continue on your way without any additional screenings. It’s much more simple to fly right into Managua than it is to go through a land border crossing.

Cons of flying into MGA

Limited flight options:

If you’re flying directly to Nicaragua, you may need to compromise on your timetable. The range of routes offered for MGA isn’t as sweeping as you might like. To get a desirable itinerary with minimal stops at a good rate, your options are relatively limited compared to international airports that support higher volumes.

The ability to pick out your preferred travel schedule is important. Less latitude in making plans can be a deterrent to flying into MGA.

Pricey plane tickets:

The upfront cost of flying into MGA is typically higher than the cost of flying into LIR. Why is this? There are two main reasons. The first is scarcity: fewer flights are going in and out of the airport. Consequently, they’re priced higher.

The second reason is that these tickets carry a hidden cost. Everyone who visits Nicaragua pays $10 for a tourist entry stamp. But did you know that you also pay on the way out? It’s true. There’s a $42 exit tax–only you may not have noticed it because it’s included in the price of your return plane ticket. So there you have it: a built-in “upcharge” on all flights leaving from Managua.

Flying into Costa Rica (LIR)

Read on for an overview of entering Nicaragua from the Liberia, Costa Rica airport, including the pros and cons.

Where is LIR?

Guanacaste Airport (or Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport) sits about seven miles west of Liberia, Costa Rica. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from LIR to the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border crossing, Peñas Blancas.

Note: Liberia (LIR) is NOT to be confused with San José (SJO), Costa Rica’s other major international airport. It would be quite a trip to get from the capital to the border!

From Peñas Blancas, expect another one and a half hour drive to San Juan del Sur upon entry to Nicaragua. The whole trip from LIR to SJDS should be approximately 3 hours (excluding the actual border crossing). It’s about four hours from the airport to Granada, and six hours to León.

HN Hint: Guanacaste’s airport code is LIR because it was formerly known as Liberia International Airport.

Pros and cons of flying into LIR

Pros of flying into LIR

Lots of flight options:

One of the best reasons to fly into Costa Rica is the wide variety of flight options it makes available to you. LIR is served by more airlines (including Southwest) which means more flight times and routes to choose from. You get the benefit of more flexibility as you plan your itinerary if you fly into Costa Rica.

Lower prices:

More options means lower prices. Plane tickets tend to cost less for Guanacaste than they do for Managua. Savings are always an attractive benefit, but they’re even more so when you’re budgeting for an international trip.

Cons of flying into LIR

Complicated transfer:

Crossing through Peñas Blancas (or La Frontera) to enter Nicaragua is totally doable–for many repeat travelers, it’s actually their preferred route. But the downside is that it requires you to go through not one, but two countries’ bureaucratic customs processes. These can be cumbersome and confusing for first time visitors, particularly if there are long lines that day.

Not only that, but Nicaraguan drivers can’t pick you up directly from the Guanacaste airport and usher you straight through to your destination. You need to change cars from the Costa Rica side to the Nicaragua side. It’s generally simple if you’re using a professional transportation company, but it can be tiresome after traveling all day.

Note: This also applies to rental cars. You’ll need to wait until you’re in Nicaragua to pick one up if you want your own vehicle while you’re in the country.

The multi-step journey to cross from Costa Rica to Nicaragua is easily the biggest drawback to flying into LIR.

Longer total travel time:

LIR is relatively close to the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border, but it’s still a bit of a drive (about 90 minutes) to get there. Tack on the trip from Peñas Blancas to your final destination in Nicaragua, and it can turn into a marathon of a travel day.

If you’re going further north than Rivas from LIR, it may make more sense to fly into Managua to save yourself the drive time. Otherwise, it’s close to the same distance.

MGA vs. LIR: Which airport is better?

Between Managua and Liberia, which airport should you fly into when you visit Nicaragua? It all depends on where you’re going and when you want to get there. Here are a few factors to consider as you make your decision:

Where will you start and end your trip to Nicaragua? If you’re kicking off your visit in the center or the northern side of the country, then flying into Managua would be the logical choice. If you’re ending the trip on the southern coast, like San Juan del Sur, then maybe fly out of Costa Rica.
When do you want to arrive and depart? If you’re sticking to a strict schedule–such as joining a group retreat, or meeting a friend–then you don’t want to mess around with your flight times. In that case, go with the airport that best fits your plans.
How will you get around Nicaragua? Whether you go by public bus, private transport, group shuttle, or rental car, your choice will affect where it’s best to fly. For example, a Nicaraguan rental car can’t cross into Costa Rica, so it might be easier to fly through MGA. On the other hand, if you’re using private transport, then LIR could be equally feasible for you to fly into.
What is the total cost of each option? Make sure you factor in ALL costs involved in getting from Point A to Point B before deciding–not just the plane ticket. It might amount to different sums than you expect.

HN Hint: Remember, if you book a flight into Nicaragua or Costa Rica and then want to change it later, you might not be able to make the switch easily. Tickets don’t necessarily transfer to a different country’s airport. Keep the airline’s terms and conditions in mind as you book your flights.

Conclusion

Between MGA and LIR to enter Nicaragua, the choice is yours. There isn’t a right or wrong option–it all comes down to what’s best for you at any given time. Both airports will get you there in the end, and once you arrive, the journey will quickly be forgotten!

Need trustworthy private transportation for MGA or LIR? Reach out to us for recommendations.

Which airport do you prefer to fly into when you visit Nicaragua? Let us know in the comments!

Meet your Tour Guides

Hola! We’re Gail & Luis, a team of two with a deep love for Nicaragua. Luis, a professional tour guide, is the knowledgeable source behind the blog. Gail, an American writer, is the voice.

We started this blog as a way to stay connected from afar and support Nicaragua in our own small way.

Today, our mission is to open hearts and minds to the wonders of Nicaragua and make it easier than ever to start planning your trip.