The easiest way to get here!

From Costa Rica to Sabalos Lodge The fastest way, or from Sabalos Lodge to Costa Rica.
Info-Center Camino Verde (across from the bus station in Santa Elena) can arrange a Taxi-Boat Taxi to Fortuna 8 A.M. 2.5 hrs.$21 and also transportation from Fortuna direct to Los Chiles (border) 7:30 A.M.
2 hrs. $13 This bus is direct and air-conditioned. (aventuras arenal)
In Los Chiles you do imigration and then take the
12 A.M. boat directly to imigration in San Carlos Nicaragua. After imigration take one of the options below to Sabalos Lodge.

From Managua to San Carlos:
By Airplane
LA COSTEÑA AIRLINE Manager Julio Caballero "jcaballero@lacostena.com.ni"
You can go directly to the local airline’s office, La Costeña, at the airport. The flight is only 45 minutes from Managua to San Carlos, and the price for a roundtrip ticket is around U$ 120.00. From Monday to Friday there are two flying every day, the first departure at 8 am and the second fly departure at 1 pm. On Saturday there is one fly at the 8 am, and Sunday there is one fly at the 1 pm.
La Costeña numbers: 505 263-2142, 505 263-2143 or 505 263-2144

FALCON, Private airplane Capitan Jose Antonio Bonilla. "falcon@ibw.com.ni"
Frequently there is no room in La Costeña Airplane, then we been using a private air taxi to travel to San Juan River. The capacity of the airplane is 5 visitours and the pilot, total 6 passengers. If the airplane spends 3 days 2 nights cost round trip U$ 800, if the airplane spends 4 days 3 nights cost round trip U$ 850

Another way (low cost, high adventure) to San Carlos:
From the historic city of Granada, you must take the Monday or Thursday boat to San Carlos. You must be at the ticket office on the pier by 12 noon to be sure to get a ticket. We recommend the expensive ticket (around US$7.00), for air conditioning and better seats. You can also set up you own hammock (available at the Masaya artists’ market) on the deck. The trip takes around 14 hours. Any taxi driver can help you get to Granada (45Km. from Managua) either by taking you there or driving you to the bus station.

By bus or car (really high adventure)
If you will travel by bus, my recommendation is to travel during the night.

Every day departure many buses from Managua (Mercado de Mayoreo) to San Carlos

The first bus that set connection departure at 5:00 am. This bus make connection with the last boat to go to Sabalos Lodge. Then are another buses but no make connection with the public transportation to travel from San Carlos to Sabalos Lodge.

Also there are some buses that departure Managua at 5:00 pm and arrive to San Carlos at 2 am. If you take that buses you can sleep at the bus until 6 am, or if you let us know in advance, we can send our worker to wait for you at the bus station and go to our office 1 block from the bus station. To sleep in hammocks.

To we send one of our workers to wait for you. PLEASE let us know in advance.

You can get to San Carlos by bus as well. You can take it from Granada (boards at the pier’s park) or from Managua (bus station at Mercado Mayoreo, near airport). The cost is about US$7.00. The trip takes around 9 hours, and you will share the bus with chickens as well as every conceivable form of humanity.
Rental 4x4’s are available at the airport if you wish to drive yourself. This trip takes 5 to 6 hours, and the roads are very bumpy, with some big holes. Unless you are a seasoned driver on very bad roads, able to fix a flat with no help in sight, we do not recommend this option.

Aquatic transportation Price in Río San Juan
Price per trip from 1 to 4 person. (price is not per person)
San Carlos - Sabalos Lodge 1 way $ 135.00
Sabalos Lodge - San Carlos 1 way $ 135.00
Tour Sabalos Lodge - Castillo $ 100.00
Tour Sabalos Lodge - Castillo - Reserve (guide not include) $ 155.00
Local Guide for the reserve tour $ 25.00
San Carlos - Los Chiles $ 207.00
San Carlos - Solentiname - San Carlos tour 1 día $ 190.00
San Carlos - Solentiname - San Carlos tour 2 días $ 260.00
S Carlos - Los Guatusos - Solentiname - S Carlos tour 1 día $ 235.00
S Carlos - Los Guatusos - Solentiname - S Carlos tour 2 días $ 305.00


From San Carlos to Sabalos Lodge the best and fast public option:
There is a great connection with the morning fly and a fast public boat.

From Monday to Saturday there is a fast public boat departure San Carlos around 10:30 of the mourning, and arrive to Sabalos Lodge at 12:00 mid day. The cost is 100 cordobas, or U$ 10 dollar.

From San Carlos to Sabalos Lodge:
Call us when planning your trip. We will meet you at San Carlos airport, marina, bus estation, etc, to take one of our private boats to Sabalos Lodge. The trip takes 1 ½ hours. Relax under the shade on our boat as we glide down the river. Herons, egrets, anhingas, and cormorants may fly alongside our boat. It is truly magical; the scenery is spectacular. Round-trip prices for our boats are: US$230.00 for anywhere from 1 to 4 people, and US$275.00 for 6 people. We have packages which will take you to the ancient fortress at El Castillo or other interesting places for a few dollars more. For an all-inclusive option with boat transportation, lodging, all entrances and meals, click on “packages” above.

You can also take the public boat from San Carlos to Sábalos Lodge, not bad, cheap, and a good adventure. The fastest public boat takes about 2 ½ hours. The cost is around U$ 5.00

Price of translator.
The cost of the translator for the tour to Reserve and El Castillo is $ 25
Price of the foods
Breakfast $ 5 per dish
Lunch $ 10 per dish
Dinner $ 10 per dish