If you’re staying in northern Guanacaste and are interested in visiting another country, the Nicaragua one day tour from Costa Rica is perfect for you. It takes you to the highlights of Nicaragua such as Masaya, Granada, Masaya Volcano National Park and Laguna de Apoyo. The tour is an excellent way to see a bit of Nicaragua especially if you don’t plan on taking a dedicated visit to the country.
Read more about the Nicaragua one day tour in this article and if you want to do this tour, we have an exclusive Mytanfeet discount! Get $10 USD off the tour!
**The Costa Rica land borders between Nicaragua and Panama have opened on April 5, 2021 but unfortunately the 1 day tour with our tour partner has not. We will update this post when it has.
Nicaragua One Day Tour from Costa Rica FAQ
When Does This Tour Operate?
This tour runs nearly every day with few exceptions during extremely busy times of the year (Christmas/New Years and Easter). They aren’t able to run the tour during these times because the border is extremely busy and sometimes can take the whole day to cross. We will let you know what days the tour is not running if you are inquiring about those dates.
Who Operates the Tour?
It is operated by Plus Papagayo, the only tour company that runs this tour every day.
What Is Included In the Tour?
The Nicaragua one day tour from Costa Rica includes breakfast, lunch, border fees, a bilingual guide, entrance fees, pick up and drop off and water.
How Much Is the Deposit and How Do I Know My Tour is Confirmed?
The deposit is $20 USD from Coco/Hermosa/Panama/Riu Guanacaste/Liberia/Dreams Las Mareas/La Cruz and $30 from Tamarindo/Flamingo/Conchal/Brasilito/JW Marriott/Portrero.
When you fill out the form, you will automatically be taken to Paypal in order to send the deposit. We will also send you an email with all details and send you a confirmation email once the tour is reserved.
How Long Is the Tour?
Depending on your location, pickup is usually around 4:30 AM – 6 AM. Depending on how long the border takes, you will return around 8 – 10 PM.
What Do I Need to Bring?
Please being your original passport, a printed ticket out of Costa Rica (a screenshot on your phone works too if you don’t have a paper copy), comfortable shoes and clothes, a rain jacket during rainy season, a day bag and camera.
We also highly recommend buying/bringing snacks. The tour includes breakfast and lunch but not dinner. Sometimes the border returning to Costa Rica may take awhile so it is best to bring something to munch on as the tour doesn’t make any stops for food in the evening except the border. The tour company includes water.
You can buy snacks at the border, Masaya market or Granada.
Does Nicaragua Take USD?
Yes. If you want to do some souvenir shopping, bring small USD. They will give you your change back in cordobas, the Nicaraguan currency. If you want your change back in USD, you have to ask.
Do I Need a Visa to Nicaragua?
United States and Canada do not need a visa. Please check the Nicaragua embassy website for your passport country to see if you need a visa. You will be responsible for checking if your passport needs a visa to Nicaragua and if so, for any extra visa fees.
Can I Do the Nicaragua One Day Tour From San Jose?
No. This tour only picks up in northern Guanacaste, the furthest they go is Tamarindo/JW Marriott Guanacaste.
San Jose to the Nicaraguan border is a 6-7 hour drive, so it is much too far. If you’d like to do the tour, the best option is to travel to Liberia and get picked up from there.
Dana says
Hello. We are at Dreams Las Mareas now. If we booked a tour for this weekend, can tell me how much it will be? And what the pick up time is since we’re closer to the border. The tour company at Dreams is charging $198.
Also is there a cancellation fee?
Thank you in advance!
Fred Chonkan says
Hi, Are you aware of any tour operators offering similar 2-day trip from Guanacaste with overnight stay in Granada? Planing for last week in March.
Sammi says
Hi Fred, no we don’t, sorry. It’s a really complicated process to do overnight tours from CR to Nicaragua so tour companies don’t do it. The best option is to find a freelance guide but it will be very expensive.
Bird says
Hello! Love your blog– I am visiting Costa Rica in April. We are staying at a hotel (El Mangroove) on Playa Panama in Guanacaste. Would we be able to be picked up at the hotel and take the tour?
Thanks for your work and this blog! 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Bird, yes! They can pick up and drop off at El Mangroove.
Lucy says
Hi we are going to riu guanacaste in April we wants to know how much is the day trip to Nicaragua and if you guys pick up us at this hotel .
Sammi says
Hi Lucy, yes they pick up from the RIu and it is $140 and with our Mytanfeet $10 discount it’s $130 per person.
luz reyes says
\hola. We want to go on one day Nicaragua Tour, on Tues, Feb 21. We are staying at Primevera \hotel in Liberia. Can we get picked up and dropped off at Primevera Hotel? what time is the pickup and how much for 2 adults?Can we pay cash when we get picked up, do we still get 10 percent discount? Do you have an office in Liberia?
Sammi says
Hi Luz, yes they can pick you up and drop you off at your hotel in Liberia. We always require a deposit and then you pay the remaining balance in cash and you’ll get the $10 off. Can you please fill out the form so we can book your tour? Thanks!
luz reyes says
hi. We will be in Costa R. from Feb 14-23 and want to do a 1 day trip to nicaragua while spending 2 -3 days in Playa Hermosa. We have not planned the exact day yet when to go to Nicaragua bec of 3 other friends involved in this trip,. When we decide to go, it would be 1 to 2 days before the day we decide to take the 1 day tripper to Nicaragua. i wonder if you have a store front or a direct number to contact the tour agency for the 1 days trip to Nicaragua.
Sammi says
Hi Luz, no problem about booking it 1-2 days before, a lot of people do that. If you want to get the $10 discount, you can fill out the form on this page and we can take care of the booking for you. From Playa Hermosa, it’ll be $130 pp (originally $140).
Edwin says
Hello, I’m planning on taking this trip with my family in mid-February 2017, but I was wondering if you can pick up near La Cruz in Guanacaste. We had plans on staying near the border instead of getting picked up in the peninsula. Do you do pick ups in La Cruz?
Sammi says
Hi Edwin, yes they can pick up in La Cruz, that’s actually where the breakfast is and they pick up people at the Dreams Las Mareas and bring them to La Cruz. In the form, can you please specify your hotel or exact location and we’ll get it figured out with the tour company.
Edwin says
Is there a phone number I can call you for additional info?
Kenny Su says
My family will travel to Liberia this summer. How much it cost for two adults and 2 kids age 8 and 11 ? pickup point is Liberia (either Hilton Garden or Best Western).
Sammi says
Hi Kenny, it’s $140 from Liberia and with the Mytanfeet discount, it is $130 per passenger (kids and adults are the same price). If you want to book the tour, just fill out the form and we’ll handle the rest 🙂
Lenka says
Hi, I would like to ask who organizes the tour? and how much in advance should we book it / is it OK to book last minute (for beginning of February)?
Sammi says
Hi, they run this tour everyday and they can take large groups so you can book it even 2 days before.
Jenelle says
My grandpa and uncle are staying in Costa Rica for they winter. I’m coming down to visit and would like to take them on the tour of nicaragua. They do not have a ticket out of costa rica. Can they take the your to Nicaragua?
Sammi says
HI Jenelle, yes absolutely they can do the tour. They can purchase a refundable ticket out of Costa Rica and then cancel it after the tour (safest option) or print out your ticket, show all your passports at the same time and use your ticket out for everybody. Most of the time the officers don’t mind too much for big tour groups since they’re trying to get through as fast as possible. The tour guide can help you too, tell him that they forgot to print their ticket out and they can help you at the window.