The border between Honduras and Nicaragua is your passage into the land of lakes and volcanoes. It’s a frontier that has seen historical tensions but is now a standard part of the Central American travel circuit, connecting the agricultural heartlands of Honduras with Nicaragua’s dramatic volcanic landscapes. You have three main options for crossing. The most common route is via the Pan-American Highway at the Las Manos crossing, which connects the capital cities of both countries and sees a steady flow of traffic. Alternatively, the crossing at Guasaule is located on the hot and humid Pacific coastal plain and can be quite busy with commercial trucks. For a quieter, more scenic route through the highlands, you can use the crossing at El Espino.
A key aspect of this border is that Nicaraguan procedures are known for being very thorough and bureaucratic. You should expect the process to take some time and involve multiple windows for different steps, as well as several small, official fees for things like a tourist card and municipal stamps. It is wise to have small US dollar bills on hand for these payments. Patience and having all your documents, including photocopies, well-organized will serve you well. This meticulous process is a defining characteristic of the crossing experience.