Driving Directions to Rancho Santana from Managua Airport

Driving in Nicaragua is unique because there are typically no street signs and most people give directions using landmarks. Dont hesitate to contact us at 505-2560-0860 if you need additional help understanding how to get here! You will pass through six major towns on your way to Rancho Santana: Tipitapa, Masaya, Catarina, Nandaime, Rivas, and Tola. You can use these towns as reference points in the event you get lost.

Time 2.5 hours

Tips for Driving

Estimate

Distance 140km

1.6km=1mile

Speed-limits are not posted well, so in open areas with little traffic, a normal speed is around 80km/hr. In a fairly open area with medium traffic, around 60km/hr is normal, and in city/town streets with high traffic, around 30 km/ hr is normal. If by chance you are pulled over by the Police, you have two options: Option 1: they will take your I.D. and you will need to pay a fine at a later time. Option 2: you will be able to pay the policeman on the spot. If you pay on the spot, make sure that you do not pay the police too much. A normal amount is $4.00 to $5.00, or about 100 Cordobas.

1. Take a right out of the airport. You will see a Rancho Santana sign on the median. Our Adventure Begins!

2. Arrive at your first roundabout and continue straight. (1 min.) 3. Stay in you left lane when arriving to the 2nd roundabout, continue straight. (See another Rancho sign; 3 min.; 4km)

4. Road splits off to the right, take the right turn. You will see a large gas-station and Pollos Frit restaurant. (See Rancho sign; 10 min.; 9km) Important Turn!

5. Road splits into 3 ways, go down the center and continue straight at the stop sign. (Rancho sign across street; 12 min.; 10km.) 6. Make sure youre still with us! You will see a water tower on your left saying, Astro Carton. (15min.; 13km)

7. Continue on this road until you arrive at a stop sign, then turn left. You should see a Rancho sign before the turn, and a large Claro overhang after you make the turn. (30 min.; 31km)

8. Arrive at a roundabout with a statue of a man and continue straight. If you want a bathroom break or snack, Puma gas station is a good place to stop and is located on your right. (34 min.; 32km)

9. Continue on (youll even see some stoplights!). Stay in the right lane, and you will arrive at a roundabout. Turn right at the roundabout, you will see a Rancho 105k sign (38 min.; 35km)

10. When you arrive at a median and a divide, stay straight/to the left. You are now headed towards Catarina, and will see a sign saying Regresa Pronto. (43 min.; 39km)

11. Hungry? Mi Viejo Ranchito is a safe bet. You will see it to the right of the Catrina welcome signs. (51 min.; 43km)

12. Arriving at a roundabout, stay in the left lane and continue straight/left (you know you did it right when you see the San Juan de Oriente welcome sign) (54 min.; 44km)

13. If you are lucky and arriving on a clear and sunny day, you should be able to see Mombacho Volcano straight ahead. 14. Veer right at the next Rancho sign. (1:03 hr.; 54km)

15. The road will bend to the right, and then come to a fork. Stay left at the fork, heading towards Rivas (you should see a Rancho sign). You will now see a Nandaime welcome sign. (1:10 hr.; 61km)

16. Heading the right way? You should cross Puente Ochomongo (bridge). (1:22 hr.; 78km) 17. Continuing on this road, you will cross another bridge, Puente Gil Gonzalez, and be able to see Ometepe Volcano on your left. (1:34 hr.; 94km)

18. This is a difficult turn. As you enter Rivas, go slow and you will see a Rancho sign pointing to the right. Take that right turn onto the road made with pavers (carretera adoquinada), then take another right turn after you pass the baseball field on your left (you will see another Rancho sign). Now you are back onto a nice paved road. (1:43 hr.; 105km)

19. Cross Puente La Zopalita, a narrow one car bridge. Enter Tola, you will see a colorful park and fruit stands on your right a few blocks into town. Take a left at the stop sign at the end of the park. Go slow and take your second right, you will see our Rancho 20km sign, along with many other signs. Now you are back on a pavers road. (1:58 hr.; 118km)

20. On the carretera adoquinada, you will see a Rancho sign followed by a bend in the road. Make sure you stay to the right on the pavers road. (2:05 hrs.; 126km)

21. Continuing down this road, you will arrive at a fork. Stay to the right towards Playa Popoyo.

22. Arriving at the next fork in the road, stay to the left. You will see a Rancho sign pointing to the left. (2:16 hrs.; 130km)

24. After passing two red gates you will see a Tola Limon 1 sign. Following the Limon 1 sign, you will see the Rancho Santana main entrance on your left! (2:25 hrs.; 140km)

You made it! Give yourself a pat on the back and prepare yourself for paradise.