DIRECTIONS
Travelers encouraged to read all directions, as there are "travelers' tips."
From Managua: Go to Mayoreo bus station and take
Express to Jinotega (c75).* At the enpalme (T) where the Guayacan Hwy turns north 4km from Jinotega (see foto below), debark and hoof it up about 350m, past La Perrera Restaurant, and look for the La Biosfera sign soon thereafter on the left. If you go into town to putter first, a taxi should cost about c40, bus c7.
Note that you can drop in Matagalpa, get another bus onto Jinotega, say, the next day. The Mga-Jtga bus will cut back south to the Guayacan Hwy and make it quickly to Jinotega.
Otherwise the bus (every half hour) from Matagalpa is a stunning diversion during the day if you have the time, the scenic route over the mountain top, past Selva Negra, La Fundadora, the "Craziness of Potter," and the wildly intriguing mountain scenery of switchback curves, expansive valleys and near distant range, surprising roadside cascades, occasional fresh produce and flower stalls, charming architectural whims, occasional mountain taverns (For those driving: El Disparate de Potter @ Km.142, well marked, easy access, fantastic view, teas and some collected liqueurs; Los Alpes @ Km.153 worth a stop if your transpo can take a brief but steep incline over good cobblestone; El Norteno nearby for delicious bean soup, cuajada cheese, cream, egg, coffee, and a fresh and highly edible tortilla the size of a UFO, for about a dollar - no beer here), coffee farms, and some horse traffic. If the busdriver doesn't recognize La BiOsfera, tell him it is right before La Perrera.
From Matagalpa: Over the old highway, tell the busdriver La
BiOsfera, justo antes de La Perrera; about an hour and a half, some construction.
If you want to make it quickly, to get to Jinotega in about a half hour, stand at the Shell Station La Virgen (south) and beg the Managua Express to let you on. Inquire exactly where to stand and follow a Nica who is going that way and looks like s/he has done it before. If you stow/hop the Managua Express, you will have to disembark at the junction/T, "el empalme, cuando termine el Guayacan, frente la granja del Tico chele." See foto below.
From Esteli: Buses come through La Concordia
and arrive CoTran Norte; from here, get to CoTran Sur and take a c7 bus ride up
just past La Perrera Restaurant to La BiOsfera. This info needs updated, it is sure to run over the new Guayacan Hwy nowadays in an hour or so express, whereas the other route is long and convoluted if you don't have time or inclination to enjoy it.
From Leon: Get bus to San
Isidro (towards Esteli), another to Sebaco/Matagalpa, another to Jinotega. [All buses are
frequent except Esteli, check sked.] Note that from the enpalme (T) where the Guayacan
Hwy meets the Old Hwy Jinotega (to Matagalpa), La Biosfera is about 350m south on the Old Hwy just past La
Perrera Restaurant on the left -- So you will have to disembark at this T, cuando termine el Guayacan, frente la granja del Tico chele. See foto below.
There are some rubber boots if you don't wear good shoes. Bring a sweater!
Contact: Biosfera@hijuela.com, Suzanne @
8698-1439 or alt: 8427-8414
* Managua Express Sked: 4am; 5am; 6am; 8am; 10am; 11am; 12noon; 1pm; 2pm; 3pm; 4pm; 5:30pm. If you are coming from the Airport (located on Carretera Norte), bus passes for pickup about 12mins after departure time, and you HAVE to be standing at the bus stop ("parada") about 400m south of the airport on the East side of the highway. Inquire to be sure you are in the right spot, and when you see the bus (will say Jinotega), be sure you are seen to be hailing it. Nevertheless, don't be shocked if you are not picked up. If you need to taxi to this parada, it is cheaper and possibly less safe to go outside the airport and stand on the west side of the road; negotiate for 20c ($1) or less, telling taxista "Aqui no más, donde el bus para Jinotega." Taxis won't want to lose their place in line for a cheap fare so you may try and get in an [airport] taxi taking other passengers, using the same language if you wish to negotiate a reasonable fare.
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