Last Updated on September 10, 2023
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I’ve traveled to some remote destinations, but Little Corn Island in Nicaragua definitely wins in that department. From the complexity of getting there to simplicity of the island, this little piece of paradise off the coast of Nicaragua, is one of a kind. The island is really undeveloped and rugged, which might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely a draw for some.
Little Corn Island feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, removed from the rest of the world, making it a perfect place to truly disconnect. If that’s what you are looking for, little inconveniences don’t bother you and you have a sense of adventure, you will enjoy Little Corn Island.
Where is Little Corn Island
Little Corn Island and its sister island Big Corn, are located approximately 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua. The islands have a very apparent Caribbean vibe and it’s hard to believe, that they are part of the same country as Granada or Isla de Ometepe.
How to get to Little Corn Island in Nicaragua
Even though Little Corn Island is not that far from mainland Nicaragua, getting there is a multi step journey. Depending on which part of the country you’re coming from, it will take at least half a day to most of the day until you arrive on the island. Needless to say, the trip won’t be a quick one.
Fly from Managua to Big Corn Island
Your first step is getting to Managua International Airport to catch a flight to Big Corn Island. The airline, that flies between Managua and Corn Islands is La Costena and it has two flights daily:
- 7 am – arriving in Big Corn Island at 8.30 pm.
- 2 pm – arriving in Big Corn Island at 3.20 pm.
When returning back to Managua, your flight choices are:
- 8.20 am – arriving in Managua at 9.30 am.
- 3:40 pm – arriving in Managua at 5 pm.
The cost of a round trip flight is around $180 when booking online. The flight takes between 1- 1.20 hour. Some flights from Managua will stop at Bluefields for about 15 minutes to let some passengers on and off.
Take a taxi from Big Corn Airport to ferry dock
Once you arrive in Big Corn and collect your luggage, you need to take a taxi to get to Brigg Bay, from where the panga boat to Little Corn leaves. This step requires very little effort, as there are always plenty of taxi drivers already waiting outside of the Arrival Terminal. The ride is less than 10 minutes and costs $1 per person. To make the ride worthwhile, some taxi drivers want to wait for more passengers to fill the cab. However, waiting around is not something you want to do! Panga boat has limited seating and once all the seats are sold, you are not getting to Little Corn ( more on that below ).
PRO TIP: Offer the taxi driver to pay for the whole cab ( 4 people ). Your goal is to get to the dock as soon as you can and get your Panga boat ticket.
Take a Panga boat to Little Corn
The only way to get from Big Corn to Little Corn is by taking a panga boat ride. To the point, that if there’s a big storm and boats don’t run, you are not getting there. Until a couple of years ago, there used to be two boats daily in both directions. Currently in 2023, there’s only one reliable boat going each way.
- Big Corn to Little Corn – 4.30 pm ( $10 )
- Little Corn to Big Corn – 6.30 am ($ 10 )
If there’s a high demand, they add an additional panga ride from Big Corn to Little Corn at 10 am ( $20 ) and from Little Corn back to Big Corn at 3 pm ( $20 ).
2023 UPDATE: Panga schedule varied for the past year, so I recommend contacting your hotel for up to date panga schedule.
Tickets are sold on the first come, first serve basis. I highly recommend to arrive at the Big Corn Island dock 1 to 2 hours in advance to make sure you get a spot. Once the boat is full, it leaves and this is it for the day. Don’t wait around too long at the airport, offer to pay for the whole cab, just so you can get there quick and get your tickets. I’m speaking from experience, as it was a very close call for us.
When I mentioned, that you need to have a sense of adventure to choose Little Corn as your next destination, this was one of the reasons. The boat ride is around 30 minutes and can be pretty rough and wet. Prepare yourself to arrive completely soaked! If you’re carrying a camera or other electronics, make sure to put them in a dry bag.
Take a Chartered Panga from Big Corn Island to your hotel
If you arrive to Big Corn on the earlier flight, and the additional morning panga boat is not running, you might be stuck waiting around all day in Big Corn and losing the entire day traveling to Little Corn Island.
If you want to avoid that, some hotels can arrange for a Chartered Panga, that includes the airport pick up and brings you directly to the hotel. Be sure to contact your hotel and see if such arrangements can be made for you, if you are interested. I know for a fact, that two of the best hotels in Little Corn Island: Little Corn Beach & Bungalow and Yemaya Reefs offer such option.
Things to know before traveling to Little Corn Island in Nicaragua
Little Corn Island in Nicaragua is almost a definition of a off the beaten path destination and it might not be the rights choice for everyone. It’s a very isolated and undeveloped place. There are certain things you should know, before you decide, whether this is a place for you or not.
There are no cars, golf carts or any type of motorized vehicles on the island – I’ve been to some simple, remote islands where golf carts replace cars as a means of transportation, but Little Corn Island doesn’t even have those.
Most roads are dirt paths – there is one “street” running through the island, that is paved. Most of them are dirt paths, which after the rain become very muddy. Also, most of them are unlit, so if you plan on venturing into town after dark, bringing a flash light is crucial.
Electricity only from 2 pm – 6 am – the power on the island is limited to these hours, so you need to play around this when charging your phone or camera batteries.
WiFi is very limited – there are only a few places on the island, with decent internet service. Tranquilo Café and Desideri Café are among them.
No ATM / Bank – you need to bring all the cash you think you’ll need for the entire stay, as there’s no way of getting it once you are on Little Corn. Make sure to bring bills no larger than $20.
You can use American Dollars – even though the local currency is Nicaraguan Cordoba, American dollar is widely accepted ( as long as there are no rips or tears ).
Things to do in Little Corn Island in Nicaragua
Disconnect
Little Corn Island in Nicaragua is a perfect place to do absolutely nothing. Because not much is happening on the island, it’s a perfect place to unwind and disconnect. Literally, as finding WiFi can be a challenge. This is a “bring a book and find a hammock” type of a place.
Go snorkeling / diving
If you enjoy snorkeling and/or diving, the Corn Islands are a great destination for you. There are more than 20 dive sites around Little Corn, providing great opportunities to see a variety of marine life. Blowing Rock, located 16 miles away is the most popular site among divers.
You can find most dive shops near the wharf. Dolphin Dive and Dive Little Corn – Day Dive are a couple of good choices. If snorkeling is your preference, Aqua Boy offers all kinds of tours including Night snorkeling, as well as other water activities.
If you’d like to complete your PADI Open Water course and get certified, you can also do so on the island. The prices offered by the dive centers are pretty competitive compared to those in other parts of the world.
Go fishing
Take a walk around the island
With being just 2 miles long and 1 mile wide ( at its widest ), the island is so small, that you can cover it in 1 hour. We started on the east side of the island, continued along the stretches of open beach all the way to the northern tip where Yemaya Resort is. After a stop for a cold Tona beer, we continued down the path to the center of the island, through a rugged part at first, eventually passing residential homes, a couple of little stores and a baseball field.
Little Corn Island hotels
By now you probably figured out, that this laid back island is not a place where you will find fancy hotels and big resorts. While Little Corn doesn’t lack in accommodation choices, the vast majority of them is simple and reasonably priced.
Budget accommodations
If you have a limited budget, there are plenty of options with hostels starting as low as $10-15 per night. For those looking for more comfort, there are a couple of properties, that will meet your needs as well. A good number of small hotels and cabin type accommodations in the $30-50 per night range.
More comfort and luxury
Yemaya Reefs Colibri Boutique Hotel – by far the fanciest place to stay on the island. This beach front resort is located in the north side of the island. There are 7 oceanfront casitas, 5 of them with the plunge pool, all of them just steps away from the ocean. Each room can be booked with a room only rate, or you can choose one of the packages, which include meals at the restaurant on site.
Little Corn Beach and Bungalow – this was my personal choice and I can’t recommend it enough. This is an amazing beach front property with beautiful bungalows. The entire property is very well maintained, and the service truly impeccable. In fact, the amazing staff is what makes Little Corn Beach and Bungalow really special. It doesn’t hurt, that the best restaurant on the island Turned Turtle is on site.
What to pack for your trip to Little Corn Island in Nicaragua
Portable flashlight – it’s not a coincidence, that a flashlight is the first item on this list. Little Corn is a rugged island with mostly dirt paths, that are either poorly lit, or unlit completely. If you plan on heading out after dark, having a flashlight is a must. Also, if you are arriving on the 4.30 pm Panga boat, it will be getting dark soon after and you might need a flashlight as you walk to your hotel.
Travel Power adapter – Nicaragua uses the same plugs as the US, so if that’s where you’re traveling from, you do not need an adapter. If you are visiting from other countries, you’ll need to pick one up. This small international outlet adapter is perfect as it’s lightweight and with the additional 2 USB ports you can charge up to 3 devices at the same time. This is especially useful in a destination like Little Corn Island, where electricity is off for a good part of the day.
Portable charger – with the electricity on only during certain hours, and possible power outages, it’s good to have a back up if you need to charge up your phone.
Waterproof Dry Bag – I bring my Dry bag on every single trip, that involves being on the water. If you have a big camera or any type of electronic, you want to make sure it stays dry. While it’s always great to have it just in case, having a waterproof bag is absolutely necessary on this particular trip. You’ll be glad you have it when you’re on the crazy wet Panga boat ride. I’d go as far as to say, do not get on the boat without putting your camera and other electronics away!
Small backpack – whether you plan on setting off on a snorkeling excursion or taking a walk around the island, a small back comes in handy to pack a few necessities like your snorkeling gear, sunscreen or water. Can’t say enough how much I love my Osprey DayPack! While mine came as part of Osprey Packs Farpoint 55 that can be detached, you can also buy it separately.
Light Rain jacket – even if you visit outside of the rainy season, occasional downpours do happen. After all, you are in the tropics. A light rain jacket folds easily, so it doesn’t take up much space and might come in handy.
Reef safe sunscreen – naturally, you’ll spend a lot of time in the sun, so make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. Even though there are a few small stores on the island, the items they carry are limited. Consider choosing a reef safe sunscreen, free of chemicals, that contribute to reef destruction.
Travel Insurance – Getting a good travel insurance is always a good idea, especially in a destination so remote. While getting ready and excited for your trip, things going wrong is the last you want to think about, but unfortunately sometimes they do. World Nomads is a great choice with many options, that guarantees finding a coverage you need.
READ MORE:
- Things to do in Granada, Nicaragua if you only have 2 days!
- Best things to do on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua
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