Where Is Managua's UCA / Casimiro Sotelo Bus Terminal? 2026 Update
Managua’s interlocal terminal formerly known as UCA moved in July 2026. Here is where the temporary Casimiro Sotelo terminal is now, which routes use it and what to tell a taxi driver.
Information checked: September 2026
If you are travelling through Managua using directions from an older Nicaragua guide, there is one change worth knowing before you set off: the interlocal bus terminal many travellers still call UCA is no longer operating from its old location.
Since 21 July 2026, the Casimiro Sotelo interlocal terminal has been operating temporarily on Pista UNAN, just south of the Rigoberto López Pérez traffic lights. The move affects several of the routes travellers use most often, including buses and microbuses to León, Granada, Masaya and Jinotepe.
The names are slightly confusing, but the practical part is simple. If somebody tells you to go to UCA for an interlocal bus, they are probably talking about this transport hub. You now need the temporary Casimiro Sotelo terminal rather than the old departure point in front of the university.
Where is the temporary Casimiro Sotelo terminal?
The current terminal is on Pista UNAN, just south of the Semáforos Rigoberto López Pérez, before you reach Rotonda Universitaria. It is opposite the Villas de Santa Fe area.
We are deliberately not giving an exact map pin here yet because this is a temporary terminal and the mapped location is still less clear than we would like. If you are taking a taxi or InDrive, it is better to give the driver the terminal name and the Pista UNAN reference.
A useful phrase is:
“A la nueva terminal Casimiro Sotelo, antes UCA, por Pista UNAN, cerca de los semáforos Rigoberto López Pérez.”
That makes it clear that you mean the new temporary location rather than the former terminal outside the university.
Why do people still call it the UCA terminal?
For years, the interlocal terminal operated in front of the Universidad Centroamericana, so almost everyone simply called it UCA. The university was later renamed Universidad Nacional Casimiro Sotelo, and the terminal increasingly became known as Casimiro Sotelo.
In everyday conversation, however, the old name has not disappeared. Taxi drivers, conductors and travellers may still say UCA, antigua UCA or Casimiro Sotelo and mean the same interlocal transport hub.
The important distinction in 2026 is not really the name. It is the location. The buses no longer leave from the old university-front terminal.
Which routes use the new terminal?
The temporary Casimiro Sotelo terminal currently serves important interlocal routes including:
- Managua to León
- Managua to Granada
- Managua to Masaya
- Managua to Jinotepe / Carazo
- Jinotepe services travelling via El Crucero
For travellers, that makes this one of Managua's most useful transport hubs. If you are moving between Granada and León independently, for example, both interlocal legs currently use the same terminal, which makes the Managua change relatively straightforward.
For route-by-route instructions, see our León to Granada guide. Travelling to the airport instead? Read our León to Managua Airport guide.
What happens when you arrive?
Nicaraguan interlocal terminals can look informal if you are used to numbered platforms and fixed departure boards, but finding the right vehicle is normally easy.
Drivers, conductors and other workers around the terminal call out destinations as vehicles fill. If you are unsure where to go, asking “¿León?”, “¿Granada?” or “¿Masaya?” will normally get you pointed in the right direction very quickly.
You generally do not need to book these interlocal microbuses in advance. They run frequently during the day and tend to leave once enough passengers are on board, so waiting time can vary.
Why did the terminal move?
The move is temporary and is connected to major roadworks around the Pista Héroes y Mártires de la Insurrección corridor in Managua. The temporary site allows the interlocal services to continue operating while construction work takes place around the former terminal area.
Is the new terminal permanent?
No. The Pista UNAN location is a temporary terminal, which means it may move again when the road project progresses or is completed.
That is why we are treating this page as a living transport update rather than a one-off news story. We will update the same guide when the terminal changes again, so travellers do not need to work through several outdated articles to find the current location.
If you are reading this well after the information-check date at the top of the page, it is worth confirming that the terminal has not moved again before travelling.
Our advice if you are travelling through Managua
Do not rely blindly on an old map pin labelled UCA.
If your route instructions tell you to catch a León, Granada, Masaya or Jinotepe interlocal at UCA, ask for the new Casimiro Sotelo terminal on Pista UNAN instead.
Once you arrive, the actual bus-finding part is usually the easy bit. The destinations are called out constantly, and somebody will normally point you towards the correct vehicle before you have spent very long looking for it.
Frequently asked questions
Has the UCA bus terminal in Managua moved?
Yes. The interlocal terminal formerly located in front of UCA / Universidad Casimiro Sotelo moved temporarily to Pista UNAN in July 2026.
Is UCA the same as Casimiro Sotelo?
In this transport context, usually yes. UCA is the old name many people still use for the interlocal terminal associated with the university. Casimiro Sotelo is the newer name.
Can I still ask a taxi driver for UCA?
You can, but we recommend adding “nueva terminal Casimiro Sotelo, por Pista UNAN” so the driver knows you mean the temporary 2026 location.
Which destinations leave from Casimiro Sotelo?
Important routes currently include León, Granada, Masaya and Jinotepe / Carazo, including some services via El Crucero.
Will the terminal move again?
Possibly. The current location is temporary, so this page should be checked for updates before future journeys.
Charlie Crumpton
Co-founder & Travel Designer
Charlie has travelled across Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, and now calls León, Nicaragua home. He's obsessed with the difference between a trip that looks good on paper and one that feels good in real life — the pacing, the energy, the small touches, and the group dynamic.