A dusty highway leads north from Estelí to the Honduran border post at Las Manos . A few kilometres short of the border is OCOTAL , a pleasant town in its own right, and a useful stopover on the way to or from Honduras. Buses run between Las Manos, Estelí and Managua roughly every hour until around 3pm; the bus terminal is on the highway 1km from the town centre, which is a dusty twenty-minute walk or a short taxi ride.

The best place to stay in Ocotal is the new Hotel Frontera (tel 732-2668, fax 732-2669, hofrosa@ibw.com.ni ; US$15-40), 1km north of town by the Shell station. All rooms have TV, a/c and bath with hot water, and there's also a bar, restaurant and swimming pool. If you're on a budget, the Hospedaje Segovia (US$5-10) on the main street is a good, cheap option. For eating , the town boasts a number of decent comedores , or you could try the Pizzaría Doña Pizza on the main street one block south of the Enitel office.