Driving from Panama City to Matagalpa
Matagalpa lies 824 km (512 mi) north-west of Panama City, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 12 h 34 min without stops, over roughly 1,005 km (625 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Panama City | Matagalpa | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Panama | Nicaragua |
| Population | 408,168 | 109,089 |
| Elevation | 17 m (56 ft) | 689 m (2,260 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Panama) | UTC-6 (America/Managua) |
Clocks in Matagalpa are 1 h behind Panama City right now, so a 12 h 34 min journey lands only 11 h 34 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Matagalpa
Crossing from Panama into Nicaragua: money changes from the Balboa to the Cordoba (NIO); the dialling code becomes +505; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q11185210 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648801.
Where to book car hire from Panama City to Matagalpa
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Matagalpa
Live rooms and prices for Matagalpa are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Matagalpa
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Matagalpa from Panama City?
824 km (512 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Panama City; by road roughly 1,005 km (625 mi).
How long does it take to get from Panama City to Matagalpa by car?
About 12 h 34 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Panama City and Matagalpa?
Matagalpa is 1 h behind at the moment (America/Managua against America/Panama).
What currency do I need in Matagalpa?
The Cordoba (NIO).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.