Traveling by bus in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the most expensive Central American country, especially compared to countries such as Nicaragua and Guatemala where the cost of living drops drastically.
But although living (sleeping and eating) in Costa Rica can actually be quite expensive, traveling by public transport is cheap and simple, especially if you start from San Jose.

The main bus station in San Jose, called Coca-Cola bus terminal, it is not the only one, in fact, in addition to this there are 3 other terminals that serve different areas of the country. The Terminal San Carlos serves the northern area (Monteverde, La Fortuna and Sarapiquì), the Great Caribbean Terminal destinations on the Caribbean coast and to the south of the city Terminal Musoc per San Isidro.
Buses can always be full on weekends (especially Fridays and Saturdays and during Holy Week). At the Coca Cola bus terminal it could be easy to come across some thieves, so always be alert and don’t leave your luggage unattended.

Costs, times and different destinations from San Jose follow but things could change so always check the site www.visitcostarica.com to be sure of bus prices and timetables.

Have you found plane tickets? See also on Traveljourn
Read also: Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica

International Buses

In this case, remember to always have a copy of your passport with you.

Changuinola/Bocas del Toro (Panama). Cost €10.50. The journey lasts 8 hours and departure is at 10 in the morning
David (Panama). Cost €10. Trip duration 9 hours. Departure 7.30 am
Guatemala City (Guatemala). Cost €27.50. Trip duration 60 hours. Departure 6 and 7.30 in the morning.
Managua Nicaragua). Cost €8.50. Duration 9 hours. Companies providing transport: NicaBus (departure 5.30 and 9 am), Deldu/Sirca Express (departure 4.30 am), Tica Bus (departure 6 and 7.30 am), Trans Nica (departure 4.30 5.30am and 9am).
Panama City (Panama). Cost between €18 and €30. Duration 15 hours. Departure at 10pm with the Tica Bus and at 1pm with Panaline.
San Salvador, El Salvador). Cost €30. Duration 48 hours. Departure 6 and 7.30 in the morning.
Tegucigalpa, Honduras). Cost €22.50. Duration 48 hours. Departure 6 and 7.30 in the morning.

National Buses

For central Costa Rica
Alajuela. Cost €0.40. Duration 40 minutes. Departure: every 15 minutes from 4.45am to 11pm
Carthage. Cost €0.35 Duration 40 minutes. Departure: every 5 minutes with Sacsa or every hour with Transtusa from 8am to 8pm.
Heredia. Cost €0.35. Duration 20 minutes. Departures every 20 minutes from 4.40am to 11pm.
Turrialba. Cost €1.40. Duration 1 hour and three quarters. Departures every hour from 8am to 8pm.
Irazù Volcano. Cost €3.20. Departure 8am only on weekends.
Poàs Volcano. Cost €3. Duration 5 hours. Departure 8.30 in the morning

For the central Pacific coast
Dominical (from the Coca Cola bus station). Cost €3.20. Duration 6 and a half hours. Departure 1.30pm and 4.00pm.
Jacò (transportes Jacò from the Coca Cola bus station). Cost €1.70. Duration 3 hours. Departure at 7.30am, 10.30am, 1pm, 3.30pm, 6.30pm.
Puntarenas (United Businessmen). Cost €1.70. Duration 2 hours and a quarter. Numerous buses from 6am to 7pm.
Quepos/Manuel Antonio (Transportes Morales from the Coca Cola station). Cost €2.80. Duration 4 hours. Departures at 6.00, 7.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 and 18.00.
Uvita, via Dominical (Transportes Morales from Coca Cola station). Cost €3.20. Duration 7 hours. Departure at 6.00am and 3.00pm.

For the Nicoya Peninsula
Nicoya (Alfaro Company). Cost €3.20. Duration 5 hours. Departure at 6.00, 6.30, 8.00, 10.00, 10.30, 12.30, 1.30, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 5.00, 6.30 pm.
Coco Beach (Pullmitan). Cost €3.30. Duration 5 hours. Departure at 8.00, 14.00 3 16.00.
Playa Nosara (Alfaro Company). Cost €3.20. Duration 7 hours. Departure at 6.00 in the morning.
Samara Beach (Alfaro Company). Cost €3.20. Duration 5 hours. Departure at 12.30.
Tamarindo Beach (Alfaro Company). Cost €3.20. Duration 5 hours. Departure at 11.00 and 15.30.
Santa Cruz. Cost €3.20. Duration 4 and a quarter hours. Departure at 7.00, 10.00, 10.30, 12.00, 13.00 and 16.00 with the Tralapa company. Departure at 6.30, 8.00, 10.00, 1.30, 15.00 and 17.00 with the Empresa Alfaro company.

For the north west of Costa Rica and the plain
White hair. Cost €1.80. Duration 3 and a quarter hours. Hourly departures with the Tralapa company.
Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos). Cost €1.80. Duration 2 hours and a half. Hourly departures from 5.00 to 19.00.
La Fortuna (San Carlos Terminal). Cost €1.80. Duration 4 and a half hours. Departure at 6.15, 8.40 and 11.30.
Liberia. Cost €3.20. Duration 4 hours. Hourly departures from 6.00 to 19.00.
Los Chiles (border with Nicaragua). San Carlos Terminal. Cost €2. Departures 5.30am and 3.30pm.
Monteverde/Santa Elena (San Carlos Terminal). Cost €3. Duration 4 and a half hours. Departure at 6.30am and 2.30pm. Book this bus in advance as it fills up very quickly.
Peñas Blanca, border with Nicaragua. Cost €3.20. Duration 4 and a half hours. Departure at 4.00, 5.00, 7.00, 7.30, 10.30, 1.20, 16.00. Every 15 minutes from 3am to 4pm on weekends.
Old Port of Sarapiquì. Cost €1.50. Duration 1 hour and a half. Departure at 7.30am, 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6pm.
They will pull. Cost €2.50. Duration 4 hours. Departure at 7.30am, 9.30am, 12.45pm, 2.45pm, 6.30pm.

For the Caribbean Coast
These buses all depart from Terminal Caribe.
Cahuita. Cost €4.50. Duration 3 and three quarter hours. Departure at 6.00, 10.00, 1.30, 15.30
Cariari for the transfer to Tortuguero. Cost €1.50. Duration 2 hours and a quarter. Departure at 6.30, 9.00, 10.30, 13.00, 15.00, 16.30, 18.00, 19.00.
Guapiles. Cost €1.20. Duration 1 hour and a quarter. Hourly departures from 6.30am to 7pm.
Old Port of Talamanca. Cost €5.20. Duration 4 and a quarter hours. Departure at 6.00, 10.00, 1.30, 15.30.
Sixaola, border with Panama. Cost €6.70. Duration 5 hours. Departure at 6.00am, 10.00am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm

For the south coast of Costa Rica and the Peninsula de Osa
Neily City. Cost €6.00. Duration 7 hours. Departure at 5.00, 7.30, 11.00, 13.00, 16.30, 18.00.
Golfito. Cost €6.00. Duration 8 hours. Departure at 7.00 and 15.00.
North Palmar. Cost €3.50. Duration 5 hours. Departure at 5.00, 7.00, 8.30, 10.00, 13.00, 14.30, 18.00.
Paso Canoas (border with Panama). Cost €6.50. Duration 7 and a quarter hours. Departure at 5.00, 7.30, 11.00, 13.00, 16.30, 18.00.
Puerto Jimenez. Cost €4.60. Duration 8 hours. Departure at 6.30am and 3.30pm.
St. Isidore of The General. Cost €2.20. Duration 3 hours. Hourly departure from 5.30am to 6.30pm