Costa Rica Public Transportation – Bus Schedules and driving times

Mostly, Costa Rica public transportation system works really well from San Jose to all destinations. If you are planning to travel Costa Rica by public buses here you will find the main routes from San Jose city. Also, please take note of safety tips we want to share. Only for safety reasons:

• Bus Stops are busy places. Never leave your baggage unattended.
• Keep an eye on your belongings all time.
• Never, NEVER, allow other people to help you when storing your baggage, do it yourself.
• If you are traveling with your passport, license, credit card, cameras, Laptops, Ipods, Cell Phone or any other documents or equipments, always carry it with you.
• Good tip is to have a copy of your passport, credit card, flight ticket, and license

San Jose to surrounding towns / San Jose to:

Alajuela and Juan Santamaría International Airport

TUASA, runs every 5 minutes from 5am – 11pm from Parque de la Merced, price ¢400.00 (aprox. $0.68). 35 minutes ride
Station Wagon, runs every 5 minutes 24 hours from Parque de la Merced, price ¢400.00 (aprox. $0.68). 35 minutes ride

• Poas Volcano

TUASA, leaves at 08:30 from Monday to Sunday. Returns at 3:30pm. price ¢3,370.00 (aprox. $5.81)

• Cartago

LUMACA, buses run every 5 minutes, 05:10 am to midnight from San Jose, 300 mts from La Caja, price ¢410.00 (aprox. $0.70). 40 minutes ride.

• Grecia

TUAN, buses run every 30 minutes, 05:35am -10:10pm from West side of Abonos Agro, Barrio Mexico, price ¢770.00 (aprox. $1.32). 45 minutes ride

• Turrialba

TRANSTUSA, runs regular service from service from 5:20 am to 10pm every hour. Buses leave from La Corte. price ¢1,100.00 (aprox. $1,90)

• Heredia

RAPIDITOS HEREDIANOS, Service from Calle I, Av 7-9. Daily, every 5 minutes, 05:25am to 12pm, price ¢320.00 (aprox. $0,55)

Destinations in the north

• Ciudad Quesada, Northern region

AUTO TRANSPORTES CIUDAD QUESADA, Buses leave every hour, 05am – 7:30pm from Calle 12, Ave 7. 3 hours ride, price ¢1,365 (aprox. $2,35)

• La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano

AUTO TRANSPORTES CIUDAD QUESADA, Buses leave at 06:15am – 08:40am and 11:30am pm from Calle 12, Ave 7. 3 hours ride, price ¢1,955 (aprox. $3,37)

• Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena

TRANSPORTES TILARAN, Buses run daily at 06:30am and 2:30pm from 600 mts north from Parque de la Merced, price ¢2,350.00 (aprox. $4,05)

Destinations in Guanacaste

• San Jose – Liberia

PULMITAN, runs a service every hour from 06:00am – 8:00pm from Calle 24, Ave 5-7, price ¢2,750 (aprox. $4,74) 4 hours ride

• San Jose – Santa Cruz

TRALAPA, runs a service at 07am, 09am and 11am, noon, then 1pm, 4pm, 4pm and 6pm from Calle 20, Av 5, price ¢4,160.00 (aprox. $7.17)

• San Jose – Cañas

TRANSPORTES LA CANERA, Buses leave at 08:30 and 10:30am, 12:30pm, 1:40pm, 2:30 pm and 4:45pm.

• San Jose – La Cruz Penas Blancas

TRANSPORTES DELDU,  buses leave at 04:00am, 05:00am, 07:00am, 09:00am and 10:00am. In the afternoon the buses leave at 1pm, 2pm, 4pm and last one at 7pm, price ¢3,100.00 (aprox. $5,34)

• San Jose – Tamarindo Beach

TRALAPA, there are only 2 buses leaving at 07:15am and 4pm from Calle 20, Av 5, price ¢4,370.00 (aprox. $7,53)

• San Jose – Coco Beach

PULMITAN, Bus leaves at 08:00am, 2pm and 4pm every day from Calle 24, Av 5-7, price $3,280.00 (aprox. $5,65)

• San Jose – Brasilito – Flamingo Beach – Potrero Beach

TRALAPA, bus to Brasilito and Flamingo leaves at 8am, 10:30am and 3pm from Calle 20, Av 5, price ¢4,795 (aprox. $8,26)

• San Jose – Junquillal Beach

TRALAPA, bus leaves at 2pm every day from Calle 20, Av 5, price ¢4,435.00 (aprox. $7,64)

Destinations on the Nicoya Peninsula

• San Jose – Nicoya

EMPRESA ALFARO, Buses leave at 7:30am, 10:00am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm from Ave 5 Calle 14, price ¢3,130 (aprox. $5,39)

• San Jose – Samara Beach

EMPRESA ALFARO, Buses leave at 12:00 everyday from Ave 5 Calle 14, price ¢3,580 (aprox. $6,17)

• San Jose – Tamarindo Beach

EMPRESA ALFARO, Buses leave at 11:30 and 3:30pm everyday from Ave 5 Calle 14, price ¢4,360 (aprox. $7,51)

• San Jose – Nosara Beach

EMPRESA ALFARO, Bus leaves at 05:30 everyday from Ave 5 Calle 14, price ¢3,845 (aprox. $6,62)

Destinations to Pacific Coast

• San Jose – Puntarenas

EMPRESARIOS UNIDOS,  Bus service every hour, every day from Ave 10th & 12th, Calle 16, price ¢1,720 (aprox. $2,86)

• San Jose – Jaco Beach

TRANSPORTES JACO, Bus leaves at 7:00am, 09:00am, 11:00am and 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm from Coca Cola Terminal, price ¢1,970 (aprox. $3,40)

• San Jose – Quepos – Manuel Antonio Beach

TRANSPORTES DELIO MORALES, Buses leave at 06:00am, 09:00am, noon, 2:30pm and last one at 7:00pm, from La Coca Cola Terminal, price ¢3,700 (aprox. $6,40)

Destinations along the Caribbean Coast

• San Jose – Braulio Carrillo National Park

EMPRESARIOS GUAPILEÑOS, bus leaves every at 05:30am, every half-hour from Gran Terminal del Caribe at the north end of Calle Central price ¢1,075 (aprox. $1,85)

• San Jose – Limon

TRANSPORTES CARIBEÑOS, bus leaves every hour at 05:30am to 7pm from Gran Terminal del Caribe, price ¢2,470 (aprox. $4,25)

• San Jose – Cahuita – Puerto Viejo – Sixaola

TRANSPORTES MEPE, Buses leave at 06:00am, 10am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm every day from Gran Terminal del Caribe, price ¢3,250 (aprox. $5,60)

Southern Pacific Destinations

• San Jose – San Isidro del General & Chirripo National Park

MUSOC, Bus leaves at 05:30am, 07:30am, 10:30am and 11:30am, then 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm and 5pm from Calle 16 Av 1 & 3, price ¢

• San Jose -Palmar Norte

TRACOPA-ALFARO, Bus leaves at 05:00am, 07:00am, 08:30am and 10:30am then at 1pm, 2:30pm and 6pm from Calle 5 Av 18 & 20, price ¢4,550 (aprox. $7,84)

• San Jose – Paso Canoas (Panama Border)

TRACOPA-ALFARO, Bus leaves at 05:00am, and 11:00am then at 1pm, 4:30pm and 6pm from Calle 5 Av 18 & 20, price ¢6,100 (aprox. $10,51)

• San Jose – Golfito

TRACOPA-ALFARO, Bus leaves at 05:00am, 07:00am, and 3pm from Calle 5 Av 18&20, price ¢5,800 (aprox. $10.00)

• San Jose – San Vito & Wilson Botanical Garden

TRACOPA-ALFARO, Bus leaves at 05:45am, 08:15am, and 12:00 from Calle 5 Av 18 & 20, price ¢5,505 (aprox. $9,50)