Tilarán Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Tilarán is usually reached by a 24km paved road from the Interamericana at Cañas. The route on to Santa Elena and Monteverde is unpaved and rough, though ordinary cars can get through with care in the dry season.

Buses arrive and depart from the terminal, half a block west of Parque Central. Be aware that Sunday-afternoon buses to San José may be sold out by Saturday. The route between Tilarán and San José goes via Cañas and the Interamericana, not the Arenal–La Fortuna–Ciudad Quesada route. Buses offer regular service to the following locations:

Cañas US$0.50, 45 minutes, departs 5am, 6:40am, 7:30am, 8am, 10am, 11:30am and 3:30pm.

Ciudad Quesada, via La Fortuna US$2.50, four hours, 7am and 12:30pm.

Nuevo Arenal US$0.75, 1¼ hours, 5am, 6am, 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm.

Puntarenas US$2.50, two hours, 6am and 1pm.

San José (Auto-Transportes Tilarán) US$3.50, three hours, 4:45am, 7am, 9:30am, 2pm and 5pm.

Santa Elena US$1.75, three to four hours, 12:30pm.