Bus Ride to Caribbean Coast

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katielane18
katielane18

Hello! My friend and I are traveling to Costa Rica in October (not the best time, I know) and plan on making a trip to the Caribbean side. We only have 8 days so we're mostly planning on hanging on some beaches and doing some hikes.

So, here's my question. My friend has terrible motion sickness and it's making her really worried about the bus ride from San Jose. We'll most likely be going to Cahuita and/or Puerto Viejo but we haven't done much specific planning yet. Mostly what she's worried about is mountainous roads with sheer drops and a lot of hairpin turns. How much of the trip from San Jose to those places is like that?

Thanks so much for any words of wisdom on the topic!

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mclarjh
mclarjh

If any traveler is at all concerned about motion sickness, I suggest taking dimenhidrinato before boarding. Cheap and effective.

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katielane18
katielane18
In response to #1

Thanks! I know she usually does take that but it doesn't seem to help too much. Do you know much about this route?

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greggo
greggo

It is not very windy at all. It goes up and then down to a long, flat, coastal plan. It is a 4 hour ride to Cahuita with a stop after 3 hours in Limon. As far as I know there are still no bathrooms on the bus. Leave on an early bus if you can. Fridays are busy.

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mclarjh
mclarjh

It's been some time since I traveled that route. But it is mountainous near San Jose, after that not so much, though even very rough roads eroded from rains or flooding can induce motion sickness.

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mstep
mstep

There is only about 1 hour when the road goes uphill and then downhill, right after you leave San Jose. Then the road flattens out and straightens out too. They say the acidity from sour patch candy shocks the system and weakens the effects of motion sickness.

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mclarjh
mclarjh

I often skip a meal before boarding a bus through the mountains.

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acmashley1989
acmashley1989

By bus it was a 4 hour drive. The first hour is a mountainous but after that its all flat. Bus stopped in Limon then went onto Cahuita. Get to the bus station a little early to buy your ticket as when we got there 20mins early all the seats were sold and there was standing room only...that wasn't the funnest ride standing...

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katielane18
katielane18

Thank you all so much for all the great info! I really appreciate it.

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arrozconmango
arrozconmango
In response to #8

I am going from SJ to Cahuita at the end of Oct. I find the shuttle buses a smoother and more comfortable ride than the public bus. If you buy tickets for that you can ask them when you buy the tickets if your friend can have the front seat by the driver. That helps me with motion sickness.

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