Buses in Costa Rica

there is an extensive bus system in costa rica. this is the way that most costa ricans travel. all the buses are owned by private companies and they usually specialize in one route or one area.

for more information on schedules -- [www.thebusschedule.com]

for distances and travel times - [www.yourtravelmap.com]

if you use the bus schedule site, keep in mind that there are some shortcuts. for instance, if you look at the bus schedule from point a to point b, it may look time consuming and complicated. but in many instances, you can just get off the bus someplace and catch up with another bus going your way.

most buses are not air conditioned and some are in better shape than others. you won't find many "chicken buses" - in fact, no animals at all are allowed on buses in costa rica and nothing and no one gets put on top of the bus.

if you have some places in mind that you want to go, let me know and i will try to help you.

This isn't too bad either.http://www.costaricabybus.com/ but it isn't free. Almost all these online sources are sometimes....inconsistent with reality and are no means comprehensive. Once you get out and do it an exciting and fascinating world of transport is just a short broken sidewalk away.

A bus will take you, at a fraction of the cost, anywhere a shuttle or tourist transfer will go....almost.http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Df4fu-NwV2I/0.jpg

paul - i think the busschedule site is more accurate. the costaricabybus is ok - but - they are obviously trying to sell you a book and some of the information there is incomplete or not accurate. ex: the description of bus stations in alajuela that completely ignores the la radial bus station where so many of the buses going north stop.

i do really like your description that begins "Once you....."

what a great photo! excellent!! thanks for my laugh of the day.

Edited by: wiremu

Just be sure to route your trip via the main bus hubs, crisscrossing the country can mean multiple connections and long days. Many areas are remote, like Tortuguero, Corocvado and Cano Negro, all a must see IMO, with Celeste Waterfalls and Rincon if your trek.

Is there much robbery problems on Costa Rican buses. I travel light with money belt around my waist.

No. You need to keep an eye on your backpack in bus belly when it stops, the main issue. Though local busses on short routes you can put with you. There is isolated cases very rare of bandits holding up busses, last one was a few years ago on busses to from boat for Tortuguero and effected a few foreigners. The odds of that are the same as being struck by lightning.

Solohobo The odds of that are the same as being struck by lightning. I wouldn't taunt that idea, odds are to high nowadays.

johnsuth -- the issue with theft on buses is when someone puts a small pack - like a day pack - in the overhead rack and then sits down and falls asleep. it is all too easy for a thief to just grab their pack and walk out with it at a bus stop. if you are a foreigner, thieves will often assume that you are carrying stuff worth stealing.

almost all buses will have a compartment underneath where you can put your larger bag/s. some bus companies will give you a receipt for your bags - others don't. if you have more than one bag, it is easy to just clip the two together, thus making it harder for a thief to remove your bag at a bus stop. you can also bring a small bicycle lock and lock a single bag to something in the compartment. otherwise, you can sit on the starboard side of the bus (the side opposite the driver) and you can watch if the compartment is opened at a bus stop.

bus travel is safe, inexpensive (example -- from alajuela where the airport is located to liberia is a four hour trip and costs about 3000 colones or about $6) and pretty easy.

forget the lightning thing.

Ok, lets say the odds of your bag being stolen is the same as giving a stranger money to go buy rum and he returns with rum, and the change.