Hi, in San Juan Del Sur today. Want to head on to Costa Rica tomorrow and trying to figure out the best way to do it and what our travel options could be once we hit somewhere like Liberia. Have about 2 weeks or maybe less to do Costa Rica and then head to Bocas del Toro. Definitely want to spend some time surfing in Mal Pais, will have to head through San Jose at some stage but dont know whether we should try to get on a Tica Bus direct to San Jose and head to Mal Pais from there or whether we should try to go cross country from Liberia. Also, would it make sense to do Arenal or Monteverde on the way down from Liberia towards San Jose or should we do it on the way back from Mal Pais going to the Caribbean side? Any suggestions / experience would be greatly appreciated!
Go to the border with a taxi . Taxi are very cheap in Nicaraga. Cross the border and take a public bus in direction San Jose, change on the highway at the junction for Puntarenas, take ferry to Paquera. A bus for Montezuma, go off in Cobano and take the last 10 km a taxi or when available a shuttle.
Saludos
costaklaus
If you're going to Bocas via land, that means crossing on the Caribe border and you should definitely budget some time for the Puerto Viejo area before crossing into Panama at Sixaola... You could go to Arenal or Monteverde by jumping of a southbound bus from Liberia at Canas, but making the connection to Tilaran and Monteverde/or Arenal will be a pain since the buses are limited... Best bet is probably just to go to Mal Pais first and then figure it out from there. You could go from Mal Pais to Monteverde, then go to Arenal, and from there take the 3.5 hour bus to San Jose where you can transfer for your bus to Puerto Viejo. It'll all make sense once you're in-country and talking with other people who are traveling around...
Say hi to Wendy!
Why Mal Pais...thats a major haul for your trip to caribe side, without it you could get off bus at Santa Elena for Monterverde, then jeep/boat/jeep to Arenal, then go to San Jose, then to Pt Viejo a few days, then over border via Hone Creek>Bribri.
If Mal Pais is the end all for ya. take the water taxi from Montezuma to jaco, then bus to Puntarenas and Santa Elena, and and so on. Its a major pain getting to Mal Pais, and back...no matter how you slice it.
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