Buses in Costa Rica

I am wanting to travel cheaply through Costa Rica. How is the bus system? Is it easy to navigate?

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.

i don't get your mathematical analogy, solohobo.

i have been riding the buses all over the country (and out of and into the country) for almost 12 years and have had only one thing stolen: the backpack i put in the overhead bin and then promptly fell asleep. my own stupid fault. i have put stuff in the overhead, under my feet, in my lap, in the aisle, in the space normally reserved for wheelchairs, in the seat next to me and underneath in the storage compartment with nary a problem.

as you have said before many times, a little common sense goes a long way when traveling around. (including not giving a stranger money. )

Wiremu,

I am saying the odds of a bandit hitting the bus, or getting something stolen, is slim.

Thank you all for your help. I am wanting to go to La Fortuna, Monte Verde, Montezuma, and then probably back to San Jose. I only have 11 days and really want to make the most of it, while being able to relax at the same time.
I am thinking of taking a horse from La Fortuna to Monte Verde. Do you know anything about doing something like this? I realize the bus would be cheaper, but from what I understand it is a 9 hour ride by bus. I think the scenery and experience would be amazing by horse.

Arenal to Monteverde there is both a shuttle service with Interbus/Grayline for $35, or a Jeep/Boat/Jeep for aound $20 ish, allow 4 hours for either.

A Horse in rainy season, is not for everyone, but its a pretty ride.

the horse trip from la fortuna to monteverde is great. you can check here

[www.monteverdeinfo.com] or here[www.arenal.net] and i think you can find out more about it.

but... it is not a 9-hour bus trip. check here
[www.thebusschedule.com]

Hi Wendell,

I can offer advice on the Monteverde - Montezuma leg of your journey. There is a direct bus that goes from Monteverde (not sure of times) to Puntarenas. From the bus station in Puntarenas get a short taxi ride ($4) to the ferry and on the other side, the Montezuma bus will be waiting.

If the direct bus times do not suit your schedule, let me know and I can tell you about the local public bus alternative.

Check the current Puntarenas - Paquera ferry times as they do change - phone 26612084. But definitely right now there are ferries at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm (I did the trip last week)

As was said by others for security - just keep an eye out when they unload the under storage compartments. Cobano, 7km before Montezuma is a big changeover, and also keep watch on your overhead stuff, or put it between your feet. Otherwise the buses are perfectly safe. Do keep close watch on your things in bus stations too.

Do you know where you are staying in Montezuma? Because if it is outside town, the bus can drop you before the actual town to save you a trek uphill.

Feel free to send me a private message about that part of your journey or Montezuma in general.

Happy Travels!

What is the best way to get from San Jose to San Juan del Sur and what roughly is the cost? Thanks

Getting to San Juan Del Sur from San Jose you have many options. But it would much easier to fly into Liberia (LIR) as its two hours from Nica border and has busses hourly from Liberia to border and back from 6am to 4pm.

That said there is King Quality, TicaBus to Managua. You would need to get off at Rivas Nicaragua, 30 minutes north of CR/Nica border.

Steve interesting remark, the Yellowbrick is not always on here, this manner of phishing for business on the Forum is similar to Ballardo/Jaguarmans strategy. Though both these people we have realized are trustworthy I guess, its is a RED Flag, as posters and travelers could be lured onto scams, fraud or even dangerous set ups- all the while thinking the person sending the PM was a regular and can be trusted. I agree with you 100%. Now, I wonder what Wiremu's motive is here on the LP, as Wiremus has defended Ballardos and now Yellowbirck practices. I am flagging this post for the Moderators.

Scary!

johnsuth:

to deal with the destination first ---- not too far from the border, there is a turnoff for san juan del sur. you could get off the bus here and wait for a collectivo or other bus and flag that down to get to san juan del sur. if you want to do this, just tell your driver.

otherwise, go to rivas and take the bus from there.

you can take the public bus from san jose to penas blancas at the border. go through costa rican passport control and walk over to the nicaraguan side, go through nicaragua passport control (there is a small fee - around $10 or less) and then get a bus or taxi or collectivo for rivas or san juan del sur. getting a taxi will be relatively inexpensive and you will get several offers at the border. however, most of the taxis are more or less "piratas" so cars not in the best shape - but they will get you there.

you can take the ticabus, central line, nicabus, transnica or king quality bus -- all international buses with pretty much one or two stops between san jose and the border. air conditioned and with a toilet on board - but more expensive. once again, you can tell your driver to let you off at the intersection for san juan del sur or just get off in rivas.

if you take the international bus and want to get off in rivas, you will have to walk or take a taxi from the panamerican highway to the bus station.

all the international buses have websites. for public bus check here [www.thebusschedule.com]

solohobo-- i am laughing so hard at your "scary!" thing. thanks for my laugh of the day.

while your warning, in general, is appropriate, i can't see that it applies to either ballardo or yellabrick. of course, i could be wrong - they could be one of those guys that interpol is looking for who ran online poker operations. really...... come on.

i have to wonder why you haven't flagged/tagged or reported all the other thinly disguised posts that come from people with a business interest who will often just write something out of a guide book and then put in either an email or website that points to their business.

i have no business or connection with any business in costa rica and do not get little gratuities or freebies of any sort from anyone that i happen to recommend.

so funny.......

and... if you read what yellabrick wrote, it was
"...Do you know where you are staying in Montezuma? Because if it is outside town, the bus can drop you before the actual town to save you a trek uphill.

Feel free to send me a private message about that part of your journey or Montezuma in general."

perhaps yellabrick was just trying not to have a one-on-one "conversation" on the forum with someone about the details of their trip.

Edited by: Andreas_at_LP

Exactly. Seems to be much ado about nothing so I've quickly edited here and there to enable you all to get back to the topic of Buses in Costa Rica

cheers
Andreas

Rent a car in Fortuna, drive to Tilaran. Take Quebrada Grande to Santa Elena and continue to Monteverde.
Fortuna to Monteverde. 3 hours with fantastic views and cool sodas/bars to get a drink or snack.
I actually live here ( 24 years)

yes

wiremus--Thanks for the information you gave. Seems useful. Did not quite understand what all the other posts were about and being scary.

johnsuth: you're welcome. hoping you have a great trip. yeah, i didn't understand either but glad you got some useful information.

Andreas, thank you for being at least semi-transparent about the fact that editing was done.

"Phishing" (used in #17) is a loaded term that I don't think was used fairly there. It's not synonymous with fishing.

Back to the regularly scheduled programming.

Happy that my entire post was removed instead of only segments.
I wouldn't change anything that I wrote though.
The #20 post had remarks about me hardly contributing anything of value that was also removed.
I would have liked to have had the chance to reply. Not many questions are asked about my area in Costa Rica, but I try to give valuable info when someone does ask. I've given Titledflipcurves quite a bit of information including PMs with detailed directions,etc.
I prefer not posting if I haven't been to an area of Costa Rica for a few years.
I don't use hotels when I'm in Costa Rica, so limited as to what I can add.
That, and I'm not on ThornTree all day!

I apologize for hi-jacking your thread OP.
The bus system is great and very reliable in Costa Rica. Have a wonderful trip.

OK this is getting weird, those traveling to.... many countries including Laos and other Asian destination...or ....for sex..., should have a Neirosifilis exam before being allowed to replies on Lp, my five cents worth. Cheers.

Or Jaco for that matter.

Solohobo if you are still in the traveling business, our new policy is as follow:
Straitjackets are not supplied at Casa Girasol anymore, you're free to bring your own, please advise in advance for padded wall rooms. Same sex still in effect policy.... we do have very good shrinks, dentist and mortuary houses we can recommend. Please inquire at 1-800-lostguidebook ,We'll still pay you 20% commission.

So you still will not allow Gay couples at your Hotel? Me thinks you need the therapy...

All in good health Solohobo, all in good health, relax, Pura Vida we say here. Cheers Amigo, There are lots more inquiries coming up soon for trips for now Costa Rica will have a breath after a long busy holiday season.