Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica and wondering what public transportation here is like? Or do you live in Costa Rica and find it hard to navigate the bus system? Well, let us tell you all about it! Having lived and traveled in Costa Rica for more than 3 years now, we can proudly say that we have cracked the code for using public transportation in Costa Rica. Well, it took a lot of research and asking around, but it was worth it! The public transport here is not one of the best in the world, but it is cheap and gets you to your destination! Moreover, you get to experience life as a local. And if you are a solo traveler, this is probably the only option that best suits your budget and needs.
Unlike many other countries, where there is a well-developed train, metro, and bus system, Costa Rica has a semi-developed bus system only. Therefore, we will only talk about the bus system in detail in our blog. Towards the end, we will also list some tips for staying safe on bus journeys. So, let’s begin!
What You Should Know About The Public Transportation In Costa Rica
Multiple privately owned bus companies
Unlike other countries, where buses are run by the government or one company, buses in Costa Rica are owned by different private companies. These companies decide their own bus routes, fares, timings, stops, etc, and even have private bus terminals. Some of the popular bus companies in Costa Rica are Tracopa, Transmonteverde, Transportes Jaco, Pulmitan de Liberia, Transportes Inteligente Guanacaste, Mepe, Transportes Venecia San Carlos, and many more.
Bus terminals
So here comes the tricky part. There is no single bus stop for catching the bus to your destination. As mentioned earlier, many private companies operate buses to popular destinations, so most of them have their own terminals. It requires some “thorough research” to find out the terminal for your bus. You can either look them up on Google, check their FB page, or call them up directly. But, there are a few operators that don’t have a private bus terminal. Let me explain it to you in detail. So you need to go to La Fortuna, and you find out that Transportes Venecia San Carlos runs buses on that route. Now, there is no direct website for this company. A normal Google search with the name shows you results for Terminal 7-10. On opening the link, you will notice that many companies are running their buses from this terminal. So you can check out their address or search for Terminal 7-10 on Waze or Google Maps.
It doesn’t end here. Some bus terminals are even inside a restaurant. For example, the bus stop at Puerto Viejo and the one at La Pavona is inside a restaurant. Now you know why we emphasized “thorough research”!One helpful tip - The bus station is called “La Parada” in Spanish. So if you are unable to find the bus stop, get lost, or are clueless as to where the bus stop is, just ask someone “Donde esta la parada de autobus?”
Our recommendation - Always board the bus from the starting point. For example, you are staying in Alajuela and you see in the schedule that the bus stops in Alajuela to pick up passengers after leaving from San Jose. We say it’s better to go to San Jose to catch the bus. One reason is that if you are not a fluent speaker of Spanish, you may not clearly understand the exact location the bus will stop. This happened to us when we were going to Monteverde. We ended up missing our bus due to a misunderstanding in the boarding point. The bus stopped just 100 meters from where we were standing in Cariari. Also, the bus may get delayed due to some reasons, and you may end up standing at the boarding point for hours without a clue as to why the bus hasn’t come. If you are at the starting point of the bus, you can at least ask someone for updates.
Purchasing the tickets
We strongly recommend purchasing the tickets in advance, if possible. During tourist season or in cases where there is only one bus per day to a destination, you may not get tickets at the last moment. If you are going on an unfamiliar route, we suggest you call the bus operator and ask how you can purchase the tickets.
Now, there are numerous ways of purchasing tickets - online, over the counter, or from the bus driver. Some operators have well-maintained websites allowing you to book your tickets directly (for example, Transportes Jaco). While some have partnered with third-party applications that facilitate online purchases (for example, Tracopa).
Some operators do not provide a facility for booking the tickets online, so they will ask you to buy the tickets from the counter (for example, MEPE). Some may even tell you to buy your ticket directly from the bus driver when you are boarding the bus.
Bus conditions & facilities
Unlike countries in Europe or South America, where you will find recliner seats, TV screens, ample leg space, and restrooms inside the bus, buses in Costa Rica are quite basic. More importantly, bus conditions and facilities vary from company to company, and sometimes even from bus to bus. Not all buses are the same!
Most of the buses here have an air conditioner and ample storage space in the overhead compartment. But we have also been in buses that didn’t have an air conditioner or a charging point and the seats were in poor condition. Sometimes, the overhead compartment wouldn’t even fit a backpack!
Having said that, it’s better to set your expectations right when planning to travel by bus in Costa Rica.
Ticket fares
The bus fare, of course, depends on the distance you are traveling. It can be as low as 1$ and go up to $12-15$ for very long distances. If you buy your tickets online, you pay an additional charge as booking fees and taxes. For example, Tamarindo is around 250 kms from San Jose, and the bus ticket costs around 6,895 colones or 13$ with Transportes Inteligente Guanacaste.
Mode of payment
Please don’t rely on credit cards when traveling by bus in Costa Rica. Unless you are purchasing your tickets online! If you are planning to purchase the tickets from the counter or the bus driver, carry enough cash with you. Even better, keep enough small bills.
Direct and multiple stops buses
Depending on the route you are taking, or the distance of the journey, your bus may or may not stop on the way. Long-distance buses (i.e. journeys of more than 3 hours) usually stop for a food and restroom break. Any journey shorter than that may not include a break. For example, when we went to Jaco from San Jose, the bus journey took around 3 hours and there were no stops along the way.
Another helpful tip is to find out if the bus is “directo” or “colectivo”. “Directo” means that the bus will have no stops along the way except for the food break. “Collectivo” means that the bus will make multiple stops taking you through small towns, and passengers can board and deboard the bus at these stops. “Directo” buses are much faster, while “colectivo” buses take quite long to reach your destination.
Luggage compartment
Almost all buses have an overhead compartment and a luggage compartment under the bus. You can keep backpacks and small bags in the overhead compartment. To keep your bigger bags in the luggage compartment, you have to get in the queue at the bus station. The driver or a helper will take the luggage from you, write a number on it with chalk, and give you a ticket with the same number. You have to show this ticket when you are collecting your bag at the destination.In our experience, honestly, this ticket was given to us only one or two times. They generally just take the bag from you and keep it. At your destination, you will just point out your bag to them and they will fetch it for you. This is exactly why we don’t recommend keeping valuables in that compartment!
Some Popular Bus Routes & Companies
Since San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica, you will find bus terminals for all popular bus companies there. And almost all buses start from San Jose. So, let’s take a look at some of the popular Costa Rica bus routes and the bus companies that operate on the route.
San Jose to Monteverde
Transmonteverde - http://transmonteverde.com/
San Jose to La Fortuna
Transportes Venecia San Carlos - https://mibus.cr/
San Jose to Liberia & Playas del Coco
Pulmitan de Liberia - https://mibus.cr/
San Jose to Liberia, Tamarindo & Flamingo
Transportes Inteligente - https://tiguanacaste.com/
San Jose to Nicoya, Nosara & Samara
Transportes Inteligente - https://tiguanacaste.com/
San Jose to Jaco
Transportes Jaco - http://transportesjacoruta655.com/
Tracopa - https://www.tracopacr.com/ (Book on Passer app)
San Jose to Manuel Antonio & Quepos
Tracopa - https://www.tracopacr.com/ (Book on Passer app)
San Jose to Uvita & Dominical
Tracopa - https://www.tracopacr.com/ (Book on Passer app)
San Jose to Cahuita, Puerto Viejo & Manzanillo
MEPE - https://www.mepecr.com/ (tickets from counter)
Safety Tips For Using Public Transportation in Costa Rica
As anywhere else in the world, you need to be on your guard and alert at all times while using public transport in Costa Rica. Below are a few things that you need to keep in mind for Costa Rica safety.
Always keep an eye on your belongings. When waiting at the bus station, do not ask a stranger to watch your bag. Carry your belongings with you if you have to go somewhere and there is no one to watch your stuff.
Do not keep valuables in the overhead compartment when sitting inside the bus. Thieves are looking for an opportunity to steal your bag and deboard the bus.
Keep the valuables with you at all times. If you are planning to store your luggage in the luggage compartment under the bus, make sure there are no valuables inside.
Do not flash your pricey belongings inside the bus. You do not want to alert potential thieves of the expensive stuff you are carrying.
When getting off the bus, be extra cautious of your stuff. A lousy grip can cost you a fortune!
When you have reached your destination, do not agree to ride with a stranger. Always take an official taxi (red-colored taxi with a yellow triangle) or book a cab from an app on your phone (Uber, Didi, etc).
We sincerely hope that we have made using public transportation in Costa Rica easier for you with this blog. Once you get used to it, it’s not that difficult at all. Just a bit of planning, research, and patience is all you need and you are all set for your Costa Rica travel!