Costa Rica Buses: Local Schedules

When you travel by Costa Rica bus, it will be either on a local Costa Rica bus or a private line such as Costa Rica Shuttle, Fantasy Bus and Interbus.


Private buses such as Fantasy will pick you up at your hotel and transport you to the main tourism areas in air-conditioned comfort and without stopping along the way. The $20 fare is well worth it on the longer trips, such as to Guanacaste. A 24-hour reservation is required, and may be made at most hotel tour agencies or the front desk

Local Bus Lines

The local bus lines run most of the towns across Costa Rica, while the private ones mainly serve beach towns and inland tourism areas. It costs around $3 to go to Jaco, $5 to Quepos, and not much more to Guanacaste. You may purchase tickets in advance.


The big, new Marco Polo buses to Jaco, Quepos and Manuel Antonio are roomy and comfortable, with A/C. The Manuel Antonio directo usually has a restroom. But some of the others are not in such good shape and will take an hour or two longer in transit than the private lines. And those bound for the most remote places, such as Cahuita or Mal Pais, often turn out to be 1965 Blue Bird school buses that are still painted yellow.


If you are bound for Guanacaste or Arenal, we do not recommend anything less than one of the private bus lines: the six-hour or longer ride will beat you to death on a local. And if traveling with two or more others, a private van won't cost much more and will make your entire vacation more pleasant and memorable.


There is no direct bus service between Quepos and Jaco. The Quepos to San Jose buses will stop at Jaco if you inform the driver. The stop is on the highway, and it is about one mile walk to the north end of the beach (unless a taxi happens by).