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Transportation Information

Getting to the Puerto Viejo area is pretty easy. There are a number of different options for getting there from San José:

• The bus is the most economical option and is very inexpensive. Five daily directo buses leave from San Jose. View Schedule.

• Shared ride van services have door to door service. They have several daily departures from San Jose and Arenal to Puerto Viejo. View Schedule.

• You can also get a private transfer that will take you directly from San Jose Airport to Puerto Viejo at your schedule. View information.

• If you book a Rafting Trip they can pick you up in San Jose and leave you in Puerto Viejo at the end of the day (or vice-versa)! Kind of like getting your transportation for free. It also works to Arenal.

• Driving from San José takes about 4 hours (via the faster route) and there are two different routes possible. View Route Information.

• You can fly from San José to Limon and then take a bus or taxi to Puerto Viejo. View Info.

There are a number of options for getting around in the Puerto Viejo area:

• The area between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo is quite compact and mostly flat so a bicycle rental is an excellent option.

• Buses run frequently between Limon and Puerto Viejo and on to inland destinations such as Hone Creek, Bri Bri and Sixaola. View Schedule.

• Somewhat less frequently is the bus service between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.  View Schedule.

• Driving is easy enough although the roads aren't paved between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo and there's lots of pedestrian and bicycle traffic so take it slowly. A four-wheel-drive is not required though unless you take the back road to Sixaola.

• Taxis are available. View Taxi Info.

• Car Rentals are now available in the Puerto Viejo area. View Car Rental Info.

Getting to and from Bocas del Toro in Panama, an archipelago of islands just across the border:

• Local bus or Taxi to Sixaola, walk across the border, van shuttle to Almirante or Changuinola and then a boat (lancha) to Bocas town.  View details.

• Connect with the Bocasdeltorino bus service which stops in Hone Creek and Bri Bri and will take you all the way to the lancha dock. View details.

Buses to/from San Jose to Puerto Viejo

Buses for Puerto Viejo leave from the Caribe Sur Bus Terminal located on Calle Central about 8 blocks North of the Parque Central. Caution: there are two towns called Puerto Viejo that you can catch a bus to from this terminal. You want Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (also known as Puerto Viejo de Limon). The bus company that goes there is Transportes Mepe and their ticket office is at the end of the terminal. Ticket prices are about $8US for this approximately 4 1/2 hour trip and the bus makes one 20 minute stop in Limon for bathrooms and something to eat. Schedule is below. 

If the express bus schedule does not meet your needs, you can also take one of the very frequent buses to Limon (2 1/2 hours) and then transfer there to a bus heading to Puerto Viejo which will take another 1 1/2 hours or so. Before you head to Limon though, make sure there will be a connecting bus to Puerto Viejo otherwise you'll be stuck in Limon overnight or taking a taxi. You can also save about $3 going this route. Note that in Limon you will need to transfer from the main bus terminal where the San José buses arrive to the Puerto Viejo terminal which is a few blocks away. If bogged down with luggage it would be best to take a taxi which would cost no more than $1.

Transportes Mepe direct service between San José and Puerto Viejo:

Transportes Mepe service between Limon and Puerto Viejo:

The above buses come into Puerto Viejo and then return to the highway and continue to Bri Bri and Sixaola. However, Several buses a day from Limon also continue past Puerto Viejo towards Manzanillo and service the beach communities of Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo:

Tickets for Transportes Mepe buses are only available at the Bus Terminals. In San Jose at the Caribe Sur, in Puerto Viejo at the bus stop (locate it on map) and in Cahuita at the bus stop. In peak season, we recommend you buy your ticket at least one day in advance. From San José to Puerto Viejo, seats are reserved so please look for your assigned seat number on your ticket.  On the way back, seats are not reserved so if seating is important to you, push your way to the front of the line!

Schedules are subject to change and do change sometimes based on weather conditions and demand. Confirm the schedule when purchasing your ticket or call Transportes Mepe at San José : (506) 2257-8129, Limón : (506) 2758-1572, Puerto Viejo : (506) 2750-0023 to confirm (Spanish only generally).

Tourist shuttles to/from Puerto Viejo

For $35 US, transport is available in an air-conditioned van or mini-bus from San Jose via several companies. We have chosen to book clients on either Interbus or via Exploradores as we have found them the most reliable.

Interbus and Exploradores each make one daily trip from San Jose to Puerto Viejo and there are three trips daily back to San Jose. They will pick you up at your San José hotel or at an off-airport location and let you off directly at your hotel (almost) anywhere between Cahuita and Manzanillo (e.g. Cocles or Punta Uva).  

For $39 - $45 US, Interbus and Exploradores both also run daily shuttles between the Arenal Volcano area (La Fortuna is the name of the largest town but they'll deliver to all the area hotels and resorts).

Exploradores shuttles from San Jose or Arenal to the Caribbean include breakfast at their transfer point in Siquirres.

We can also book you on the full national network of Interbus. Click here to see the full Interbus schedule and rates for all of Costa Rica.

You must book these services in advance; some shuttles only run if there are enough people booked and they do often sell out at peak times. To book:

We DO NOT recommend you book directly with Interbus on their website as they make it very difficult/expensive to change or cancel reservations that were made on their website (see their terms here). If you make the reservation through the form on our site instead, you can change/cancel your reservation up to 48 hours in advance.

Other van shuttle services available from Gray Line Costa Rica and Easy Ride Costa Rica.  Note that Easy Ride is the only bus service which will transport a dog but rumor has it that they are not always reliable.

Private Van/Bus Transfer

If your schedule doesn't work with the shared ride van services schedules or you have 2 or more people or lots of luggage or animals to transport, you might consider hiring a van or bus with driver for a private transfer to Puerto Viejo or to anywhere in the country.  The company we use is very reliable and will pick you up right at the International Airport and bring you straight to your hotel - no stops for other passengers, no waiting for the scheduled time.

And it's surprisingly affordable: San Jose to Puerto Viejo is $160 for a 8 passenger van. When you compare that to a night in San Jose you didn't really want plus regular transfer service per person rates, you'll find it a great deal.  They also have 20 passenger luxury vans and 50 passenger buses. All are air-conditioned and comfortable.

We can book this for you too. You can browse rates for different destinations on our booking form or go ahead and make a reservation:

If you're planning to spend a night or two in San Jose before heading to the Caribbean, we can also help you with airport pickup from San Jose International Airport to your San Jose hotel. Note we use much bigger vehicles than the small taxis at the airport so this is a great option for groups or if you have lots of luggage (or if you have a pet). And isn't it nice to have someone waiting for you in arrivals?!

Getting to Puerto Viejo on the river?

Another option is to book a rafting trip on the Rio Pacuare, Rio Sarapiqui or Rio Renovacion. These all day trips are priced from $79 to $99 and they will pick you up in your choice of Puerto Viejo, San Jose or Arenal and drop you off in your choice! So it's kind of like getting your transportation for free! These trips run most days.

If you'd like more information on the rafting trip options or to have us book one for you, click to:

Leaving Puerto Viejo via Arenal, Tortugero or Bocas del Toro

Yet another option to get from Puerto Viejo is to book a multi-day package which includes transportation from Puerto Viejo to San Jose or Arenal. Our multi-day packages include transport from Puerto Viejo and give you the option of ending your trip in San Jose or Arenal (depending on the package). For example, our Bocas del Toro, Panama package can include a flight back to San Jose, our Tortugero package ends in San Jose and our Arenal Volcano package ends in Arenal. Check out all the options on our tours page.

Driving to/from San Jose to Puerto Viejo

Car Rental

Pick-up / drop-off the car: Pick-up: 12:00am1:00am2:00am3:00am4:00am5:00am6:00am7:00am8:00am9:00am10:00am11:00am12:00pm1:00pm2:00pm3:00pm4:00pm5:00pm6:00pm7:00pm8:00pm9:00pm10:00pm11:00pm JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 Drop-off: 12:00am1:00am2:00am3:00am4:00am5:00am6:00am7:00am8:00am9:00am10:00am11:00am12:00pm1:00pm2:00pm3:00pm4:00pm5:00pm6:00pm7:00pm8:00pm9:00pm10:00pm11:00pm JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 Car Type: 5 basic typesEconomyCompactIntermediateStandardFull SizePremiumLuxuryConvertibleStation WagonVanSport UtilityPickup TruckSpecialty

If you're considering renting a car and driving to Puerto Viejo,  all the major international car rental companies operate at or nearby San José International Airport as well as in downtown San José. Keep in mind that rates quoted online generally do not include any sort of insurance (which is sometimes even more than the rental rate) and that the car rental companies will definitely require proof of coverage elsewhere before agreeing to let you waive any insurance coverage they will sell you. 

Please also keep in mind that only one car rental company, the Costa Rican company Poas, currently has offices in the South Caribbean area so if you want to pick up or return your car in Puerto Viejo (they have offices in Hone Creek but will deliver cars to local hotels), that is your only choice.

There are two routes possible if you're driving:

Route 1: Via Guapiles, Siquirres, Limon

Driving to Puerto Viejo is really easy (except for road conditions at times). You will have to find the highway to Limon. It has easy access from downtown and once you are on that highway, it is almost impossible to get lost.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2:00pm in afternoon, you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers in driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines. Rain can be bad and there are potholes and people walking/cycling that you can not see very well.

You will first go through the mountains and will be very high up. It is likely that you will encounter fog (clouds) and rain. Please drive with your lights on. Half of the local drivers do not.

The drive through the mountains is beautiful. You will see many vistas and real rain forest jungle. As you are about to exit mountains into flat land (just after a bunch of ugly billboards) there is a restaurant on your right (usually with many trucks out front). It is called El Yugo and it is a very good local restaurant. In fact the many times I have driven this route, it is the best I have found. It is also a good break after about 1.5 hours into the trip.

The road from there to Limon (approx 2 hrs) is practically straight with no hills. It is small towns and banana plantations. Please note there are many trucks as Limon is a port city and this is the truck route. Also note, you will see a sign or two for Puerto Viejo on the way to Limon. This is not the correct Puerto Viejo. You have to reach Limon and drive down coast. Also note on this stretch, there are many speed traps and local cops love foreigners as it can mean a free lunch.

When you hit Limon, just before you enter city centre you will see a sign (at the Texaco Station) where you turn right to go to Puerto Viejo. If you need gas, this is a good place to get it. There are no “legal” gas stations in Puerto Viejo. From that sign you just follow the coast all the way down (approx 1 hour). The drive is beautiful but mind the pot holes.

After about 1 hour of driving, you will come to the little town of Hone Creek. At that point the main paved road continues on to the Panama border at Sixaola and a gravel road heads about 5 km into Puerto Viejo. Just before Puerto Viejo you will find Playa Negra. To get to the communities of Cocles. Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo, drive through Puerto Viejo and continue following the beach road.

Route 2 - Via Cartago, Turrialba, Siquirres, Limon

This route is mentioned for the convenience of more experienced drivers who would like to take a different route or who are starting their trip from the eastern part of the Central Valley (such as from Cartago). It is a very scenic route and the roads are some of the best in the country.

Again, once you find the highway to Turrialba, it would be difficult to get lost but you will need to navigate to Cartago and onto the Turrialba highway first. It would be simpler in the other direction though as there are more signs pointing towards San José. From San José to Puerto Viejo by this route takes a little longer, perhaps 5 hours.

There are several signs in San Jose pointing you towards Cartago, and several signs on the way to Cartago. If you stay on the main road leading into Cartago and go until the street ends (you will have just passed the Basilica - a very large, beautiful church) on your left. You would turn right at the stop sign and then left at the next stop sign (100 meters). This is the road to Paraiso. You'll continue on about 6km before you reach the center of Paraiso, marked by the usual church and park. Once you reach the stop light at the corner of the park, you'll continue one block and take a left. You'll see signs pointing you towards Turrilalba.

This beautiful, windy road will lead you directly into Turialba. It will take you about 1 hour and 20 minutes from downtown Cartago, or 1 hour from Paraiso. Once you are at the bottom of the very steep hill and you enter the actual town of Turrilalba, you'll want to stay on that main street (many people will be turning left) until it looks like the street is ending (several blocks). You will see signs for Limon telling you to turn left. At the next street light, maybe 2 blocks ahead, you'll turn right, again following the sign to Limon.

This continues on another windy and scenic road. After about 30-minutes you'll come to the outskirts of the town of Siquirres. You'll see a sign on your right telling you to go straight ahead for Siquirres or to turn left to go to "San Jose 99km." Take this left. (The sign to Limon has been stolen.) Once you turn left, you are brought around a circle and are dumped out at a very major road. Go left to head to Limon. One hour later you'll find yourself in downtown Limon.

Flying to Limon

There is no airport in Puerto Viejo but one can fly from San Jose to Limon and then continue on via bus or Taxi to Puerto Viejo (a little more than an hour further).  The two Costa Rican domestic airlines use small turboprop planes.

Nature Air flies from both San José's Pavas Airport (this is NOT the main international airport) and Bocas del Toro, Panama to Limon. Flights are not always daily though so check the Nature Air website for current schedules. 

The other domestic airline, Sansa, flies from a separate terminal at the main international airport. Although their route map shows San José to Limon flights, no flights have been scheduled yet but check the Sansa website for current information.

Local transport in the Caribe Sur

Local Bus for transport between Cahuita, Hone Creek, Puerto Viejo, Cocles. Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo:

Bike and Scooter Rental

Many Hotels rent bicycles. If your hotel doesn't have bike rentals available, there are several options in downtown Puerto Viejo. Just ask around or look for the bike racks outside and signs. Make sure you always lock your bike.

Several places in town also rent scooters.

Taxi

Several taxis operate in Puerto Viejo. You should be able to find a Taxi in downtown Puerto Viejo (for example from the main bus stop to your hotel). If you're not in Puerto Viejo and need to call a taxi, ask a local establishment to call one for you. Note that taxis in Puerto Viejo are not metered so you should agree on a fare with the driver before getting in.  One of the taxi associations supplied us with a price list, so this should be used as a guideline. Prices are in Costa Rican colones (approximately 500c to the US$):