La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

How to Get From La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

3Options
4h 30mFastest
$13From
ElaMaartenWritten by Ela · Reviewed by Maarten

Bus · Minivan · Private Transfer

Manuel Antonio pairs a stretch of protected rainforest with palm-lined Pacific beaches, about 129 kilometres (80 miles) south of La Fortuna. Sloths and monkeys move through the treetops. The bus is the cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio at $13 (5,900 CRC), but it's a long ride with several changes. The minivan runs direct for more money, taking 5h - 5h 30m.

DISTANCE

Distance from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio are about 129 km (80 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 214 km by road. Depending on the option, the trip takes between 4h 30m and 6h 30m.

~129 km
Straight-line distance
~214 km
Route distance
COMPARE

3 ways to travel from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

There are three ways to travel from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. You can choose between the bus, minivan, and private transport. The journey takes 4h 30m–6h 30m and the quickest way is by private transport. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $13 (5,900 CRC).

BusVia San RamonDuration6h 30mPricefrom$135,900 CRC

La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio by Bus

Travelling by bus will be exhausting because there are no direct buses from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. You’ll have to take 4 buses. And when you include all the waiting time at the bus stations, the entire journey will take close to 6 hours 30 minutes! On the other hand, the prices of this bus journey only cost around $13 (5,900 CRC).

While the bus is hands down the cheapest way to travel this route, it’s also the least convenient. But if budget is your priority, we got you covered. Just read on for a step-by-step guide on how to take a bus from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio.

Step 1: La Fortuna to San Ramon by Bus

2h$5 (2,280 CRC)

First, you have to take a bus from La Fortuna to San Ramon, a town located 70 km south.

Compañia Carbachez is the main bus operator for this route. Its buses depart five times a day from 04:30 to 16:00. If you want to complete this bus journey in a day, make an early start from La Fortuna. That means that you have to depart no later than 09:00 in the morning.

This bus journey takes 2 hours and a ticket costs around $5 (2,280 CRC). You can buy your tickets at the bus station.

Buses depart from the bus terminal in La Fortuna and arrive at the bus station in San Ramon.

For the latest schedules, check out Compañia Carbachez on Facebook.

Step 2: San Ramon to Puntarenas by Bus

1.5h$3 (1,360 CRC)

From San Ramon, you will then have to travel 55 km going west to reach Puntarenas. Buses depart from the Municipal Market of San Ramon. This is about 500m from the bus station you arrive at from La Fortuna.

Empresarios Unidos operates about 16 trips daily, almost every hour from 04:00 to 21:00. These buses depart from San Jose, make a stop in San Ramon, and then go on their way to Puntarenas.

Travel time by bus from San Ramon to Puntarenas takes about 1.5 hours. Ticket prices start from $3 (1,360 CRC). You can check out the Empresarios Unidos website for more details.

Buses park at the Empresarios Unidos Bus Station in Puntarenas.

Step 3: Puntarenas to Quepos by Bus

2.5h$4 (1,820 CRC)

Next, you’ll have to travel 140 km southeast from Puntarenas to Quepos. From the bus stop of Empresarios Unidos in Puntarenas, walk 5 minutes to the west to find the Transportes Quepos Puntarenas Bus Station.

Transportes Quepos Puntarenas operates 8 daily trips for this route. These buses depart every 1 to 3 hours from 04:30 to 17:30.

A bus ticket costs about $4 (1,820 CRC) and the journey takes around 2.5 hours. Visit the Transportes Quepos Puntarenas website for the latest rates and schedules.

Buses park at Quepos Bus Terminal in Quepos town centre. If your hotel is already located in town, then you should not have a hard time finding it on foot. But if you choose to stay within Manuel Antonio, which is definitely more scenic, then read on for the final step.

Step 4: Quepos to Manuel Antonio by Bus

30m$1 (455 CRC)

Quepos is the main gateway to Manuel Antonio, which you can find some 5 km further south.

From the bus station you arrive at, you can easily transfer to another bus that will take you to Manuel Antonio in around 30 minutes. A ticket costs about $1 (455 CRC).

Alternatively, you can take a taxi for around $6 (2,750 CRC). This way, you will be brought straight to your hotel.

PRO TIP: Bus travel in Costa Rica is prone to petty thieves. Always be mindful of your luggage. When putting your suitcase in the luggage compartment, wait until it is inside before boarding the bus. And don’t forget to get your luggage ticket from the driver! As for your smaller bags, put them where you can see them at all times, preferably on your lap or between your feet.
Manuel Antonio
Minivan3 departuresDuration5h+Pricefrom$5123,000 CRC

La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio by Minivan

The direct minivan is our recommended option for solo travellers. With a minivan, you will be picked up from your accommodation in La Fortuna and dropped off at your hotel in Manuel Antonio. You won’t have anything to worry about during the 5h - 5h 30m journey. Minivan fares start from $51 (23,000 CRC).

Paradise Shuttle Costa Rica, RideCR and Interbus are some of the popular companies offering minivan rides for this route. All of them get great reviews so you can expect a comfortable ride from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio.

Just keep in mind that the driver will pick up and drop off many other passengers along the way and it may add to the travel time.

Minivan schedule from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

5h30mParadise Shuttle Costa RicaShuttleLa Fortuna - Hotel ListManuel Antonio - Hotel List07:00$5123,000 CRCTickets
5hRideCRStandardLa Fortuna - Hotel ListManuel Antonio - Hotel List08:15$5324,000 CRCTickets
5h30mInterbusStandardLa Fortuna - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel07:45$5826,000 CRCTickets
Available atBookaway

Booking Tip

For easy booking and the best rates, we recommend buying your tickets online beforehand through BookAway.
Manuel Antonio
Private Transfer13 departuresDuration4h 30m+Pricefrom$275126,000 CRC

La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio by Private Transfer

If you’re in a group, taking a private transfer is a cost-efficient way to travel from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. Rates start from $275 (126,000 CRC) for a 6-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about $46 (20,800 CRC) per person. Not a bad rate for a door-to-door transfer!

The journey from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio by private transfer takes around 4h 30m - 6h. You can arrange a taxi ride through your hotel or you can book a private transfer through BookAway.

La Fortuna
Volcano Travel
Standard Minivan 6 PAX
$275 (126,000 CRC)
$46 (20,800 CRC) per person
Coach Costa Rica
Standard Minivan 6 PAX
$305 (140,000 CRC)
$51 (23,200 CRC) per person
RideCR
Standard Minivan 6 PAX
$315 (142,000 CRC)
$52 (23,800 CRC) per person
RideCR
Standard Minivan 10 PAX
$330 (150,000 CRC)
$33 (15,000 CRC) per person
RideCR
Standard Minivan 18 PAX
$535 (244,000 CRC)
$30 (13,600 CRC) per person
Available atBookaway
Manuel Antonio

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ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION

Why Visit Manuel Antonio?

Manuel Antonio is a popular national park and beach town in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas Province. It boasts a diverse rainforest, which is home to a great variety of flora and fauna. You'll find here white-faced capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths, and a whole variety of wildlife.

You can spend days without running out of things to do in Manuel Antonio — from chasing waterfalls to going on a catamaran cruise. But the town's main draw is actually its beaches — white sand, turquoise waters — the perfect ending after hiking through its jungle.

Rounding it up

That's the full picture for getting from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, roughly 129 kilometres (80 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $13 (5,900 CRC). The quickest trip takes 4h 30m.

Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio?

The distance from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is 129 kilometres (80 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio?

Journey times from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio overlap: bus 6h 30m, minivan 5h - 5h 30m, private transfer 4h 30m - 6h. Depending on the departure, no single option is always the fastest.

What is the cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio?

The cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is by bus with ticket costs starting from 5,900 CRC.

About the Authors

Ela
Ela

Senior Travel Writer

Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.

Maarten
MaartenReviewer

Founder & Trip Planning Expert

Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.

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