How to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Why visit Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a charming beach town on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. It offers an incredible fusion of culture. You’ll hear locals speaking creole, and find reggae music flowing from bars. All of these alongside traditional Costa Rican sodas and fancy international restaurants popular with expats.
You can feel the sense of community in Puerto Viejo, even if you’re just visiting for a few days. Travellers gather on the beach to play volleyball and new connections are made in the bars and the Saturday market that runs every week.
PRO TIP: There are two places called Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica. These are Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (to the north) and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (to the southeast). Make sure you are going to the correct Puerto Viejo when booking and boarding your ride!
What are the 3 ways to travel from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
There are 3 ways to travel the 270 kilometre (168 miles) distance from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. You can choose between the bus, minivan and private transfer. The journey takes 4 hours 40 minutes to 9 hours 40 minutes and the quickest way is by private transfer. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 11,000 CRC ($23.50).
Where to stay in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by Bus
The indirect bus is the cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Combined rates with the bus start from only 11,000 CRC ($23.50), about 1/3 the price of a minivan ticket. However, you will have to take 3 buses, and the journey takes about 9 hours 40 minutes — excluding the possible waiting time for your connecting buses.
This bus journey includes a stop in San Jose. While it’s technically out of the way, it’s the only route available if you want to travel entirely by bus to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca from La Fortuna.
Step 1: Bus from La Fortuna to Ciudad Quesada
From La Fortuna, the first step is to take a bus to Ciudad Quesada, a business hub some 45 km southeast. Buses are available for this route every day from 05:00 in the morning to 19:30 in the evening.
Take a morning trip if you want to arrive in Puerto Viejo on the same day.
A bus ticket costs 1,550 CRC ($3.30) and you can buy them at La Fortuna Bus Station. You might be confused with the schedules because there are two routes going to Ciudad Quesada: one via El Tanque (a bit faster) and another one via Chachagua (more scenic).
Either way, the buses arrive at Ciudad Quesada Terminal so we advise that you just take whichever’s leaving next.
Travel time from La Fortuna to Ciudad Quesada is about 1h 30m.
IMPORTANT: It’s worth noting that there is one daily bus that operates straight from La Fortuna to San Jose, but this arrives in the capital at 18:45, which means you won’t make it in time for the last trip going to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Step 2: Bus from Ciudad Quesada to San Jose
Buses operating from Ciudad Quesada to San Jose depart from the same terminal you arrive in. Just look around for the buses bound for the capital. They run from 04:30 on weekdays and 05:30 on weekends, until 19:45.
A ticket costs 2,860 CRC ($6) for the journey that takes around 3h 40m. Buses park at Terminal Atlantico Norte in San Jose city centre. Here, you’ll find the buses heading to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Step 3: Bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
For the last leg of this bus journey, you will travel 220 km southeast from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. The bus journey takes around 4h 30m and a ticket costs 6,800 CRC ($14.30).
Autotransportes MEPE offers several trips daily from 06:00 to 16:00. Make sure you’re in San Jose before 16:00 to make it to the last trip.
We also recommend taking a bathroom and food break before boarding the bus. The buses make only one restroom stop at MEPE Terminal in Limon, around 3 hours into the journey.
You will be dropped off at MEPE Bus Stop in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca city centre.
For more details, check out our complete guide for travelling from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
PRO TIP: Local travel links, including the bus station in San Jose, can attract thieves, so keep your belongings in sight. Don’t board the bus until your bigger bags are inside the luggage compartment, and be sure to get your luggage ticket. It’s best to keep smaller bags, containing your valuables, in front of you or between your feet, instead of in overhead storage.
La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by Minivan
Taking a minivan from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a tourist favourite for its convenience. Although minivan shuttles are a bit pricey with fares from 32,000 CRC ($67), they are direct transfers that also offer free hotel pickup and drop-off.
Travel time with a minivan ride is around 4 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours, at least 3.5 hours faster than the bus.
You can choose from four minivan operators when travelling from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: these are Caribe Shuttle, Interbus, Best Travel Puerto Viejo and Expedition CR.
Minivan schedule from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- 24/7 customer support
Book your ride online so you won’t have to go to the minivan office. You can just wait for the minivan to pick you up from your hotel.
La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by Private Transfer
If you’re travelling in a group from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a private ride could be a more practical choice. Rates start from 129,000 CRC ($275) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 43,000 CRC ($91) per person.
If you’re in a bigger group, a private transfer can be more affordable than a shared minivan shuttle.
We recommend booking your ride via BookAway, which offers different types of vehicles depending on the number of people in your group and your preferred level of luxury. Also, they offer great customer service!
Private Transfer options from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
What is the distance from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
The distance from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is 270 kilometre (168 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
The fastest way to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is by private transfer and takes 4 hours 40 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
The cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is by bus with ticket costs starting from 11,000 CRC ($23.50).
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.
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.
