Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

How to Get From Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

3Options
3h 30mFastest
$14From
ElaMaartenWritten by Ela · Reviewed by Maarten

Indirect Bus · Minivan · Private Transport

Monteverde sits about 123 kilometres (76 miles) from the Pacific beaches of Manuel Antonio. It's known for its misty cloud forest, hanging bridges and zip lines strung high through the mountains. The shared minivan covers the trip from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio in 3h 30m - 5h 30m. The bus is the cheapest at $14 (6,400 CRC), though it strings several legs together and runs long.

DISTANCE

Distance from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

Monteverde and Manuel Antonio are about 123 km (76 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 189 km by road. Depending on the option, the trip takes between 3h 30m and 5h 55m.

~123 km
Straight-line distance
~189 km
Route distance
COMPARE

3 ways to travel from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

There are three ways to travel from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. You can choose between the bus, minivan, and private transport. The journey takes 3h 30m–5h 55m and the quickest way is by minivan. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $14 (6,400 CRC).

Indirect BusVia Puntarenas · 16 departuresDuration5h 55mPricefrom$146,400 CRC

Monteverde to Manuel Antonio by Indirect Bus

The bus is the cheapest way to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, but keep in mind there are no direct routes. You’ll need to take three buses. And while the transfers are straightforward, there’s no guarantee that a connecting bus will be ready right when you arrive at each station.

With a combined fare from $14 (6,400 CRC), we leave it to you to decide if this 5h 55m journey is worth the savings.

Step 1: Bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas

2h$6.70 (3,050 CRC)

The first step is to take a bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas.

Buses bound for Puntarenas depart from Transmonteverde Bus Stop beside Centro Commercial Monteverde in Santa Elena. Depending on where you’re staying around Monteverde, you can get here via a 10 to 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride.

Transmonteverde operates about 4 trips daily with a travel time of around 2h. Rates start at $6.70 (3,050 CRC). Keep in mind that most buses depart in the morning! Also, the 05:30 AM bus is not available every Sunday.

2hTransmonteverdeTransmonteverde Bus StopPuntarenas Bus Terminal04:2005:3007:4515:00$73,050 CRCTickets

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore

Bus tickets are available on Transmonteverde.

Booking Tip

Not all buses are available daily, so we recommend booking your tickets online at least a day before to be assured of a seat at your desired time.

You can buy your tickets through the Transmonteverde website for $6.70 (3,050 CRC). If you don’t mind taking the risk of tickets being sold out, then you can also buy your tickets at the bus station for about a dollar cheaper.

Buses park at Puntarenas Bus Terminal.

Step 2: Bus from Puntarenas to Quepos

3h 30m$6.70 (3,050 CRC)

From Puntarenas, you’ll then have to take another bus going to Quepos, 140 km southeast.

Transportes Quepos Puntarenas offers several trips from 04:30 to 17:30. Depending on the time of your arrival at Puntarenas, you may have to wait a few hours for the connecting bus.

Travel time from Puntarenas to Quepos takes around 3h 30m and a ticket costs $6.70 (3,050 CRC).

Important: Puntarenas no longer has a working terminal building for this route. Buses pick up and drop off on the street outside the old terminal, so wait there rather than looking for a ticket hall.Is buses to Quepos are not available here, you can find them around 200 metres away in front of the restaurant Soda La Esquina 2.

3h30mTransportes Quepos PuntarenasPuntarenas Bus TerminalQuepos Bus Station04:3005:0007:0009:0010:0011:00+6$73,050 CRCNo Online Tickets

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore

Booking Tip

The last stop is at Quepos Bus Terminal.

Step 3: Bus from Quepos to Manuel Antonio

25m$0.70 (320 CRC)

Quepos is a town and transport hub about 4km north of Manuel Antonio. There are plenty of hotels and guesthouses around town. And if you’re staying in Quepos, you may be able to simply walk to your accommodation.

But if your hotel is in Manuel Antonio, then you can take a short bus ride to get there. Buses from Quepos to Manuel Antonio depart every 30 minutes from 05:45 to 19:00 and then at 20:00 and 21:30. A ticket costs $0.70 (320 CRC) and the journey takes 25 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take a 15-minute taxi for around $10 (4,550 CRC).

Puntarenas
Minivan3 departuresDuration3h 30m+Pricefrom$5524,800 CRC

Monteverde to Manuel Antonio by Minivan

The minivan is a convenient way to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. You won’t have to worry about any transfers because it’s a door-to-door ride.

It’s a bit pricey, but well worth the convenience. Ticket prices start from $55 (24,800 CRC) for the minivan journey that takes 3h 30m - 5h 30m.

You have plenty of options for this route. We recommend booking your ticket online through BookAway. Tickets are often cheaper here, compare to when you book directly through the minivan company's website.

Minivan schedule from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio

4hJorge’s Taxis and ShuttlesStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel08:00$5524,800 CRCTickets
3h30mTransportes Varela Monteverde CRStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel08:00$5525,000 CRCTickets
4hShuttle Services CRStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel08:00$5525,000 CRCTickets
3h40mDescubre MonteverdeStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel09:00$5625,500 CRCTickets
5hRideCRStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel08:00From $5926,500 CRCTickets
Show all 10 companies
4hMontetravelStandardMonteverde - Hotel ListManuel Antonio - Hotel List08:00$6027,500 CRCTickets
4h30mSanta Teresa AdventureShuttleMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel09:00$6027,500 CRCTickets
5h30mSuper Shuttle Costa RicaStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel08:0014:00$6228,000 CRCTickets
4h30mEasy RideStandardMonteverde - Any hotelManuel Antonio - Any hotel08:0014:00$6529,500 CRCTickets
4hTropical Tours ShuttleMonteverdeManuel Antonio08:00$6529,500 CRCTickets

Booking Tip

Book your tickets online so you won’t have to visit their office for reservations.
Manuel Antonio
Private Transport2 departuresDuration4h+Pricefrom$20090,000 CRC

Monteverde to Manuel Antonio by Private Transport

Are you travelling in a group? A private transfer to Manuel Antonio from Monteverde can be cheaper than a shared minivan when you split the cost.

Rates start from $200 (90,000 CRC) for a 5-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about $40 (18,000 CRC) per person.

Monteverde
Jorge’s Taxis and Shuttles
Standard Minivan 5 PAX
$200 (90,000 CRC)
$40 (18,000 CRC) per person
Transportes Varela Monteverde CR
Standard Minivan 5 PAX
$230 (104,000 CRC)
$46 (20,800 CRC) per person
Coach Costa Rica
Standard Minivan 6 PAX
$240 (110,000 CRC)
$41 (18,400 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 Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, roughly 123 kilometres (76 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $14 (6,400 CRC). The quickest trip takes 3h 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 Monteverde to Manuel Antonio?

The distance from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio is 123 kilometres (76 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio?

Journey times from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio overlap: indirect bus 5h 55m, minivan 3h 30m - 5h 30m, private transport 4-5h. Depending on the departure, no single option is always the fastest.

What is the cheapest way to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio?

The cheapest way to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio is by bus with ticket costs starting from 6,400 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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