How to get from Monteverde to Santa Teresa

Why visit Santa Teresa?

Lying on the northwest coast, Santa Teresa is Costa Rica’s surfer paradise. This once-quiet fishing village is now a popular tourist destination — thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, variety of wildlife, and world-class waves.

We love that it is still quite detached from the rest of Costa Rica. The roads leading to it are mostly unpaved, giving Santa Teresa a more natural feel. And despite the unpaved routes, the town offers enough comforts and natural luxury that can keep you happy and entertained for weeks on end. Santa Teresa is a world of its own.

There are 3 ways to travel the 220 kilometre (137 miles) distance from Monteverde to Santa Teresa. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan and private transport. The journey takes 3 hours to 6 hours 50 minutes and the quickest way is by shared minivan. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 5,800 CRC ($11.80).

For a hassle-free journey, taking a minivan from Monteverde to Santa Teresa is a great choice. Tickets start at 29,000 CRC ($60) — more expensive than the bus, but is a direct transfer and includes free hotel pickup and drop-off.

Travel time by minivan is around 3 to 6 hours.

Are you on a budget? The bus is the cheapest way to get from Monteverde to Santa Teresa. It’s also the least convenient, though, because there are no direct buses for this route. You’ll have to take 3 buses plus a ferry. Combined rates start from 5,800 CRC ($11.80) and travel time is at least 6 hours 50 minutes.

Expect to spend extra time waiting for your connecting buses and ferry.

PRO TIP: Do not ever lose sight of your belongings. Luggage thieves are notorious in bus stations and buses in Costa Rica. Make sure your bigger bags are inside the luggage compartment before boarding the bus and don’t forget to get your luggage ticket. As for your smaller bags with valuable belongings, it’s better to put them in front of you or between your feet instead of the overhead bin.

First, you’ll travel by bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas, a coastal town that you can find 65 km south.

Transmonteverde operates 4 daily bus trips for this route. A bus ticket costs around 2,710 CRC ($5.50).

Buses depart from Santa Elena, at the Transmonteverde Bus Stop beside Centro Commercial Monteverde. Travel time to Puntarenas takes around 2h.

Buses from Monteverde park at Puntarenas Bus Terminal, 2.5 km away from Paquera Tambor Ferry Boarding Station. You can get to the pier via a short taxi ride or a 30-minute walk.

From Puntarenas Port, Naviera Tambor operates at least eight ferries departing daily for Paquera. Tickets for foot passengers cost 735 CRC ($1.50) per person when you buy onsite.

The ferry ride takes around 2h 30m. Ferries dock at Paquera Port.

Upon arrival at Paquera Port, look around for buses bound for Cobano. They’re usually available and waiting for passengers every time a ferry arrives.

You can buy your ticket on the bus for around 1,470 CRC ($3). Travel time to Cobano Bus Stop is 1.5 hours.

In Cobano, you’ll simply have to transfer to another bus going 15 km southwest to Santa Teresa.

This bus journey takes around 50 minutes and you can get a ticket for 980 CRC ($2) - 1,470 CRC ($3).

When travelling in a group, you can save a few dollars if you split the cost of a private transfer — instead of taking a shared minivan.

Rates start from 128,000 CRC ($260) for a 4-seater car from Monteverde to Santa Teresa. Divide the cost and that’s about 32,000 CRC ($66) per person.

You can book your private transport online through BookAway or you can ask for your hotel’s assistance to book a car for you.

Private Transport options from Monteverde to Santa Teresa