How to get from Playas del Coco to Monteverde

Why visit Monteverde?

Monteverde is a nature lover’s paradise in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range. Up in the clouds is where you’ll find one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica, Monteverde Cloud Forest, one of the most popular things to do here.

With its lush mountains forever touching the clouds, Monteverde is rich in flora and fauna — 2,500 species of plants, 400 types of birds, and 100 varieties of mammals! This district is green, moist, and beautiful all year round. But if you want to enjoy all the best things to do in Monteverde with a bit of sunshine, visit during the dry season (December to April).

There are 3 ways to travel the 150 kilometre (93 miles) distance from Playas del Coco to Monteverde. You can choose between the bus, minivan and private transfer. The journey takes 3 to 4 hours and the quickest way is by private transfer. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by minivan with tickets starting at 21,000 CRC ($44).

The minivan shuttle is a direct and convenient way to get from Playas del Coco to Monteverde. You won’t have to worry about any transfers because you will be picked up and dropped off at your hotels. Ticket prices start from 21,000 CRC ($44) for the journey that takes 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours.

You can choose from at least three minivan operators: Tropical Tours Shuttles, Transportes Varela Monteverde CR and Interbus.

There are not a lot of companies operating on this route, so buy your tickets online beforehand through BookAway for a better chance of getting a seat.

Looking for a cheaper transport option from Playas del Coco to Monteverde? It’s possible to take an indirect bus — specifically, two buses plus a taxi. Combined fares start from 49,000 CRC ($105) when travelling solo.

Note that unless you’re in a group of at least three people, you won’t save on costs by taking the indirect bus. While the bus rides are cheap, the taxi ride for the last leg of the journey is expensive.

For that reason, we don’t recommend taking a bus for this route. Sure, you might get to save a few bucks, but is it worth the hassle? You can decide for yourself through the step-by-step guide below.

First, you’ll have to take a bus to Liberia, a transport hub 35 km northeast of Playas del Coco. The bus ride takes around 1 hour and a ticket costs 840 CRC ($1.80).

Pulimitan de Liberia operates on this route, with buses running every 20-30 minutes from 04:30 to 20:00. To secure a seat, it’s best to arrive at the bus station about 15 minutes before departure time.

Buses depart from Pulmitan Bus Stop in Playas del Coco, some 1.3 km south of the main beach. They arrive at Pulmitan Bus Station in Liberia, from where you can also get your connecting ride to Cañas.

Reina del Campo is the main bus operator from Liberia to Cañas. Its buses depart every 30 minutes to an hour from 04:30 to 21:30. A ticket costs 1,820 CRC ($3.90).

Travel time is about 1 hour.

Buses park at Cañas Bus Terminal.

From Cañas, the best way to travel the remaining 65 km southeast to Monteverde is by taxi. This is why we think you won’t get to save much by taking the bus for this route.

A taxi ride from Cañas to Monteverde takes 1h 30m - 2h and costs around 47,000 CRC ($100).

You can still save on costs if you’re in a group of 3 or 4. But if you’re travelling solo or with just one other person, then we highly recommend taking a more convenient and direct shared minivan instead.

Are you travelling with family or friends? If you’re in a group of 4 to 5 people or even more, then taking a private transfer might be cheaper than a shared minivan when you split the cost.

Rates start from 107,000 CRC ($230) for a 5-seater private transfer from Playas del Coco to Monteverde. Divide the cost and that’s about 21,000 CRC ($45.50) per person.

You can book a private transport through your hotel or you can book your ride online. Below, we’ve listed some of the best private transfer options to Monteverde from Playas del Coco.