How to get fromPuerto Viejo de Talamanca to San Jose

Why visit San Jose?

San Jose is a bustling urban landscape in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Being the capital city, it may not be as pretty as the beach and jungle destinations that the country is known for. But if you are stopping by anyway, might as well explore for a few hours or a day before moving on to your next stop.

You will find plenty of things to do in San Jose. Within the city, you can check out the colonial buildings turned museums at Barrio Amon, try out the famed restaurants at Barrio Escalante, or party the night away in El Pueblo. If you want to venture outside the city limits, the Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens are highly recommended!

There are 3 ways to travel the 215 kilometers (134 miles) from Puerto Viejo to San Jose. You can choose between the bus, minivan and private transport. The journey takes 3 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 45 minutes and the quickest way is by private transport. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 6,800 CRC ($13.50).

With rates from 6,800 CRC ($13.50), the bus is the cheapest option when travelling from Puerto Viejo to San Jose. It’s a good choice if you’re on a budget and want to travel like a local. Travel time is around 5 hours.

Autotransportes MEPE is the only bus company operating from Puerto Viejo to San Jose. It offers 6 daily trips from 03:00 to 16:00, which means you’ll have a lot of choices for when to depart.

The buses make one stop at the MEPE Terminal in Limon for a bathroom break about 1 hour into the journey. The break takes around 15 minutes.

Departure and arrival station

Buses depart from the MEPE Bus Stop in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca city centre, just by the main beach.

The arrival station is at Terminal Atlantico Norte in San Jose city centre.

Shared minivans are a great option for travelling from Puerto Viejo to San Jose. They’re a convenient alternative to public buses and can even provide door-to-door service. The minivan journey takes about 4 hours to 6 hours 45 minutes.

Amigo Transfer, Caribe Shuttle, Interbus and Best Travel Puerto Viejo are the companies that operate minivans from Puerto Viejo to San Jose.

Just a heads-up: while hotel pick-up is generally reliable, it’s worth double-checking where they’ll drop you off in San Jose. Some companies will take you straight to your hotel, but others may only stop at set locations in the city centre. This is important if you’re heading to the airport — not all minivans extend service to airport drop-offs.

We love minivans in Costa Rica for more than just the door-to-door service. They are safer and more comfortable than buses. If you are willing to spend more for these benefits, we recommend choosing a minivan over a bus.

Travelling in a group? Private transfers can be cheaper than a shared minivan when you split the cost. Rates start from 118,000 CRC ($235) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 39,000 CRC ($79) per person.

Private transfers from Puerto Viejo to San Jose are hotel-to-hotel rides, but you can also get one that goes straight to San Jose Airport. Travel time is 3 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.

We recommend booking your private ride via BookAway for spacious cars and trusted drivers.

Private Transport options from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca to San Jose