San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Compare Bus Minivan Taxi To Stay

Important note: Be aware that there are two places called Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica. These are Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (north of San Jose) and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (southeast of San Jose). Make sure you are going to the correct Puerto Viejo when booking and boarding your ride!

What to expect from Puerto Viejo?

Situated on the Caribbean coast, the small town of Puerto Viejo offers an incredible fusion of culture. You’ll hear locals speaking creole, and find reggae music flowing from bars. All of this 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.

New to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca? Our compact Puerto Viejo de Talamanca guide shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca!

How to get from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

The driving distance between San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is 215 km. The road distance is 148 km. Driving time from San Jose to Puerto Viejo takes 4-5 hours and costs $10-$230. The cheapest route is to take the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca bus. Alternatively, you can travel by shared shuttle van or private taxi/car.

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 at the bottom of this page.

Travelling on a budget? The bus is the cheapest option at $10.00 (5,000 CRC). They are also quite comfortable, you just have to be really careful of your belongings as petty theft is common. The bus journey from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca takes around 4.5-5 hours.

Autotransportes MEPE operates 7 bus trips daily. Tickets are not available online and can only be purchased at their office in Terminal Atlantico Norte, San Jose city centre. There is always a chance of tickets selling out so if you can, drop by the terminal a few days early to buy your ticket.

Departure and arrival station

Buses depart from Terminal Atlantico Norte. They make one stop at MEPE Terminal in Limon around 3 hours into the journey for food and a bathroom break. They park at the MEPE Bus Stop in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca city centre.

Below are their regular bus schedules, but note that some trips may still not be available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bus schedule from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

If you want to confirm the bus schedule beforehand, you can call their San Jose office through this number: +506 2257-8129.

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.

For a door-to-door yet shared transfer, you can take a minivan for $51.00 (27,000 CRC). More expensive than the bus, but more convenient. The minivan journey from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca takes 4-5 hours.

What we like about this option is that it saves you the hassle of finding your way to and from bus terminals. They’re also relatively safer, particularly from petty thieves. You can just sit back and relax until you reach your destination.

You can choose from 4 trusted companies: Interbus, Gray Line, Caribe Shuttle, and Tropical Tours Shuttle.

If you’re coming from San Jose Airport, take Caribe as they offer free pick-up from there as well. You can see their schedules below.

Minivan Schedule from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

We recommend booking your tickets on BookAway. This trusted platform offers the cheapest rates for this route, sometimes even cheaper than if you book directly on the minivan’s company website. If you prefer to book with Tropical Tours, you’ll have to book through their own page.

For group travellers, we recommend taking a private transfer from San Jose to Puerto Viejo. You can choose from different vehicles depending on how big your group is. Fares start from $230.00 (124,000 CRC) for a car that can fit 4 people.

When travelling in a bigger group, you might even save on costs with a private transfer compared to taking a shared minivan. For example, a 7-seater minivan from BookAway costs $250.00 (134,000 CRC). If you divide that among 7 passengers, then that’s only $35.50 (19,000 CRC) per person.

Book a Private Transfer with BookAway

If you’re looking for a cheaper private transfer, you can also try renting a taxi. You should be able to get a 4-seater ride for around $200.00 (108,000 CRC). We recommend asking your hotel for help in finding a trustworthy driver. And remember to agree on the rate before getting on board!