What to expect when visiting Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a charming beach town on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. It offers an incredible fusion of culture. You’ll hear locals speaking creole, and find reggae music flowing from bars. All of these 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.
PRO TIP: There are two places called Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica. These are Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (to the north) and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (to the southeast). Make sure you are going to the correct Puerto Viejo when booking and boarding your ride!
3 ways to get from to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
There are three ways to travel the distance of 215 km (134 miles) from to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: by bus (4h30m), minivan (4-5 hours) and private transfer (4 hours ). The journey takes between 4-5 hours and the quickest way is by minivan. The lowest priced tickets start from $10 (5,000 CRC) for the bus.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.
to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by Bus
Travelling on a budget? The bus is the cheapest option at $10 (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.
to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by Minivan
For a door-to-door yet shared transfer, you can take a minivan for $51 (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.
to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca by Private Transfer
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 (120,000 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 (130,000 CRC). If you divide that among 7 passengers, then that’s only $35.50 (19,000 CRC) per person.
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 (105,000 CRC). We recommend asking your hotel for help in finding a trustworthy driver. And remember to agree on the rate before getting on board!
Our favourite places to stay in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Black Bamboo B&B - Treating Yourself
If you are looking for a beautifully designed hotel, with a swimming pool, Black Bamboo B&B is the place to book. The whole hotel oozes a tropical vibe due to its rustic bamboo design. The rooms are tranquil escapes, designed to be bright and comfortable.
The owners welcome you like you’re part of their family, and help you to organise anything you need during your stay in Puerto Viejo. It’s also situated in a great location, close to the town and Playa Negra.
- Close to the beach and town
- Beautifully designed
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Shared kitchen
Double rooms start from $90 per night
Colina Secreta - Treating Yourself
Offering both glamping and villas, no matter which option you chose, you’ll be surrounded by comfort and luxury at Colina Secreta. It’s clear that every aspect of the accommodation has been carefully thought about. It’s absolutely stunning and so unique!
The owners are incredibly friendly, and will do anything to make your stay even better. They’ve put so much love and care into their hotel, which you will see in the homemade breakfast every morning.
- Luxury villas and glamping
- Homemade breakfast included
- Beautiful design
- Friendly and helpful hosts
Double rooms between $50-$90 per night
Kalunai Hostel - Budget Friendly
Whether you’re looking for a dorm bed or a private room, Kalunai is a great choice. All of the rooms are colourful and clean, with some of them having their own kitchen facilities.
This place really has a communal feel due to the number of places to hang out and lots of hammocks. The location is great, not far from lots of restaurants, bars and most importantly, the beach
- Sociable atmosphere
- Great location
- Lots of places to relax
- Bicycles available for rent
Double rooms between $15-$50 per night
Frequently Asked Questions about to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
What to expect when visiting Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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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.
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.
Hi – I’m looking at shuttle options from San Jose to Puerto Viejo (23 march) – and return back to San Jose on 26 March. We need to get to the airport from around 1.30pm on 26 March.
For the 23 march, we are looking to leave after lunchtime
Hi Anand, shared and private minivans from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca are available on BookAway. Caribe Shuttle has a 14:00 departure to Puerto Viejo, but it requires a minimum of 3 passengers when booking. With Interbus, you can book tickets for just 1 or 2 passengers, but it departs at 07:30.
For the return trip, you can take the Interbus minivan arriving at San Jose Airport at 12:00. You can go ahead and book these rides in advance.