How to get from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Why visit 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!

There are 3 ways to travel the 215 kilometres (134 miles) from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. 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).

Travelling on a budget? The bus is the cheapest option at 6,800 CRC ($13.50). 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 5 hours.

Autotransportes MEPE operates 6 bus trips daily. Tickets are not available online and you can only buy them 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.

It’s also highly likely that seats are assigned when you book, and they fill the bus from the front. If you’re prone to motion sickness, getting your ticket at least a day in advance gives you a better chance of sitting closer to the front for a smoother ride.

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.

Buses park at the MEPE Bus Stop in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca city centre.

For a shared transfer that brings you directly to your destination, you can take a minivan for 25,000 CRC ($50). More expensive than the bus, but far more convenient.

Minivans are also a relatively safer option, particularly regarding petty thieves. You can just sit back and relax until you reach your destination.

The minivan journey from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca takes 4 hours to 6 hours 45 minutes.

Most minivan companies provide drop-off service straight to your hotel in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, saving you the need to transfer from a bus terminal with your luggage.

Some companies also offer hotel pick-up in San Jose, while others have central departure points. Check the details when booking and note that some companies require a minimum of 2-3 passengers for the trip.

You can choose from five trusted companies: Amigo Transfer, Caribe Shuttle, Tropical Tours Shuttle, Interbus and Best Travel Puerto Viejo.

If you’re coming from San Jose Airport, we recommend Interbus — they offer pick-up directly at the airport for your convenience.

For group travellers, you can take a private transfer from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. There are different vehicles you can choose from depending on how big your group is.

Fares start from 119,000 CRC ($235) for a car that can fit 3 people. That’s about 40,000 CRC ($79) per person when you split the cost.

See below some of the most trusted companies offering private transport for this route.

Private Transport options from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca