Private or semi-private shuttles are a popular option for families or large groups who can pay extra for hassle-free transportation. (Check the bus stop for schedule changes) By Shuttle Buses depart from Puerto Viejo at 9 am, 11 am, and 4 pm.

You can purchase tickets from the tiny store across the street from the bus stop in Puerto Viejo. On the bus ride out of Puerto Viejo, there are no assigned seats, so get in line early if seating is crucial to you. Try to buy your tickets early (a day early will suffice) because they assign seats, and if there aren’t any left, you will be stuck standing for the 5-hour bus ride. You want to purchase your ticket to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca from Transportes Mepe, the ticket office at the end of the terminal. Puerto Viejo is the 3rd stop – the bus goes to Limon, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Bribri, and finally Sixaola (the border of Costa Rica and Panama). The bus makes a 20-minute pit stop in Limon for a bathroom and snack break. The buses depart from the Caribe Sur bus station in San Jose every 4 hours starting at 6 am and running until 4 pm. The Costa Rican bus system will take you to Puerto Viejo from San Jose for about $8. It’s not worth flying unless your budget is unlimited, and you can have someone arrange these plans for you. These options are slightly complicated and expensive. You can also take the less expensive Nature Air to Bocas del Toro in Panama, spend the night, and then cross back over the border to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. You can, however, book an expensive private charter flight (such as Carmon Air) to Limon and then take a shuttle to Puerto Viejo. You cannot fly directly to Puerto Viejo by plane.

Bus from san jose to puerto viejo