Hi Timbo!

Great question! There are a few transportation options to consider (and a few that aren’t ideal). Let me point them out to you! 🙂

To begin, it’s worth stating that the drive between Puerto Viejo (de Talamanca) and Manuel Antonio is a long one. Driven direct, the most common route takes about 6.5 hours at minimum (traffic, poor weather, and other issues can cause delays). Given the route’s distance and average duration, most tour operators don’t offer city-to-city transportation tours with pick-ups in Puerto Viejo and drop-offs in Manuel Antonio (or vice versa). This being said, there are city-to-city transportation options that connect Puerto Viejo with San Jose, and San Jose with Manuel Antonio, so if it is an option for you (according to your itinerary) to split the drive across two days (spending a night in/around the San Jose area), you could use tours as a form of transportation to get between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

If you must (or prefer to) travel between Puerto Viejo and Manuel Antonio over the course of one day and you don’t plan to rent a car and drive yourselves between coasts, the most direct option would be to hire a private transfer service. Private transfer services (though expensive) can be arranged to/from nearly any two points in Costa Rica and, apart from any stops you may want to make along the way (i.e., to use the bathroom, eat, etc.), they’re direct. They’re also private to your group and allow you to choose your own departure time.

Another option would be to book seats on a shared shuttle service, which is a type of transportation service that’s shared with other travelers. These types of services have set departure times and cover fewer routes in Costa Rica. Most shared shuttle service providers don’t cover the long route between Puerto Viejo and Manuel Antonio, so relying on this form of transportation typically requires the arrangement of two separate shuttle services: one between Puerto Viejo and San Jose (in the morning), and another (in the afternoon) between San Jose and Manuel Antonio. Depending on shuttle scheduling and availability, you’ll likely have a few hours to kill in/around San Jose between the two shuttle services.

Though flying (via domestic flights) is typically the fastest way to get around Costa Rica, unfortunately Puerto Viejo doesn’t have an airport, so this wouldn’t be an option. You could fly from the city of Limon (an approximate 1-hour drive from Puerto Viejo) to Quepos (just outside of Manuel Antonio), however you’ll still need to arrange ground transportation (taxis, for example) to get you to/from each airport. Also, it’s common for cross-country domestic flights to touch down in San Jose, so you’ll likely have a stopover there.

To learn more about city-to-city transportation-inclusive services, private transfer services, shared shuttle services, domestic flights, and other transfer service types, you may be interested in reading our related blog post: https://costaricatravelblog.com/costa-rica-transportation/

Pura vida! 🙂

Hi Timbo!

Quick question: Are you considering taking the bus for the route you referenced (Puerto Viejo back to San Jose) or taking the bus throughout your entire time on the Pacific side?

In general, the public bus system is pretty well managed. The buses aren’t coach buses, though, so they don’t have bathrooms on board and don’t always have air conditioning. They aren’t the most comfortable way to travel either, but they’re less expensive than shared shuttle services and private transfer services, both of which tend to provide a greater level of comfort. With respect to security, we don’t often hear of problems occurring on buses; the biggest concern would be the theft of possessions. It’s best to keep your possessions with you on your lap or in a compartment above your head and within eyesight, but if you plan to travel with larger suitcases, you’ll need to stow them under the bus. If you plan to do that, make sure you grab a window seat on the side of the bus where you store your luggage so you can keep your eye on it during any scheduled stops.

For more information about taking the bus in Costa Rica, don’t miss our DIY Costa Rica recommendation for the Most Erroneous Costa Rica Travel Myth: https://www.diycostarica.com/portfolio/most-erroneous-costa-rica-travel-myth/

Pura vida! 🙂