From San José to Tortuguero

There are two option to go from San José to Tortuguero:

Skipping Guápiles: taking 2 buses and 1 boat. Buses are less frequent.

Via Guápiles: taking 3 buses and 1 boat. Buses are more frequent.

Option A

Section 1: San José to Cariari

Bus company:

Grupo Caribeños

Price:

₡2120

Estimated length:

Time schedule:

6:30am

9am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

6pm

7pm

6:30am

9am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

6pm

7pm

6:30am

9am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

6pm

7pm

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

No - Buy at ticket office in the bus terminal

Last update:

26 May 2026

Section 2: Cariari to La Pavona

Bus company:

Coopetraca

Price:

₡1150

Estimated length:

1h30min

Time schedule:

Estimated:

5:00 a. m.

8:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m.

2:00 p. m.

(bus goes to La Pavona and comes back for the next trip)

Estimated:

5:00 a. m.

8:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m.

2:00 p. m.

(bus goes to La Pavona and comes back for the next trip)

Estimated:

5:00 a. m.

8:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m.

2:00 p. m.

(bus goes to La Pavona and comes back for the next trip)

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

Last update:

21 abril 2021

Section 3: La Pavona to Tortuguero

Bus company:

Asotortutrans

Price:

₡4000

Estimated length:

45min (Variable with river conditions)

Time schedule:

(Matching buses from Cariari)

6am

7:30am

9am

11am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

(Matching buses from Cariari)

6am

7:30am

9am

11am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

(Matching buses from Cariari)

6am

7:30am

9am

11am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

Yes

Last update:

14 May 2026

Where to stay?

How to stay safe?

Option B

Section 1: San José to Guápiles

Bus company:

Grupo Caribeños

Price:

₡1730

Estimated length:

Time schedule:

5:30am

6:30am

From 7am to 7pm, buses depart as they fill up

8pm

9pm

5:30am

6:30am

From 7am to 7pm, buses depart as they fill up

8pm

9pm

6am

6:30am

From 7am to 7pm, buses depart as they fill up

8pm

9pm

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

No - Buy at ticket office in the bus terminal

Last update:

26 May 2026

Section 2: Guápiles to Cariari

Bus company:

Coopetraca

Price:

₡530

Estimated length:

30min

Time schedule:

5:30am to 7am every 30min

7:30am to 9am every 15min

9am to 6:20pm every 20min

6:45 p. m.

7:10 p. m.

8:20 p. m.

5:30am to 7am every 30min

7:30am to 9am every 15min

9am to 6:20pm every 20min

6:45 p. m.

7:10 p. m.

8:20 p. m.

5:30am to 7am every 30min

7:30am to 9am every 15min

9am to 6:20pm every 20min

6:45 p. m.

7:10 p. m.

8:20 p. m.

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

Last update:

21 abril 2021

Section 3: Cariari to La Pavona

Bus company:

Coopetraca

Price:

₡1150

Estimated length:

1h30min

Time schedule:

Estimated:

5:00 a. m.

8:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m.

2:00 p. m.

(bus goes to La Pavona and comes back for the next trip)

Estimated:

5:00 a. m.

8:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m.

2:00 p. m.

(bus goes to La Pavona and comes back for the next trip)

Estimated:

5:00 a. m.

8:00 a. m.

11:00 a. m.

2:00 p. m.

(bus goes to La Pavona and comes back for the next trip)

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

Last update:

21 abril 2021

Section 4: La Pavona to Tortuguero

Bus company:

Asotortutrans

Price:

₡4000

Estimated length:

45min (Variable with river conditions)

Time schedule:

(Matching buses from Cariari)

6am

7:30am

9am

11am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

(Matching buses from Cariari)

6am

7:30am

9am

11am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

(Matching buses from Cariari)

6am

7:30am

9am

11am

1pm

3pm

4:30pm

Origin terminal:

Destination terminal:

Can you buy the ticket on the bus?:

Yes

Last update:

14 May 2026

Where to stay?

How to stay safe?