www.CostaRicaTicas.com

The travel bunch at the DR say $5.00 for the bus to Puerto Viejo. Any tips/ Will i regret this ride. They said 2 hours. info appreciated.

Two hours??? They're on drugs. Count on four hours each way, especially if you get caught behind any slow trucks on the mountain passes. We were further delayed on the return trip when we encountered road construction at one point, and again when the policia came on board to conduct an ID/passport check. Make sure you have a photocopy of your passport available if this happens.

The buses are reasonably comfortable, but don't have air conditioning, so it can get stuffy. Make sure you sit in a seat where you can open the window if necessary.

Also, keep an eye on any packages you bring on board. We had a bit on an incident on the way out when a woman claimed her camera was stolen on the bus.

Generally, there is one 15 minute stop along the way at a roadside store for a bathroom break and/or refreshments.

Would I do it again? For the price - absolutely. A private ride may cost you up to $100 each way, and I have better things to spend my money on. I also got lucky on the return trip and got to sit next to a pretty and nice Tica, which made the ride go much quicker.

Hope this helps!

Here is another possible option: http://www.costaricapass.com/
Think it's more like four hours??

_________________
MidnightRider

Rode the bus to PV a couple months ago and it reminded me of a little song I taught my 2 year old a few years ago.

Ready?

"The people on the bus go up and down
Up and down
The people on the bus go up and down
All the day long?

Forget trying to read unless your butt and your eyes bounce in sync. Mine don't

Long ride on a crappy, crowded bus. I din't try it but a couple ambien might make it more tolerable.

Rocco

The info that i have got from this site is worth mucho more than i paid for membership. Even the free stuff is way above any other site. Thanks

LOL coming back to San Jose Jan. 3rd the bus Run Out of Phucking Fuel in the mountains - pouring down rain! Every body out and line up on the shoulder and basicaly hitch hike busses to get back. Grrly and I finally crammed into the third one to stop, I rode the last hour back perched up on the deal that closed the back door...Every Inch of bus stuffed to the rafters hahaha.

Not a trip I will forget for awhile. Would I take the bus again sure, it is such a bargin.

Hey,

I ride the buses all over, like to have a chance to interact with the locals. The price is great, too, leaves real money for other things. If you are in a rush, just a few days, then maybe it is better to catch the Fantasy bus or whatever it's called. It is $25 or $30 and leaves out of SJ in the morning, maybe 7 am. I did that once, really wasn't any better than the regular bus.

The Caribe bus station is north, I think. You will need to check around so that you go to the right bus stations, there are different ones for different locations, sometimes even multiple stations for one location. I take the bus to Liberia, there are 2 different companies that go there so 2 different stations. If I catch the express bus that goes all the way to El Coco, it's $10, if I get a bus to Liberia (there are many more) it's only $4, then 300 colones more to El Coco on the locals bus.

The bus to Puerto Viejo is something like 4 hours, rides along the beach the last hour or so. On the way back, I didn't want to wait for an express bus back to San Jose so I caught one going to Puerto Limon and then caught another going to San Jose, just a little walk between stations, maybe a block.

The buses are easy, there is always one going somewhere.