There is a direct bus to/from San José and also buses that pass frequently through Ciudad Quesada. In the past the trip from Monteverde via Tilaran by local bus was very long and uncomfortable but these days it’s much better. You can even go by horseback!
** please note the schedules on this page need updating. Please read traveller comments about updates and check the 7-10 website for the La Fortuna schedule or here at fortunatwelcom.com. Here is a photo of a schedule sent by a traveller on Mar 16, 2019
La Fortuna to San José:
This schedule has changed a bunch lately! Please leave us a comment if you’ve taken the bus and what time! We were told there was only one bus per day from La Fortuna to San Jose at 2:45pm – though this may be different now. The price is about 2495₡ and takes about 4hrs. The other buses route through Ciudad Quesada – have a look at the schedule above for those times or check the 7-10 website for the La Fortuna schedule or here at fortunatwelcom.com. The cost from La Fortuna to Ciudad Quesada is 1915₡ and the expresso from Ciudad Quesada to San Jose is 1245₡. The expresso leaves frequently when full.
San José to La Fortuna: From the 7-10 Station in San José : 5am, 6:15am, 8:40am, 11:50am. BUT, we had reports lately that only the 8:40 bus is running. See photos of schedule and prices below.
Sorry for not having any confirmed times, it’s been difficult getting them.
If you are arriving by plane you can get a taxi to the station in Alajuela that has buses to La Fortuna. Taxi is 2000₡
San Jose Airport in Alajuela to La Fortuna
There is no bus going directly from the airport in Alajuela to La Fortuna. You can however get a taxi to the Alajuela bus station near the airport and then get a bus to Ciudad Quesada and then continue on to La Fortuna. Here is one traveller who did this recently: Alajuela to La Fortuna.
Monteverde to La Fortuna
This may be the coolest way to get to go: Arenal to Monteverde – by horseback! Check out this unique and awesome looking way of going between these two mountain paradises. A half day adventure that is quicker than taking the bus!
You can take a shuttle from here that will get you there in 3hrs for $25. It goes something like this: 4×4 Jeep – boat – 4×4 Jeep. Normally we don’t promote shuttles since this is a BUS travel site – but it is an option since the local bus is quite long. The full trip is about 9hrs by bus.
Local bus: Go from Monteverde to Tilarán @5am, 7am, 11:30am or 4pm (TilaránTransportes 2695-5998.). See photo below. The cost as of June 2017 is 900₡ and the trip takes about 2hrs and 15min. Then Tilarán to La Fortuna (7am and 12:15pm and 3:30pm), 2.5hrs. Check the Tilarán page for more details
Tilarán to La Fortuna
There are 3 buses each day to and from Tilarán:
from Tilarán to La Fortuna: 7:00am, 12:20pm; 3:30pm
from La Fortuna to Tilarán : 6:30am, 11:30pm, 3:55pm
The cost as of Jan 2019 the cost is 2950₡ and takes 2-2.5 hours. See photo of schedule below from June 2017.
Liberia to La Fortuna
We haven’t done this route but were told this is what you do to get from Liberia to La Fortuna:
“In Liberia take the bus to Cañas (~$3), from Cañas straight on the bus to Tilarán at 12pm (~$1.50), from Tilarán straight on the bus to La Fortuna at 12:30pm ($4) and arrive around 2pm. The next one is at 3:30pm and you will arrive around 5″.
Anther traveller, Tanja, did it with this timing:
8:30 Liberia – Cañas (Puntarenas) 1475₡ 1h,
10:40 Cañas – Tilarán 600₡ 45min,
12:15 Tilarán – La Fortuna 2750₡ 2h
Arenal to Manuel Antonio
One awesome traveller submitted the info from her trip to Manuel Antonio, have a look at it here – Arenal to Manuel Antonio
If you are coming from Nicaragua then check out this post about how to get to La Fortuna from San Juan del Sur.
Border (Peñas Blancas) to La Fortuna
One helpful traveller named Theo has shared this info:
“We got to the border at Peñas Blancas and found a direct bus to La Fortuna. It was from the second bus store in the line of booths. We caught it at 2.30pm and it dropped us off at Tanque which is 7km from La Fortuna. There is a connecting bus at this point or can easily get a cheap taxi. Cost of the bus was 3000 Colone. Trip took 4.5 hours, hence its easier, faster and cheaper than taking the 3 buses that it would take going via Liberia. I got the impression this bus only left once a day so I believe we were very lucky.”
La Fortuna to Peñas Blancas
I haven’t done this but one great traveller named Louise shared her knowledge (March 2018), she says:
“If you take the 6.30am bus to El Tanque, which takes around 10 minutes, you can then wait for the 7.30am(edit Feb 2019 – now 7:00) bus to Penas Blancas. The bus only goes once a day and arrived/departed 5 or so minutes early. The shops and cafes in El Tanque open at 7 so you can use up the last of your local money. This bus arrives around 12.30 and then departs back to El Tanque at 2:30pm. The bus was full when I got on it and I had to stand for the first two hours. This might have been because of Semana Santa, but as there’s just the one bus a day it wouldn’t surprise me if this happened often. The bus stopped after about two hours, for 15 minutes, so you could use the bathroom or buy stuff. They allow original passengers back on the bus first so they have priority on the seats then let new people on. They bus stops many many times along the way as its used as a local bus service too. It was super cheap, something like 3500 colones.
Price update June 2108: La Fortunat to El Tanque: ₡790, El Tanque to Border: ₡3700
Help your fellow traveller
Thanks to bus traveller Brian Driscoll for the 2017 update at the La Fortuna station.
If you have taken any of the buses on this page, please drop us a comment below about how the trip went, what time you left, how long it took and what it cost. And, definitely let us know if we have anything wrong.
Lets help each other in our travels!
Hi guys,
Just did La Fortuna to Montezuma. Ended up being just over 12 hours but of it wasn’t for me about to board a cruise instead of a ferry at Puntarenas, could have been more like 9…
Details as follows:
La Fortuna 5:30am – San Ramon arrived 7:45am (supposed to be 7.30 but bus driver liked a chat…. cost COL 2,350
In San Ramon you walk to the next crossroads straight ahead from where the bus drops you off and then turn right, 2 blocks down in the bus station.
There is a a 7.35am to Puntarenas , but unless you mask tape the bus driver, that ain’t happening. Next one is as follows…
San Ramon 8.35am – Puntarenas 10.15 am (supposed to be 9.35am, we will call it bad traaffic) cost COL 1,800
Now in Puntarenas there is a dock when you come out to your left and there might be a big queue , that is NOT the ferry. I nearly accidentally went for a cruise and missed the 11am ferry which departs on the other side of town, 20 min walk or 5 min taxi. The next one is now at 3 as the ferry device has changed (one boat out of action)
Ferry – Puntarenas 3pm – parquera 4.10pm cost COL 810
Bit of a scramble off the boat and there are a few buses lines up, so just ask if you are going to Montezuma or Santa Teresa. The guys at Santa Teresa for off after an hour at Coban, so not sure about that last bit. For Montezuma, it was
Parquera 4.45pm – Montezuma 6.15pm cost COL 1,800 ( beware of the bus drivers charging you more, I paid double but after chatting to a sweet old Costa Rican lady she got my money back).
Tickets can be bought from the driver at la Fortuna and Parquera, from stands at San Ramon and Puntarenas.
Tiring journey, but kind of fun and you feel a lot more intrepid than getting a shuttle. It only cost about COL 6,700 so about $11 compared to $67 for a direct shuttle.
I’d do it again,but maybe miss standing in line for the cruise… Happy travels people and hope this helps!
Hey Nick, super awesome post about your experience. Thanks so much for sharing and helping out your fellow travellers!
hello, I was wondering if anyone knows where (approx. street name) the bus would drop us off in San Jose? So I know where to book hotels or plan for taxi pick up. Thank you!
Hi Ping, the bus will take you to the 7-10 station. If you put that name into Google Maps you should see it pop up.
Is there a time table for what time the bus departs from the main station in alejuela going to la Fortuna? Is it the same bus departing from San Jose Central or a different one?
Hey Andrew, sorry to be slow on this. You actually head to Ciudad Quesada and then on to La Fortuna from there. If you look above you will see Ciudad Quesada in the photos. Buses from Alajuela to Quesada are frequent though I don’t have the schedule for that. If you go this way please send us a shot of the Alajuela bus station schedule to the FB page so we can post it!
Hi, we took the same route from La Fortuna to Peñas Blancas as Louis did (on June 6th 2018). We were told that the bus from El Tanque to the border leaves at 7.15am.
So we took the 6.30am bus from La Fortuna to El Tanque (~20min, CRC 790). At 7.10am the bus to Peñas Blancas (CRC 3700) arrived. On the way we stopped in Upala for about 15min. We also arrived at the border around 12.30pm.
Hey, is there a name or address for the bus station in La Fortuna? I am coming from Monteverde and then going back to San Jose, so I won’t be familiar with the terminal when I get there. Also, when do I buy the ticket for the trip from La Fortuna to San Jose – is it same day or can I purchase the day before? Thank you.
Hi there, sorry to be slow! If you zoom in on the map above you can find the little bus marker. I don’t believe at this time you can buy your ticket in advance online anywhere, but you should be able to buy it from the terminal.
Hey,
we are traveling right now in Costa Rica with Public Transport.
Is their a possibility to come from la Fortuna to Santa Teresa or Montezuma in one day by public Transportation?
Thanks a lot !
Hi Jan, sorry to be slow on this, could you post your journey here so others can benefit from your new Costa Rica bus knowledge!
Hi, is there a bus after midday to La Fortuna? We won’t make it into San Jose much before then as we are taking the 7 am bus from Manzanillo.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rosie, the only information we have for schedules to La Fortuna is what is on this page.
Hey there, it’s the 7-10 station. https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/san-jose-7-10/