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!
I took the bus from la fortuna to tilaran today. It left at 8.00 am. Cheers!
Hi Aletta,
We will leave for Tilaran (heading to Monteverde) tomorrow morning from La Fortuna. Do you know if it’s a changed schedule or was it just that day? Our hostel informed us that the bus leaves at 7.30 and you pay the bus driver on the bus, instead of buying a ticket beforehand. Could you tell me if that was also the case with you?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers
Arianie
Sorry for the late reply. Let us know how your trip went and what the schedule was. Thanks!
Hi all.
Firstly amazing website- it’s been so much use already and we’ve only been here a few days.
Can anyone help – we would like to go from San Carlos in Nica to La Fortuna crossing the border at Los chiles
Would be great if anyone has any advice.
Thanks!
They changed today the schedule from San José buses. There is only one direct bus from La Fortuna to San José at 14.45 left. They cancelled the others. We took the 12.45 Express to Ciudad Quesada (1245 CRC) and from there the Express who leaves every 30 min or when he is full to San José (1915 CRC). Took us 5h in total.
Thanks Timo, is this a permanent change or just for that day?
they told us it’s permanent from february 1, 2019 on
Just bought a bus ticket from the Alajuela bus station to La Fortuna.
It costs 2.700 CRC and the bus is supposed to leave at 12.30.
Here’s a link to the bus station in Alajuela: North Bus Station
Radial Francisco J. Orlich, Alajuela Province, Alajuela, Costa Rica
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c9kRk
You can get there by uber (~1.300).
Thanks, Lena!!
Just took the bus from Cañas to Tilaran. Theres no way to leave at 12 and arrive by 1230 (the bus leaves Tilaran for La Fortuna at 12:15 now anyways. Better make sure youre on the 10:45 bus from Cañas to Tilaran.
Thanks!
Hi,
I’m going from La Fortuna to Alajuela. I would like to ask what time does the last one bus go, how long it takes and how much does it cost?
Regards,
Ania
Hi there, we don’t have this specific schedule but you can check this blog for some info. http://crtraveling.com/la-fortuna-bus-schedules. The bus goes through Ciudad Quesada.
We just took the bus from La Fortuna to Tilaran on 12/29/18. Though the sign says there is a bus at 7:30 am, it actually leaves at 8:00 am and it costs 2950 colones/person.
Thanks!
Hi Everyone! Last week I took the bus from San Jose to La Fortuna, but we took the bus at the stop in Alajuela (nearest to SJO airport). You should keep in mind that the times the busses leave in Alajuela are around 30-60 minutes later than stated above. This can save you some time maybe.
Hey Marguerite! Can you send us the exact location the bus stopped in Alajuela? Maybe a Google Maps link? We love to re-confirm details as often as we can!
Hola buenas me podrian decir en que parte de la fortuna puedo tomar el nis a tilaran o a quezada quiero ir al rio celeste pero los tours son muy caros help!!
Saludos desde chile