This tiny town makes getting in and out really very simple. The bus leaves for both San José and Puntarenas from the TransMonteverde bus depot in the middle of town. You can’t miss it as it is right beside the Super Mega grocery store. You can book tickets online here: transmonteverde.com
Monteverde to San José
There are two buses per day both ways at 5:30am and 2:30pm. The price is 3035₡ (Dec 2018). The trip takes about 4.5hrs. See photo of schedule below and have a look at the 7-10 Terminal to see where you end up.
San José to Monteverde
There are two buses per day both ways at 6:30am and 2:30pm. The price is 3035₡ (Dec 2018). The trip takes about 4.5hrs.
From San José you catch the bus from the 7-10 station in the city center, although if you are out by the airport in Alajuela, then you can also get the bus from the Villa Bonita Station. This is essentially a bus stop on the side of the highway near a gas station named Villa Bonita. It is a common spot for travellers to grab the bus when out by the airport. It is listed as a stop for buses headed to Monteverde but if it is full there is a chance it may not stop. You can book tickets online here: transmonteverde.com
Monteverde to Puntarenas
The bus leaves for Puntarenas at 4:20am, 5:30am (except Sunday!), 3pm. See schedule photo below. The 5:30am bus isn’t in the photo of the schedule, but two travellers have confirmed it exists. (see comments) and we have had confirmation that the 6am bus still exists too.
You will arrive at the main Puntarenas bus terminal. The trip takes about 3hrs and costs about 1590₡.
If you are headed to Santa Teresa or Montezuma, we are told you can arrive at the ferry in time if you take the 5:30am bus! (see comments below). This may not be the case in the busiest months when buses take longer.
Puntarenas to Monteverde: 8am, 1:30pm and 2:10pm.
Monteverde to La Fortuna/Arenal
This may be the coolest way to go: Monteverde to Arenal – by horseback! Check out this unique and awesome looking way of going between these two mountain paradises. A half day adventure that may even be quicker than taking the bus!
Thinking of going to La Fortuna/Arenal after Monteverde? 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.
via Tilarán
Should you chose the local bus route you can catch one to Tilarán at 5am, 7am, 12:10pm or 4pm (TilaránTransportes 2695-5998.) . The cost as of Dec 2018 is 1300₡. The trip takes about 2hrs and 15min. The bus stop last time we were there was in front of the Farmacia Vitosi, which is across from the main Tourist center. See photos below for the location to wait for the bus. Then from Tilarán you will take another with bus to La Fortuna which will take about 2hrs. We have had one traveller report that she took a bus at 3:30pm (Dec 2018) and it cost 2975₡
Via La Irma
A lot of travellers use La Irma as a mid point to get switch directions when coming/going from Monteverde to places like Nosara, Samara, Tamarindo, etc. There is a photo of the schedule below, the bus passes at 10am and 3pm. There is a covered stop there on the side of the highway where you can wait. We have had reports from travellers that they didn’t put luggage under the bus, they had to carry it on. Let us know your experience below.
Coming from San Juan del Sur?
Check out our route page for this trip. We have two great travel blogger experiences to help guide you step by step on this trip! San Juan del Sur to Monteverde
Going to Playa del Coco?
Have a read through the comments, one couple gave a step by step.
Tours
There is so much to do in this area that it can be hard to choose! Have a look at Gecko Trail tour options for some inspiration.
Cloud Forest
Headed to the cloud forest? Check out this blog post by the legendary Costa Rica travel duo at Mytanfeet: Which Monteverde Cloud Forest Should You Visit. Want someone to show you the way? Check out a Gecko Trail guided tour of the Cloud forest.
The bus goes back and forth a few times a day and costs 600₡. Here are the times (May 2017):
Santa Elena to Monteverde
6:15am, 7:30am, 9:30am (only high season), 1:20pm, 3pm
Monteverde to Santa Elena
6am, 8:30am (only high season), 11am, 2pm, 4pm
Santa Teresa to Monteverde
This trip is easy and saves you a bunch of money. Have a look at the route here: Santa Teresa to Monteverde.
Help your fellow traveller
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!
Hallo, can you advise the best way to get from Puerto Viejo to Monteverde (Santa Elena). We have booking at the hostal in Santa Elena the same day, we leave Puerto Viejo morning. We get the public bus from P V to San Jose and than swith to one that going to Monteverde.
Can we catch the bus in S Jose going to Santa Elena (2.30pm.?.)?? Have we change bus terminal in San Jose?. Thank you for your help. With regards Janusz
Hola Janusz! The bus from Puerto Viejo to San Jose will take about 4.5hrs. The bus from San Jose to Monteverde leaves at 2:30pm as you said. So if you take an early bus form Puerto Viejo then you should have enough time to change bus stations and get to Monteverde in one day. The bus from Puerto Viejo will arrive at Terminal MEPE https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/san-jose-terminal-mepe/. Have a look at the map on this page. If you zoom in a bit you will see a station just 2 blocks away called Empressa Alfaro. This is the new 7-10 station. https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/san-jose-7-10/ It used to be called Alfaro. As you can see it is a very close walk so changing bus stations is easy and quick. Have a great trip!
Hello. I hope you can help me. I arrive late on 26th of january in San José airport. I want to take the bus to Monteverde the following day, friday the 27th. Should I stay one night in San José and take the bus from from the 7-10 terminal? Or is it possible to stay one night in Alajuela and take the bus from there to Monteverde? Does the bus stop close to Alajuela? Thanks for your help!
Hi! I am sorry I can not confidently answer this question as I have not done this option for Monteverde. There is a stop called Villa Bonita near the Airport that many buses pass by as they are headed towards the coast, but I am not positive if the Monteverde bus will pass this spot. Have a look at where I am talking about here: https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/villa-bonita-station/. One option would be to phone the hostel and ask them, they would likely know. I like to stay at a place called Melaku http://www.malekuhostel.com/. It’s simple but the beds are comfortable and the staff is very nice. Book in advance if you decide to stay here (no affiliation to this website, I just like them). If you do this route and it works out from Alajuela, please come back and leave a comment here to help other travellers 🙂
And there is no Option First to Drive to puntarenas and then take a bus to Jaco? Thanks for your help
Yes, you can also do this. Sorry, I should have suggested this option first. You can take the bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas and then switch to the bus to Jaco in Puntarenas. Both options require two buses. Have a look at the Puntarenas page for the schedule. https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/puntarenas/
Can you advise the best Way to Get to Jaco tomorrow? Please incloude the departute Times. Thanks Tom
Hi Tom, your easiest option is to take the bus from Monteverde to San José tomorrow morning at 6:30am. It would be best for you to buy the ticket today to be sure that you get a spot. If not, get to the station early. If the bus is sold out, ask if you can still get on and stand. They usually say yes. Have a look at the photos above to see the front of the office where you will see the departure time of 6:30am. This bus will take you to the 7-10 station in San José. From there you can get on a bus to Jacó with the company Transportes Jacó. There is a bus leaving every hour until 7pm (until 8pm on Fridays). This is a long day but it is the easiest as you only have to change buses once and the buses come/go from the same place in San José. Have a great trip!
Can you advise the best way to get to Santa elena from Tamarindo. Thanks
Hi David! If I were you I would choose one of these two options:
1) Take the bus from Tamarindo to the Liberia Municipal Station. Take an early bus as this bus is ~2.5hrs (or 3.5hrs for some buses which take a longer route). From Liberia head to Puntarenas. The trip from Liberia to Puntarenas is about 3-3.5hrs and buses leave almost every hour so you need to arrive in Liberia from Tamarindo by ~9am to take the 9:30am bus headed to Puntarenas). https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/liberia-municipal/ From Puntarenas grab the bus heading to Monteverde (this bus leaves a few times but the best option is the one that leaves at 1:15pm).https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/puntarenas/
2) Take a bus from Tamarindo all the way to San Jose. This is a long trip (about 7hrs) so you need to leave early. In San Jose the bus to Monteverde leaves from the 7-10 Terminal. There are two buses each day and the afternoon bus leaves for Monteverde at 2:30pm.
**You will have to double check with a hotel or tourist info center in Tamarindo for the schedule for buses leaving Tamarindo to San Jose or Liberia. When I was last there the schedules were in a state of change. Sorry about this. I will be updating my Tamarindo information soon. For now, check with a local business or find the updated schedule in the Local Magazine.
There is a 3rd option – but it is not any easier or any more convenient than these two.
These two locations are a far distance away and so this is a long day but you can do it.
Hope this helps! Have a great trip!
Hello wondering what the journey is like from San Jose to Monteverde. And time and wheee the bus stops and arrives. Thanks!
Hi Laura! The journey from San José to Monteverde is about 4hrs. You will take the bus from the 7-10 terminal (https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/san-jose-7-10/) in San José. Have a look at that page to see where it is located. You will find a photo of the schedule on that page. The bus leaves 2 times per day at 6:30am and 2:30pm. The first part of your journey will be just getting out of the city. The second half of the journey will have you climbing in elevation on a windy road towards Monteverde/Santa Elena. The bus goes slower as the road becomes more curvy. Much of the road is not paved and is dusty. The bus wont likely be a/c but it is comfortable – and the views are stunning! Enjoy the trip!
how can i catch the bus from monteverde to tamarindo on wednesdays….thanks
Hi Kevin, there are a few ways to do this. 1) you can take the bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas, then switch busses in Puntarenas to the one going to Liberia. Then in Liberia grab one of the several buses leaving Liberia to Tamarindo from the Municipal Station. or 2) You can take the bus from Monteverde to San Jose and then switch to a bus heading directly to Tamarindo from there (see the 7-10 station or Terminal Tralapa pages). Have a great trip!
I feel so silly if I had known it was so cheap and easy I would have come i just didn’t want to pay the shuttle cost from santa teresa and thought it was too dificult and long by bus. thanks for this next time. B
Don’t feel silly Bret, lots of people choose the shuttle because it is faster and well promoted. The trip by bus is pretty nice and pretty easy. You have to change busses a few times and there is a layover in Puntarenas, but if you are on a budget then it’s a much cheaper option!