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!
Hi!!
Just found this incredible we site, so helpful!
We actualy are in Quepos and Would like to get to Monteverde / Santa Elena, would it be better to do Quepos-SJO-MV or Quepos-Puntarenas-MV?
Also any recommendation for best zipline in MV/SantaElena?
Thank you very much!!
Hey! I would go via Puntarenas. It’s faster! Also, it’s been 7yrs since I went ziplining but we went to Xtremo I think it was called and it was supposed to have the longest ride.
Hi, Transmonteverde has a new timetable.
Monteverde-San Jose
5:30am and 2:30pm
San Jose-Monteverde
6:30am and 2:30pm
Cost is ₡3035
Thank you!
Bear in mind that the 5:30 bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas is not going on Sundays. The 6:00 is, though, current price 1590 colones.
Thanks! Always good to know when Sunday buses are different.
Hey guys, the 6am bus from Monteverde to Puntarenas still exists. I used it 3 days ago and it was quiet easy.
Does anyone have a good idea how to come relatively easy from Quepos to the Corcovado National Park? And where would be the best town to stay for 2-3 days? Would like to see the Park and do a kayaking tour in Golfo Dulce.
Thanks guys
Thank you for the info. Sorry for the slow reply. Hope you had a great time in the Park!
Hi, what would be the best way to get to Hojancha from Monteverde? I see that the bus is not currently operating due to the road closures but trying to plan the trip for whenever they resume service again.
Many thanks 🙏🏼
Hi Brian, sorry we don’t have any alternate route info for the road closure right now. I recommend going to the tourist information or to the bus terminal where you buy the tickets and see what they recommend.
We’re a couple traveling from Canada and we just completed the route from Monteverde (Santa Elena) to Playas del Coco. Here is what we did, as I’m sure it will help some people:
1- We took the TransMonteverde bus at 6am, headed to Puntarenas with a stop in Lagarto. The ticket cost 875 colones.
2- We got off the bus at Lagarto, right at the entrance of the InterAmericana Highway. There is no official station or bus stop, but you’ll know it’s there because the dirt road stops and a paved road cuts the way. There’s also a green road side indicating « Puntarenas » left and « Liberia » right. We got there at about 8am.
3- At 8:30am, a blue bus came down the highway with a Liberia sign in its front window. We flagged it down and got on board. The ticket cost 2350 colones.
4- We arrived in Liberia, walked a couple blocks to the Pulmitan Terminal, bought our tickets (710 colones each) and got on the bus right away. It left 5 minutes later, at 10:30am.
5- We arrived in Coco at 11:30 am! The trip went just fine. The connections were easy and the buses were on time. All in all, we only waited 30 minutes in Lagarto. The trip took 5h30 and cost about $8 US per person, versus 4 hours and $40-50 for a shuttle. Totally worth it 🙂
Thank you! this is helpful.
Update !
From Monteverde bus station Take the 06:00 am bus To Puntarenas (1300 colones) The dirt road end’s a lot sooner now (Guacimal) And get off at the jonction with the rt.1 pan am.(1km. after Sardinal there is a big service station on the left corner ) +/- 07:50 Get out and To the right is the bus stop for the blue bus heading To Liberia +/- 08:00 (2825 colones)! Arriving in Liberia +/- 10:30
Lagarto ? Never could find it !??
Normand Morin
P.S.i paid the driver in Monteverde , but you can by your ticket in advance at the office !
Hi,
I’m slightly confused by this update. After the first bus heading towards puntarenas, you got off at guacimal?
And did you walk 1km to the bus stop for the bus heading to Liberia?
We just did the gecko trail tour from fortuna to monteverde: it is just a 1,5 h horseride, the rest of the tour will be done by car and boat, plus our baggage which we of course could not take with me on the horse has been opened by somebody. So I would not recommend it to anyone. Greetings, Anna
Just want to verify the La Irma schedule. I forgot to snap a picture of the board above the stop but the bus passes at 10 am and 3 pm. it works as a good waypoint for anyone coming from Samara, Nosara, or elsewhere in that part of the peninsula. There is a covered bus stop along highway 145 across from the gas station on 1 (the Inter American highway?), past the taxi lot. Though I can’t speak to how consistent the taxis are, there was at least one waiting in the little lot for the better part of the day to catch passengers who were headed in one direction or the other.
Oh! the fare was about 2500 colones for two people at the time of posting (7/14/2018) and getting on at that stop we were not allowed to put baggage beneath the bus though we didn’t press the issue.
Thanks, Sky! Great info contribution.