Depending on where you want to go, there are two separate stations in Liberia. The Pulmitan de Liberia station is the one you want if you are heading to San Jose, Playa del Coco, Upala, Aguas Claras, La Juntas. Photos of the most current schedules can be found below.
If you are heading to Nicoya, Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo, Puntarenas or Peñas Blancas you need to head to the Municipal Station. Both stations are located within two blocks of each other, so relax, don’t stress, if you end up at the wrong one it is only about a 5 minute walk to the other.
If you have a bit of time to spend in Liberia, check the Santa Rosa National Park and Liberia city tour package with Gecko Trail.
It looks like the company has a new website: Groupos Caribeños – and they have added a schedule. Finally!
Liberia to San José
We were back here May 2017 to update everything. The photo of the schedule below is a bit hard to read so here it is:
3am, 3:25am (only Monday), 4am, 4am (Playa del Coco), 5am, 6am, 7am, 8am, 8am (Playa del Coco), 10am, 11am (only Monday), 12pm, 1pm (only Fri, Sat, Sun), 2pm (Playa del Coco), 3pm (Fri, Sat, Sun), 4pm, 5pm (Fri, Sat, Sun), 6pm, 8pm
The price is 4225₡ (Dec 2018). The trip takes about 4.5 hrs. Directo buses are about 1/2hr shorter. This bus should pass the SJO airport in Alajuela. But always double-check with the driver when you get on.
San José to Liberia
6am, 7am(directo), 8am (Playa del Coco), 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm (directo), 1pm, 2pm (Playas del Coco), 3pm 4pm (Playa del Coco), 5pm (directo), 6pm, 8pm
The price is 4225₡ (Dec 2018). The trip takes about 4.5 hrs. Directo buses are about 1/2hr shorter. This bus should pass the SJO airport in Alajuela. But always double-check with the driver when you get on.
Liberia to Playa del Coco
Buses leave every half hour from 6am to 8pm both ways. The price as of May 2017 is 675₡ and the trip is about 1hr. This bus does not pass the Liberia Airport. Only buses leaving the Municipal station pass the airport.
Liberia to Aguas Claras
Photo of the schedule below.
Liberia to La Juntas
One per day at 2:15pm
Liberia to Upala
Two buses there and two back. To Upala they go at 12:30pm and 3:30pm and back they go at 5:45am and 7:45am.
San José to Playa del Coco
Three buses there and 3 buses back. 8am, 2pm and 4pm. Returning from Playa del Coco to San José at 4am, 8am and 2am. The price as of May 2017 is 4665₡. This bus should pass the SJO airport in Alajuela. But always double-check with the driver when you get on.
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!
Hello, do we need to purchase tickets in advance or can we pay the driver directly? If so, do we need the exact amounts? If we need tickets, do you know where to buy them in Playas del Coco? Thanks mate, excellent site!!
Hi Danny, you can purchase tickets in advance at the station only in Liberia. Its the busy season so if you don’t be sure to arrive about 1hr early for your bus. You pay for the bus at the station. You don’t need exact amounts, there is a ticket seller that can give you change. In playa del coco there is a marked bus stop. If you check google maps you can see where it is. I have not done this trip in a while but if there is no formal location to buy tickets (ask a local or your hotel if you are there currently) then you will likely be able to buy from the driver and he will be able to make you change. Have a great trip!
Great, thanks mate! Pura Vida!
You can buy the tickets a day or two ahead of time and that way you are sure to get a seat. There is a Pulmitan station. Any cab driver can get you there.
Here is the website for this bus company: https://grupocaribenos.net
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Pulmitan-de-liberia-235807189780829/about/?ref=page_internal
What time does the Pulmitan station closes in SJ? I’d like to buy my 6am bus ticket the day before.
Sorry Juliet, I don’t know the office hours.
Two busses from Liberia to Upala. One 12,30 pm and the other one 3,30 pm. The above is not correct.
Thank you, Corina! I will make the change above.
A que hora es el primer bus para san jose
Hi Jermy, the schedule is written above. There is also a photo of the schedule above. El primero bus de libera a San José es las 3 en la mañana.
Thank you for posting this information! I am planning on taking the bus from San Jose to Liberia in a few weeks and you made it easy.
Hi Melinda! Thanks for the nice comment. I hope your trip goes well. Please let us know if anything on the schedule changes as we want to keep the best most up-to-date info possible! 🙂
Thanks for the answer. I have another question.
The bus that runs from Bagaces to Guayabo: where does it stop ?
My hotel is 8 km in the north of Guayabo, I am afraid to walk that much.
I’m sorry, Marie-France, I don’t have information about the Guayabo bus stop.
Hello. I want to take the bus from Liberia airport to playa del coco on december 25, around 2 pm. It seems possible from this page and the pictures (those are great!). Is it really ? and I wonder on the way back, is there a way to know the time when the bus come by playa del coco coming from San Jose and going to Liberia airport ?
Thank you so much, muchas gracias 😉
Hi Marie-France! Yes there are several buses to Playa Del Coco from Liberia (about every half hour). On Christmas day these times should be the same but I can’t 100% guarantee that. The bus between Liberia and Playa del Coco does not pass the Liberia Airport. You need to come all the way back to Liberia and then switch to the Municipal Station and get the bus from there. Any bus to/from Tamarindo or Nicoya will pass the Airport. BUT always ask the driver when you get on the bus! There are 3 buses to Playa del Coco from San José and 3 buses back. You can check out the San Jose terminal and they pass SJO airport in Alajuela. Here is the station in San Jose. https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/san-jose-pulmitan-station/