Samara has two main spots to wait for the bus depending on where you are going. Lots of information below but here is a website we found to check out schedules. https://www.samarainfocenter.com/local-bus-schedule
Samara to San José
If you are going to San José there is a direct bus, it will stop across from the Empresa Alfaro office in town. This location is indicated on the map above and the schedule for this bus can be found below. This is a really nice a/c bus. As of Aprils 2017 the price is 4265₡ and the trip takes about 5hrs.
San José to Samara
There is a bus that leaves the Terminal 7-10 two times per day: 12pm and 5pm. To Samara it’s about 5.5hrs and costs 4265₡ (2017).
Samara to Nicoya
For buses heading back to Nicoya you can wait at a covered bus stop right at the exit of town – about 20 meters away from the Alfaro office. Have a look at the photos below to see this stop. This bus will pass La Bomba – which is where you need to get off for buses to Nosara, see below. As of 2016 the price is about 1800₡ and the trip takes 1.5hrs.
To/from Nosara:
To go between Samara and Nosara you need to head to “La Bomba” a few miles outside of Samara. This is basically a junction between Samara and Nosara. When leaving Samara you can take the Nicoya bus and ask the driver to let you off here. Or, grab a taxi. There is a covered bus stop there where you can wait for the bus to pass. There is a chance you will have to wait a bit here for a connecting bus and you can check the schedule posted on the Nicoya page to get a sense of when the respective bus will pass. La Bomba is about an hour away from Nicoya.
Liberia Airport to Samara
In Liberia the bus to Nicoya will pass by the airport very regularly. You can grab this bus to Nicoya and then from there you can switch to the bus to Samara. Have a look at the Nicoya page for the schedule to Samara.
What to do in Samara?
Lots to do around here: Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling, Night Time Turtle Watching, Stand Up Paddle Boarding and much, much more!
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!
Today, San José ( terminal 7 – 10) at 12am >>> Samara 5:15pm for 4435 colones. You can purchase the ticket on the second floor (be there early because the bus is quickly full, I traveled without a seat. I think some people had bought the ticket online)
Took bus with direction to Nicoya and got down to La Bomba. Paid 1000 colones.
Samara is 5 km from there. Hitchiked but there is bus.
Bus Nosara to Nicoya:
Weekdays and Sat: 5am, 6 am, 7am, 12, 3:30 pm
Sunday: 6,7,12 and 3 pm
Samara –> San José earlier this week. Departed at 9am (well, 9:15 in the end) and was at 7-10 by 14:30. Good trip. Most of the information above is still accurate, just a couple of points to note:
-The front of the ticket office looks different and is now an Italian shop called ‘Salumi y formaggi’. The Alfaro agency on the side is still there and opens at 8am.
-Departure times to San José are the same.
-Alfaro uses the MiBus platform, but two passengers who purchased online never received QR code tickets. They weren’t allowed to board until they purchased new tickets. I purchased a ticket in dollars at the agency without issue.
-Cost is higher than 4295 but still less than 5000.
-The A/C is great until the bus fills past capacity at Nicoya! 🙂
Keep up the great work, Centrocoasting.