If you are headed to Playa Panama, Playa Flamingo, Playa Tamarindo or Santa Cruz from San José then the Terminal Tralapa is one of your bus travel options for the Guanacaste region. Have a look at the images below to see a recent photo of the schedule and what the inside of the station looks like.

Trip Planning

If you are still planning for your upcoming trip, I am told this Trip Planner from Gecko Trail is quite useful to help you prioritize where you want to spend your time! Gecko Trail is a ICT certified Travel Agency that has great core values and gives back to the community. So much to see and do in this beautiful country!

San Jose to Flamingo (through  Brasilito)

The bus to Brasilito and Flamingo leaves at 8am, 10:30am and 3pm. Price is ~ ¢5800

You could also take this bus if you are going to Tamarindo and get off near Huacas and then get a taxi from there the rest of the way. Ask the bus driver before you get on if he will let you off near Tamarindo.

San Jose to Tamarindo

There are only 2 buses leaving at 7am and 4pm and costs. Price as of February 2018 is 5500¢. For directions going the other way, check the Tamarindo page.

You can also take the buses going to Playa Flamingo and get off near Huacas and then take a taxi the rest of the way. Ask the bus driver before you get on if he will let you off near Tamarindo.

There is also service to Tamarindo at 11:30am and 3:30pm, with another company named Empresa Alfaro. These buses depart from the Terminal 7-10, which only about a half a block away. This company also makes several trips a day to Santa Cruz. Have a look at 7-10 page to see a recent photo of the schedule.

If you want to get to know the area around Tamarindo in a more intimate setting, check out the Mangrove and Estuary boat tour for close up views of wildlife and local surrounding wetlands.

San Jose to  Santa Cruz

This bus has service at 7am, 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and costs ~ 4600¢

If you are trying to go to Liberia or Playa del Coco then your best option is to go to the Pulmitan station, which is just a few blocks away. There are regular buses leaving all day long from here to Liberia and there is direct service to Playa del Coco at 8am, 2pm, and 4pm.