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.
Me gustaría saber si el autobus de 8 a flamingo pasa por la playa brasilito??
Buenos días, quisiera saber cuanto esta costando el pasaje hasta Playa Hermosa Guanacaste y por cual autopista se va, por la general cañas o por la Bernardo Soto ?
I want to ask about the hours of the bus from Tamarindo to San Jose, and where I can buy tickets?
Hola. Buenas tardes. Quisiera saber si hay un bus que llegue a playa hermosa cerca del club Condovac . O como hago para llegarealizar a ese hotel.
No estoy segura, es major a preguntar su hotel. El bus de San Jose pasa circa de este lugar pero no pasa afrente de el hotel.
You guys need to change the number you have listed for Tralapa tamarindo. 2653-0935 is no longer Tralapas numer.
Thanks for sharing. The companies seem to change their numbers often, let us know if you have the new number.
May I ask you for price? You put ¢5800 but for 6hoirs ride I don’t think so is correct.
Thank you
Hi Lucy, yes this is the correct price. A traveller confirmed they paid 5500 on February 3rd. https://centrocoasting.com/costarica/tamarindo/
Hi! I wanted to confirm that there is a bus leaving Playa Flamingo for San Jose on Monday March 19th at 8:30AM. Also, what is the exact address of the Playa Flamingo bus station? I wanted to double check because I have missed many buses before.
Hi Whitney, sorry for the slow reply, I can’t confirm specific buses for specific days, you’ll have to call the bus company to confirm. There is a bus stop indicated on Google Maps. It’s been a while since I have been there so if you want to be 100% positive I’d go and have a quick look to see if its there or ask you hotel if it’s moved. https://www.google.ca/maps/place//@10.4351013,-85.7971931,15z/data=!4m17!1m9!3m8!1s0x8f9e2515837bf2a1:0xf8b4cbf3c601141f!2sGuanacaste+Province,+Playa+Flamingo,+Costa+Rica!3b1!5m1!1s2018-04-08!8m2!3d10.4316532!4d-85.784604!3m6!1s0x8f9e251458fc955f:0xa8af5afabbb90c83!5m1!1s2018-04-08!8m2!3d10.4382433!4d-85.7898733
De que hora a que venden los tiquetes para ver si me da chance de ir a comprarlos un día antes, gracias
Hola Olkan, puede comprar el tiquetes el dia antes en el terminal. No somos una agencia, solo viajeros. Hay una photo arriba que mostra los numeros de telephono que quere llamar antes por los horas. Bien viaje!