Tamarindo is one area where the bus schedules are totally loco! We do our best to keep this page updated as much as possible with the constantly changing schedules! Please, leave us a comment if the times are correct/incorrect so we can make sure we are as up-to-date as possible. Thank you!
There are 3 different bus companies that provide service to Tamarindo.
1) Transportes La Pampa – goes back and forth to Liberia Municipal Station. These buses leave from in front of the Plaza. See map and photos below.
2) Empresa Alfaro – which goes back and forth to the Terminal 7-10 in San José. This bus leaves from Calle Cruz see map and photos.
3) Tralapa – which goes back and forth to the Terminal Tralapa in San José . This bus leaves from in front of the Plaza. See map and photos.
To and from Liberia
Transportes La Pampa: From the Liberia Municipal Station
Purchase your ticket to Tamarindo from the ticket window at the Liberia Terminal de buses Municipal. And from the driver if you are leaving Tamarindo. As of January 2018 the trip to costs 1400₡ and takes about 2.5hrs depending on time of day. We asked the ticket vender to write out the schedule and it is in the photos below (May 2017)
Liberia to Tamarindo: 3:50am, 4:30am, 5:15am , 6:10am*, 7:10am, 8:10am, 10:10am*(only Sat+Sun), 11:10am*, 1:10pm, 2:10pm, 4:10pm, 5:10pm, 6:10pm*. Both ways.
*longer route through Flamingo, Brasilito, Matapalo (~3hrs).
Tamarindo to Liberia: 3:30am, 4:30am, 5:45am, 7:30am, 9am, 10am, 11:30, 1pm, 2:15pm, 4:15pm, 5pm. Likely also 6:30pm but we will confirm soon.
Liberia Airport to Tamarindo
Normally the bus going both to and from Tamarindo will pass right in front of the airport. However, we have had reports of the bus not making the detour off the main highway to the airport doors. The distance from the highway to the airport doors is about 2km. This is one of the annoying inconsistencies in the CR bus service! If you are headed to the airport make sure you ask the driver if he is going to the airport.
If you are coming from Tamarindo it takes about 2hrs to get to the airport and if you are coming from Liberia it will pass about 20 minutes after the scheduled time above.
To and from San José
Empresa Alfaro: to and from the 7-10 Terminal San José
From San José to Tamarindo buses leave at 11:30am and 3:30pm.
From Tamarindo to San José buses leave at 3:30am (via Liberia) and 5:30am (via Puente la Amistad) and on Sundays there is an extra bus at 1pm (via Liberia).
This bus costs 5700₡ as of Feb 2019 and takes about 6hrs. The bus via Puente La Amistad is about 1/2 hr faster. It leaves from Calle Cruz see map and photos. Have a look at the Terminal 7-10 to see where you end up. Not a bad idea to get your ticket at least one day before. However if it is full you will likely be allowed to stand.
Tralapa: to and from the Tralapa Terminal San José
From San José to Tamarindo buses go at 7am and 4pm. From Tamarindo to San José buses go at 7:30am and 2pm. Both through Liberia. Price as of February 2018 is 5500₡ and the trip takes 6 – 6.5hrs. This bus leaves from in front of the Plaza. See map and photos. Tickets can be purchased beforehand at the small soda in front of Hotel Portofino, diagonal from the plaza. Your ticket can also be purchased from the bus driver at pickup. Not a bad idea to get your ticket at least one day before. However if it is full you will likely be allowed to stand. Check out where you end up in San José: Terminal Tralapa.
Tamarindo to Monteverde
Here is our latest traveller advice for this trip, Feb 2019: “We took the 5.30am Bus to San Jose (ca. 5700 Colones) leaving Tamarindo from the Plaza and a few other stops in Tamarindo. We got off the Bus at the Gas Station where it goes to Sardinal at 8.45am (Road 606). Then we waited for the Bus that was coming from San Jose (it leaves SJ at 5.30am and goes directly to Monteverde). We got the Bus at around 9.10am (it was 3000 Colones) and it took another 1.5h to Monteverde. Arrived there at 10.45am. Ca. 8700C and 5h15min.” (Feb 2019)
Check the comments below for how to get from Monteverde.
Fun stuff to do
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.
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!
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!
How can I share a photo of the Soda that you can purchase your tralapA tickets at in Tamarindo.
Hola!, tengo que realizar varios viajes y me gustaría saber si los buses tralapa paran o recogen gente en Cañas, Guanacaste con destino hacia San José? y en qué horarios de la madrugada pasarían los días sábados?
Gracias…
Hi there, we are coming into SJO at noon on a Sunday and we’re trying to figure out which bus to take to tamarindo. Can’t beat the price of the Empresa Alfaro at 7-10 Terminal but we were wondering if we need to buy tickets ahead of time and if so is there a secure link to an online check out? Or can we just show up and get tickets?
Also just wanted to check the times of the departures on a Sunday, I just realized they may differ then weekday schedules we’ve found online. Is there still a 3:30 departure from the 7-10 Terminal on a Sunday?
to Monteverde:
We took the 5.30am Bus to San Jose (ca. 5700 Colones) leaving Tamarindo from the Plaza and a few other stops in Tamarindo.
We got off the Bus at the Gas Station where it goes to Sardinal at 8.45am (Road 606).
Then we waited for the Bus that was coming from San Jose (it leaves SJ at 5.30am and goes directly to Monteverde).
We got the Bus at around 9.10am (it was 3000 Colones) and it took another 1.5h to Monteverde. Arrived there at 10.45am.
Ca. 8700C and 5h15min.
Solid contribution, Patrick. Thanks, I added it above.
Hey guys,
Just an update. You can pay the fare directly to the driver (the guy told me at the office, if you buy the thicket from the office they have to charge you for the full route) and tell him you wanna go until La Irma. Charged me 3300 colones.
From La Irma I told the driver I’ll go to Monteverde and he charged me 1700 colones. Today 04.09.2019
Happy travels!
Hi! I will be flying into Liberia around 10pm in December. Hoping to get to Tamarindo that night/ or early morning. What is the best option for bussing?
You’ll be too late for a bus in the evening but you can catch one of the many buses going to Tamarindo in the morning from the Municipal station in Liberia. Check the station page for more info.
There is a shuttle service from the airport to Tamarindo , $20 US . You have to book in advance , Contact Tamarindo Transfer and Tours , https://tamarindoshuttle.com/
Thanks for the info Joanie. Though the bus is a fraction of the cost and very frequent, it’s good to know shuttle options in case of emergency.
Hi, I am looking for a bus that will take me from Tamarindo to San Jose on Nov 13. Do you happen to know what time the bus will pick up in Tamarindo and how long it takes to get to San Jose? Will the bus drop me off at the San Jose airport?
Hi Kristin, we have lots of information above to help answer your question. There is a section about travel between San Jose and Tamarindo – and also lots of great comments below from travellers for extra information.
I will be arriving at the Liberia airport and heading to Tamarindo. Will I have to walk the 2km to catch the bus or should it come to the airport on the way from Liberia to Tamarindo?
Hi Bryan, in the past the bus has always passed in front of the doors of the Airport. When you get to the airport just confirm this with one of the people who work there.
We used the Tamarindo to La Irma to Monteverde route. It worked great. We took the 5:30AM Alfaro bus to San Jose, and asked the driver to drop us off at La Irma. We got to La Irma around 8:30 and had a quick bite at the restaurant there. There were two buses to Monteverde, 10AM and 3PM. I have a pic of the schedule, but I don’t know if I can post it here. The only thing to keep in mind is that you wait at the right bus stop. There are a couple right in that intersection, and you want to be sure to wait at the one on the road to La Juntas!
Safe travels everyone! We made it From Tamarindo to Santa Elena in 6.5 hrs!
Thank you for taking time to contribute! Comments like yours are super helpful to other travellers!
I would like to do this tomorrow. Do you know where I can get the bus tickets?
Hey thanks for all the information about this trip! I was just looking the confirm that the bus going in the direction of La Juntas goes to Santa Elena and continues onward to Monteverde?
Cheers 🙂
I believe it does.