Hi, I am travelling to costa rica for the first time and want to go to several different cities using the country's public bus system. A schedule I found online makes it seem like there are no direct buses between more remote cities, but rather you'd have to take a bus back to San Jose and catch another to the next destination, which seems like quite a hassle. For instance, if I want to go from La Fortuna to Playa Tamarindo, is there a direct bus I can take? Or from Quepos/Manuel Antonio to Limon? Can anyone help?

Hey Kayla,

Not that big of a hassle, really. The bus system here is one of the best I've ever seen anywhere. The online internet bus schedules you will find are almost always wrong. I've been here 5 years and still haven't figured out the schedules. Printed schedules are non-existent. Just the same, I go anywhere I want, anytime, without a hassle.

Right, not many direct buses between remote cities, but not to worry. No matter where you are; there's likely a bus going through the town you want to be in on it's way to somewhere else.

Direct buses are not always direct as you may think. Typically, they do not stop to pick up people, but they stop a lot to let people off in the middle of nowhere. Direct is not that much faster. A 3 hour bus ride on a direct bus will typically get you to your destination about 10 to 15 minutes sooner than a non-direct; and sometimes 5 to 10 minutes later because the direct bus might stop for a lunch break. Might as well save the bucks; besides, the non-direct is more likely to pass through the little town you want to be in. The direct buses are for major points of interest. Typically the bigger towns or tourists attractions.

Don't sweat it. If you Spanish sucks, and you want to go to Limon, all you have to say is: "Where is bus, Limon" --- Don-day is booos, Lee-moan" -- Better yet, spot any black person and just ask in English.

Hope this helped,

Charlie --- feel free to contact me at boman2005@hotmail.com