Planning to travel from San Jose to Tortuguero without relying on shuttle transfers or rental cars?
We recently made this journey ourselves using public transport only. It involves two bus rides and a scenic boat trip through the jungle-fringed canals of Caribbean Costa Rica.
So, to help you tackle this trip with confidence, we are now here to share a definitive guide on how to get from San Jose to Tortuguero by bus and boat, with all the practical details you need to know.
San Jose to Tortuguero: Route Summary
The trip is broken into three segments.
Each leg has its own quirks and logistics, but we are going to equip you with all the details to navigate the trip end-to-end.
| Trip Segments | Tickets |
|---|---|
| 🚌 San Jose to Cariari: A bus ride from Costa Rica’s capital to the local town of Cariari | Online here or at the bus terminal |
| 🚌 Cariari to Pavona: A second bus through rural landscapes to the river dock at Pavona | At the bus terminal, on the bus |
| 🛥️ Pavona to Tortuguero: A boat ride through the jungle canals | Online here or online here (use code PARADISE5 for 5% off) or on the bus from Cariari or at the dock |
➡️ Read this post instead on how to get to Tortuguero:
- if, from San Jose, you plan to rent a car or take a domestic flight or book a shuttle transfer
- if your journey starts from Moin, and not San Jose
But without shuttles, rental cars or flights, here’s how you can get from San Jose to Tortuguero by bus and boat. Keep reading for the details.
San Jose to Cariari by Bus
Where to Get the Bus for Cariari from San Jose?
📍 To catch the bus from San Jose to Cariari, you need to get to Gran Terminal del Caribe near downtown San Jose.
🚘 You can easily get to this terminal by Uber from anywhere in the city or from your hotel near the San Jose Airport.
🚌 Gran Terminal del Caribe is busy but organized, with clean bathrooms, a few snack stands and security.
San Jose-Cariari Bus Tickets Booking
For buying bus tickets from San Jose to Cariari, you have 2 options:
- Buy at the ticket counter at the bus terminal. You can pay in cash only.
- Buy online on the MiBus website. But there’s a catch.
💰 San Jose to Cariari bus ticket costs 2025 CRC per person.
If you buy online, it will be 2345.36 CRC per person, including the charges and taxes collected by MiBus.
Now, here’s the catch: On MiBus wesbite, it only shows the last bus (7:00 pm) from San Jose to Cariari.
But, most likely, you would want to take a morning bus so that you can make all the connections and complete the journey to Tortuguero in one day.
✅ Let me assure you, you can still buy tickets on MiBus for the bus that says “ÚLTIMO BUS 07:00:00 PM”
This is an open ticket with unnumbered seat.
So, basically, if you have a bus ticket for that date, you can board the bus at any scheduled hour, on a first come first serve basis.
I figured this because when we purchased our San Jose-Cariari bus tickets from the bus terminal ticket counter for the 9:00 am bus, the printed paper ticket had the same written on it as mibus, that is, “ULTIMO BUS 07:00 PM”.
So, based on this theory, for our return trip, I took the chance of booking Cariari-San Jose bus ticket on mibus. Although it said “last bus 6:00 pm”, we were fine to board the 3:30 pm bus from Cariari by queuing up for it before departure.
San Jose-Cariari Bus Timings
Here are the bus schedules for San Jose to Cariari, and for Cariari to San Jose:
| San Jose to Cariari | Cariari to San Jose |
|---|---|
| 6:30 am | 5:30 am |
| 9:00 am | 6:00 am (only Sundays) |
| 1:00 pm | 7:30 am |
| 3:00 pm | 9:30 am |
| 4:30 pm | 12:00 noon |
| 7:00 pm | 3:30 pm |
| 6:00 pm |
⏳ The bus ride from San Jose to Cariari takes about 2 hours.
However, on our trip back from Cariari to San Jose, it took 3.5 hours. Rain, evening traffic piling up on the highway as well in the city, all played their parts for the overall delay.
What to Expect on the Journey
The San Jose to Cariari bus journey starts in the urban outskirts, winds on to the mountainous Ruta 32 highway, goes through the Zurquí tunnel, and continues on the highway through the lush Braulio Carrillo National Park, before hitting the towns of Guapiles and Cariari.
The bus is basic but comfortable, with cushioned seats and fair legroom. There is no air-conditioning, neither USB ports.
There is overhead storage for small bags. If you have larger luggage, you can stow them in the compartment below the bus. Do not leave any valuables there.
Tips
🚻 Bathroom: The bus does not make any official rest stops. So use the bathroom at the bus terminal before boarding. Cost is 300 CRC per person, to be paid in cash.
🥪 Snacks: Grab snacks and beverages before boarding the bus. Food vendors may or may not hop on en route. There were none on our onward trip.
🎒 Luggage: Large bags go under the bus and small bags in overhead luggage rack. Keep valuables and essentials, with you, in your daypack.
Pro Tip: Do not rely on the signage of the bus lanes. Show your ticket to an official and ask which bus to board for Cariari. We almost missed our bus despite arriving early.
Cariari to Pavona by Bus
Where to Get the Bus for Pavona from Cariari?
The San Jose-Cariari bus drops you here, marked on Google Maps as Terminal De Autobuses San José – Cariari.
The bus from Pavona to Cariari departs from here, marked on Maps as Terminal de Autobuses Coopetraca.
So, technically, you would need to make this 2-minute walk to catch the bus for Pavona from Cariari.
However, these days, the bus for Pavona comes to the first terminal to collect passengers who are connecting by the San Jose-Cariari bus.
📍 So, you can board the Cariari-Pavona right where you get down from the first bus, at Terminal De Autobuses San José – Cariari.
🚌 This is a small terminal with clean bathrooms and a small convenience store.
Cariari-Pavona Bus Tickets Booking
You cannot buy tickets for Cariari-Pavona bus in advance. Neither do you need to.
💰 Cariari to Pavona bus ticket costs 1500 CRC per person. You pay onboard to the driver or a conductor for this ride.
Cariari-Pavona Bus Timings
Here are the bus schedules for Cariari to Pavona, and for Pavona to Cariari:
| Cariari to Pavona | Pavona to Cariari |
|---|---|
| 5:00 am | 6:00 am |
| 11:30 am | 12:30 pm |
| 3:00 pm | 4:00 pm |
⏳ The bus ride from Cariari to Pavona takes 1 hour.
What to Expect on the Journey
This segment of the journey is more rural, passing through banana plantations, cattle farms and isolated communities.
The bus is smaller and basic. It’s a local bus and may fill up quickly. There’s no proper luggage compartment, so plan your bags accordingly.
The ride can get bumpy on some stretches of unpaved roads, particularly after rains.
Tips
🚻 Bathroom: There’s no onboard restroom and neither there are any scheduled rest stops. So, use the bathroom at the bus terminal in Cariari or wait until you reach the Pavona boat dock.
🥪 Snacks: Food options are limited near the terminal in Cariari. So pack snacks from before or wait until Pavona. We got bakery items from the bus terminal in San Jose for consumption during the later part of the journey
🎒 Luggage: Space is tighter. Hold onto your daypack and keep larger bags stowed near the door.
Pavona to Tortuguero by Boat
Where to Get the Boat from Pavona to Tortuguero?
📍 The Cariari-Pavona bus drops you at the Pavona parking lot. This is where you will board the public boat to Tortuguero.
There is a restaurant at this location.
There are multiple companies offering this boat ride service to Tortuguero.
So, once you arrive at the Pavona dock, you may be approached by several people trying to sell their boat ride.
However, you can be spared the chaos if you already have your boat tickets and know where to go.
Pavona-Tortuguero Boat Tickets Booking
You have 4 options to buy tickets for Pavona to Tortuguero boat ride:
📱 Option 1: Buy online in advance on the Tiketico website. You will need to plan your connections schedule well.
📱 Option 2: Buy online in advance on Bookaway and choose from various providers and schedules. Use our code PARADISE5 to get a 5% discount.
🅿️ Option 3: Once you get down from the bus at Pavona parking, buy the tickets there from one of the companies. You will need to pay in cash.
🎟️ Option 4: On the bus from Cariari to Pavona, there may be a guy selling boat tickets when collecting the bus ride price. So you can pay for both Cariari-Pavona bus and Pavona-Tortuguero boat to the guy on board the bus from Cariari.
The boat could be some other local company, but the service and the price are the same. Once your bus arrives at the dock, a boat guy will come to you and lead you to your boat. You won’t need to deal with any seller.
💰 Pavona to Tortuguero boat ride costs 4000 CRC per person. Buying online can cost a few hundred colones more for the service charge and taxes collected by the website.
Pavona-Tortuguero Boat Timings
There are many providers serving the boat route between Pavona and Tortuguero.
Here is the boat service schedule of Asotortutrans del Caribe, one of the official public transport providers.
| Pavona to Tortuguero | Tortuguero to Pavona |
|---|---|
| 6:00 am | 5:00 am |
| 7:30 am | 7:00 am |
| 9:00 am | 9:00 am |
| 11:00 am | 11:00 am |
| 1:00 pm | 1:00 pm |
| 3:00 pm | 2:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday) |
| 4:30 pm | 3:00 pm |
⏳ The boat ride from Pavona to Tortuguero can take 45-90 minutes, depending on the river water level.
What to Expect on the Journey
The boat is a narrow, covered lancha.
The ride is scenic, along the canals and river surrounded by dense rainforest. Keep an eye out as you may be able to spot monkeys, caimans and colorful birds.
Depending on the season, you may experience rain or sun, so pack accordingly.
Tips
🚻 Bathroom: You can use the restrooms at the restaurant in Pavona. If you do not buy anything from the restaurant and just need to use the bathroom, you’ll need to pay 500 CRC per person, in cash.
🥪 Snacks: The restaurant at Pavona serves basic meals and cold beverages. So, if you have the time, you can refuel before the boat ride. We chose to wait until we got to Tortuguero for a hearty sit-down meal at a riverside restaurant.
🎒 Luggage: Protect your belongings from possible splashes or rain. Use waterproof covers for your luggage and use dry bags for your valuables.
Essential Tips for the Journey from San Jose to Tortuguero
💵 Bring Cash: Bring cash in small denominations. Card payment options are rare along the route.
🥐 Snacks and Beverages: Stock up in San Jose since food options are limited along the route.
💦 Waterproofing: Waterproof your luggage for the boat ride. Use dry bag for valuables and gadgets.
⏰ Schedule: Aim for an early departure from San Jose. Missing a connection means waiting hours or overnight.
⏳ Timing: Allow at least 6+ hours for the total journey, factoring in schedules, connections, and possible delays.
💊 Health: If you are prone to motion sickness, consider bringing medication for the river journey.
🔙 For making the trip from Tortuguero to San Jose, follow the same passage, just in reverse order. Refer to the schedules we shared above.
Real Example: How to Connect All the Schedules
I understand that taking note of all the schedules of bus, bus and boat, and making all the connections on time for this trip from San Jose to Tortuguero, can sound perplexing. But it’s doable.
🚌🛥️ So, to simplify planning your trip, here are examples of which connections you can take for your journey from San Jose to Tortuguero and then, back from Tortuguero to san Jose.
San Jose to Tortuguero
Considering it can take up to an hour to get to the Gran Caribe bus terminal in San Jose, let’s aim to get you onboard the 9:00 am bus from San Jose to Cariari. So here’s how you can plan the trip:
| Segment | Departure | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose to Cariari | Bus | 9:00 am | 2 hours |
| Cariari to Pavona | Bus | 11:30 am | 1 hour |
| Pavona to Tortuguero | Boat | 1:00 pm | 1-1.5 hours |
This leaves enough cushion to purchase tickets, use bathrooms, and buy snacks without feeling rushed.
Tortuguero to San Jose
Reverse your steps. Plan your journey so that you can catch the bus for San Jose by 3:30 pm without needing to rely on the last bus from Cariari at 6:00 pm.
| Segment | Departure | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tortuguero to Pavona | Boat | 11:00 am | 1-1.5 hours |
| Pavona to Cariari | Bus | 12:30 pm | 1 hour |
| Cariari to San Jose | Bus | 3:30 pm | 2 hours (subject to traffic) |
In case you wish to stay in Tortuguero a bit longer and take the next boat at 1:00 pm, but still make the 3:30 pm bus from Cariari to San Jose, there’s an alternative way.
Yorlenny, the woman at the Asotortutrans Del Caribe office in Tortuguero explained this option to us, and we were able to carry it out without any issues. Thanks Yorlenny 🙂
In this alternative plan, you replace the Pavona-Cariari bus by a shared taxi ride from Pavona dock to Cariari. Upon arrival in Cariari, you’ll need to walk for about 5 minutes to get to the bus terminal.
The cost changes from 1500 CRC per person for the bus to 2500 CRC per person for the shared taxi, to be paid in cash, colones or dollars.
Here’s how this plan can work out:
| Segment | Departure | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tortuguero to Pavona | Boat | 1:00 pm | 1-1.5 hours |
| Pavona to Cariari | Shared Taxi | When the boat arrives | 45 minutes |
| Cariari to San Jose | Bus | 3:30 pm | 2 hours (subject to traffic) |
Final Thoughts
Traveling from San Jose to Tortuguero by bus and boat is not only affordable, it gives you glimpses into the local life in the rural places of Caribbean Costa Rica.
Also, since Tortuguero is not connected by any road, even if you rent a car, you will have to leave it at the Pavona parking lot for a steep price of 8000 CRC per night.
So, if you are going to spend a few nights in Tortuguero, using the public transport option for getting there may sound like a more practical and sensible choice.
Now that you have all the information on how to get from San Jose to Tortuguero by bus and boat, here are our other resources for planning your Tortuguero trip:
- Tortuguero National Park
- Hiking Cerro Tortuguero
- Turtle Nesting Tour in Tortuguero
- How to Get to Tortuguero – if not taking the bus from San Jose
Travel Resources
- Flights: Skyscanner
- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
- Travel Insurance:
- Heymondo (get 5% off)
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- eSIMs:
- Transfers: Bookaway. Code PARADISE5 for 5% off
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