'... as a single female traveling for the first time to a foreign country I had concerns. Thank you for being there and all your help.'  

Kay P. San Francisco, CA

'... you have a Top-notch Class AAA Business.'  

George A - Fairbanks, Alaska

 

Bus Tickets and Service

 

Exploring Costa Rica by bus is a safe, economical and a practical way to travel. Costa Rica has a very efficient bus system with comfortable - late model buses serving popular tourist destinations. However, before going to the Coca Cola station or the 'Zona Roja' area of San Jose to buy bus tickets or board a bus you should be aware of what the experts say:

Frommers 'Pickpockets and purse stashers are rife in San Jose'

The Lonely Planet 'In recent years thefts from travelers happen around the Coca Cola...'

Explore Costa Rica  'Petty crime can be a problem in the city (San Jose) day or night - and tourists are the obvious target. Main trouble areas are around the Coca-Cola bus terminal...

The Tico Times 'Its easy to get lost and not to hard to get robbed around the Coca-Cola bus terminal and the 'red light district' of San Jose from where many of the provincial buses leave. Yet visitors who plan to explore the country by bus need to go there twice - once to buy their tickets, which often need to be purchased the day before, and once to catch the bus...

The New Key to Costa Rica 'A Safe Passage is designed to save tourists the trouble (and danger) of going to San Jose bus terminals in advance'.

About.com Be aware that the Coca Cola Bus Terminal is located in San Jose’s Coca Cola district– also called the Zona Roja, or the Red Light District of San Jose. Zona Roja is one of San Jose’s most notorious areas for pickpocketing and petty theft. Much of this crime is directed towards tourists and travelers, especially in and around the San Jose bus terminal itself. Keep an eye on your bags and backpacks at all times, and keep your passport and important document in an underclothes money belt. Don’t let anyone else watch or handle your baggage.

 Our Services

With A Safe Passage you can order your bus ticket online and have it for you when you arrive. Once you order your ticket we go into San Jose and purchase it in advance then when you arrive we can pick you up at the airport and get you on your bus. With having a ticket your seat is reserved and you will not have be concerned about riding standing up if the bus is full.

And after flying all night and if your bus is not until the afternoon, you may want to consider enjoying the comforts of our Waiting Room. With this option you will be able to get some sleep, take shower and eat before continuing your journey.

  • Our most popular option is our Pick Up and Deliver service.  As mentioned above, we pick you up when you arrive the San Jose airport (SJO), take you to a local bus stop and get you on your bus. In many cases you avoid going into the Zona Roja area of San Jose to start your journey.

  • If you are staying in a Alajuela hotel, familiar with the local bus stops and know how to flag down your bus, with our Ticket Deliver option we purchase your ticket and leave it at your hotel. Then you go to the local bus stop or to the highway where you flag down your bus and board the bus on your own.

  • We recommend our Pick Up and Deliver for buses headed north and west of the Capital, do not enter Alajuela and need to be flagged down on the highway. While you may be able to catch a bus on your own, if you miss it you may have to cross the busy highway and walk to the airport to take a taxi or bus into San José to make other travel arrangements. Often you will not be able to leave the same day.

  • For buses needing to be boarded in San Jose we offer our Pick Up and Deliver Only. Again we purchase your ticket in advance, pick you up when you arrive and take you into San Jose where you board your bus. Most of these buses are headed to the Caribbean and southern areas of the country.

'It was great getting off the plane and on to the bus. By picking us up at the airport and taking us to the bank and the market then to the bus you saved us a least a day in San Jose and we gained another day to surf. I will tell anyone I know coming to Costa Rica to use your service.'  Steve S. - Saskatchewan Canada

Pick Up and Deliver

Jaco - Quepos - Nosara - Nicoya - 

Samara - Tamarindo- Monteverde

Santa Cruz . Playa del Coco**(SJ)

$45 per person / $75 per couple

Tickets Only

Jaco - Quepos - Playa Flamingo** (SJ) - Nosara - Nicoya -  Samara - Tamarindo-

Playa de Coco**(SJ) - Monteverde

$25 per person / $40 per couple

Bus Service

Arenal/La Fortuna - Punterenas - Liberia - Los Chilies* - Peines Blancas* - Santa Teresa*, Mal Pais* - Montezuma*

$45 per person / $75 per couple

The Caribbean

Pick up and Deliver to San Jose Bus Station

Cahuita - Puerto Viejo - Manzanillo - Sixaola (Gateway to Bocas del Toro)

$55 per person / $90 per couple 

»»» Bus Times «««

Local bus times change from time to time as does the ferry schedule. When you book we will let you know if the time is different than indicated on our site.

Southern Costa Rica

Pick up and Deliver to San Jose Bus Station

San Isidro - Palmar Norte - Golfito -  Puerto Jiménez - Paso Canoas - Domincal

$55 per person / $90 per couple 

'What a great idea.  After traveling all night and facing a 5 hour wait from all we read we dreaded the thought of just sitting in a San Jose bus station with all of our luggage before our 4 hour on the bus ride.  Your Waiting Room was just perfect for us.' David P.  Manchester, England

 The Waiting Room

Traveling can be a tiring and stressful ordeal - a flight, a layover, an all night flight then a wait for a bus that will take hours to get you to your destination. To get some rest before continuing your journey consider our Waiting Room option. With it, you will be able to get some sleep, shower and have a delicious Tico meal before continuing your travels. Or, if you want, you can use our Waiting Room to just drop off your bags and go out and explore.

Then before boarding your bus we take you by the bank, by the market, and to get something to eat. Naturally your lunch and a cold one is on us

So why wait for hours at a bus station for a bus or walking around the street with your bags when you can relax and enjoy a typical meal before getting on the road? In opting for a Waiting Room you will be well rested and ready to better enjoy your journey

Add $30 per person / $45 per couple 

A Safe Passage

The safest, fastest and easiest way to get from the airport and to your Costa Rica destination.

 

Costa Rica Bus Tickets

Email: rchoice@racsa.co.cr

Telephone: 011.506.8365.9678  / 2440.2414