# Costa Rica without a car: a shuttle, bus and flight itinerary > You don't need a car to see Costa Rica. Shared shuttles connect almost every tourist town door to door, public buses are cheap if slower, and short domestic flights reach Tortuguero, the Osa Peninsula and the Nicoya beaches. The main trade-off is fixed departure times, so plan one move every 2 or 3 days. Source: https://www.travelincostarica.net/costa-rica-without-a-car/ Last checked: 2026-10-31 Shared shuttles: door-to-door vans on fixed daily schedules, booked online Public buses: from San José terminals to every region; mostly cash only Domestic flights: Sansa serves Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez, Tortuguero, Quepos, Tamarindo, Nosara, La Fortuna, Limón and more Ferries: Puntarenas to Paquera for the southern Nicoya Peninsula Hardest places without a car: remote lodges on rough roads; ask about transfers Plenty of people visit Costa Rica without ever getting behind the wheel, and for good reason. Mountain roads are slow, signs can be sparse and night driving is best avoided. Shuttles, buses and small planes cover nearly everywhere a first-time visitor wants to go. This guide explains each option and gives a sample 12-night route you can do entirely without a car. ## Your options ### Shared shuttles Shared tourist shuttles are the easiest way to get around. These are air-conditioned vans that run between tourist towns on fixed daily schedules and drop you at your hotel. Interbus, which has run since 1996, lists more than 180 routes, and Caribe Shuttle covers San José, Arenal, Monteverde, Tamarindo, Liberia, Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo and Limón airport. Both also offer private transfers if you'd rather leave on your own schedule. Book online a few days ahead in high season. Morning departures are common, so expect early starts on moving days. ### Public buses Public buses reach almost every town and cost a fraction of the shuttle fare. They're slower and less comfortable, and you'll usually need to get from the bus stop to your hotel on your own. Most San José terminals accept cash only, and different regions leave from different terminals, so ask your hotel which one you need. Wikivoyage advises taking a taxi to the terminal entrance rather than walking, as the areas around some terminals aren't safe. Buses are a good choice for shorter hops and for the Caribbean coast. Wikivoyage says the direct bus from San José to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca takes about 4 hours. Make sure you board for Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, not Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, which is a different place. ### Domestic flights Sansa flies small planes from San José to Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Tortuguero, Limón, La Fortuna, Quepos, Tamarindo, Nosara, Liberia and the Santa Teresa and Mal País area. Flights save a long day of travel to the far ends of the country, especially the Osa Peninsula. Baggage limits are tight: free carry-on is 4.5 kg, and checked allowance depends on your fare. ### Ferries and boats To reach Santa Teresa, Montezuma and the rest of the southern Nicoya Peninsula, many buses and shuttles use the Naviera Tambor car ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera. Its 2026 schedule lists 8 sailings a day. Tortuguero and Drake Bay are reached by boat for the final stretch; lodges there usually arrange it. ### Taxis Official taxis are red with a yellow triangle on the door. Ask the driver to use the meter. Hotels can call a trusted driver for short trips. ## A 12-night car-free route This route uses only shuttles and one flight. Shuttle times are from Interbus's published timetable and include hotel pickups. | Nights | Base | How you get there | |---|---|---| | 1 | Alajuela, near SJO | Hotel shuttle or taxi from the airport | | 2-4 | La Fortuna | Shuttle from San José | | 5-6 | Monteverde | Jeep-boat-jeep or shuttle, about 4 hours | | 7-9 | Manuel Antonio | Shuttle, about 4 hours | | 10-12 | Santa Teresa or Montezuma | Bus or shuttle via the Paquera ferry | | Day 13 | San José | Shuttle, about 5 to 6 hours, or a Sansa flight | ### La Fortuna (3 nights) From La Fortuna, tour companies pick you up for everything: [Arenal Volcano National Park](/arenal-volcano-national-park/), hot springs, waterfall hikes and hanging bridges. You won't miss a car here. ### Monteverde (2 nights) The jeep-boat-jeep across Lake Arenal is the most scenic transfer in the country. In Monteverde, taxis link the town with the [Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve](/monteverde-cloud-forest-reserve/) and the other reserves. ### Manuel Antonio (3 nights) Interbus's Monteverde to Manuel Antonio shuttle takes about 4 hours. Stay near the park and you can walk to the entrance. Remember that [Manuel Antonio National Park](/manuel-antonio-national-park/) is closed on Tuesdays and sells tickets online only. ### Santa Teresa or Montezuma (3 nights) Finish on the beach. Public buses meet the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry and continue to Cóbano, Montezuma, Mal País and Santa Teresa, and shuttle companies run transfers to both towns. [Santa Teresa](/santa-teresa-beach/) suits surfers and people who like a lively beach town; [Montezuma](/playa-montezuma/) is smaller, with waterfalls a walk from town. To get home, Interbus lists the Santa Teresa to San José shuttle at about 6 hours and Montezuma to San José at about 5. You can also fly back with Sansa from the Santa Teresa and Mal País area. ## Adding the remote corners - **Tortuguero:** buses and public boats work, but most people book a lodge package with transfers included. Sansa also flies there. See [Tortuguero National Park](/tortuguero-national-park/). - **The southern Caribbean:** buses and Caribe Shuttle reach Puerto Viejo, and you can rent a bicycle to reach [Cahuita National Park](/cahuita-national-park/) and the beaches south of town. Wikivoyage notes most visitors there don't need a car. - **The Osa Peninsula:** fly to Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez. Lodges like [Copa de Arbol](/copa-de-arbol/), which you reach by boat, and [Lapa Rios](/lapa-rios/), which runs transfers from Puerto Jiménez, are easy without a car. ## Tips for car-free travel - **Pack light.** Shuttle vans and small planes have limited space. - **Book shuttles a day or two ahead,** and confirm the pickup time with your hotel the night before. - **Choose hotels in town** rather than up long dirt roads, unless the lodge runs its own transfers. - **Allow a buffer day** before an international flight; road works and rain can slow everything down. For the bigger picture, read [getting around Costa Rica](/getting-around-costa-rica/), and see our [7-day](/costa-rica-itinerary-7-days/) and [10-day](/costa-rica-itinerary-10-days/) itineraries, which both work without a car. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is it easy to travel Costa Rica without a car? Yes, for the main tourist areas. Shared shuttles run door to door between them every day. It's harder for remote lodges at the end of rough roads, unless they arrange transfers. ### What's the difference between a shuttle and a public bus? Shuttles are tourist vans that pick you up at your hotel on a fixed schedule. Public buses are cheaper and run more often to more places, but they leave from terminals and take longer. ### Can I pay for buses by card? Mostly not. Wikivoyage says most San José bus terminals accept cash only, so carry small notes. ### How do I get to the Nicoya Peninsula without a car? Take a shuttle or bus that uses the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry, or fly with Sansa to the Santa Teresa and Mal País area, Tamarindo or Nosara. ### Which places are hardest to reach without a car? Lodges on unpaved roads far from town, and some parts of the Nicoya Peninsula. Ask your lodge whether it offers transfers before you book.