My wife and two children and I are traveling to Alajuela, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. We're not renting a car. We'd like to take the public bus between those three places, but hotel people are steering us away from the bus and we aren't confident about the details. Can we board a bus in Alajuela to go to Monteverde? How and where would we catch it? Where do we buy tickets? How would we make sure we arrive at the correct destination? Is it safe? We've read on travel sites that the bus from San Jose to Monteverde might be full by the time it reaches Alajuela, and we might not be able to get on. Is this true?
Thanks for your help!
Costa Rica bus
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Are you set on taking a public bus? A shuttle bus would be much simpler, but more expensive. Theft is the main safety issue, and with two kids, it's easy to get distracted. How old are your kids?
I've read a lot of reports saying there's a lot of theft on the buses like cat mentioned. I would lean towards hiring a private driver or driving yourselves. Interbus is a popular shuttle if you want to explore that option, but they charge per person vs. using a private driver that will just charge a flat rate. Most people don't take the public bus, but if you do, I'd love to hear how it goes. Does the bus make frequent stops along the way or just go from one city to the next? If you're making a ton of stops, that would get old pretty quickly I think.
vc, we've used both shuttle and bus, but not rented a car or hired a private driver. For a couple with no kids to keep an eye on, the bus has been an affordable and interesting option. We also tend to travel very light. We haven't used the bus for extensive trips, or yes, this option might get old quickly!
For four people, I would agree with vc; a private driver might be your best option. It might even save you money, as it will undoubtedly save you travel time (especially to Monteverde) and a good driver can also act as a tour guide, stopping wherever you'd like along the way.