Romany_Sue

Hi

We are staying in Tortuguero for three nights and then would like to go straight to Monteverde. Would we have to go into San Jose and change buses or is there another route. If we do go into San Jose will we manage the journey in one day?

globetrots

It could be done, but I believe you have to change buses. Not enough other people who have sinned and are trying to punish themselves so harshly.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

You do know that you can't get to and from Tortuguero by bus, I hope. It's boat or plane.

If you're staying at one of the big lodges in Tortuguero that provide boat/van transport, I don't think any of them would get back to San Jose in time to catch the 2:30 public bus to Monteverde, the second and last one of the day.

The public boat/bus transport from Tortuguero probably isn't going to get you back in time either.

The early-morning flight from Tortuguero to San Jose would get you back in plenty of time.

hipvirgochick

I'm not familiar with the public bus route from Cariari to anywhere - but here are a few options that will take you from Tortuguero to Cariari for $10/pp and then maybe you can get some help getting to Monteverde from there...

Clic Clic (844 0463) Via La Pavona, 6am and 11:30am.

Coopetraca (767 7137) Via La Pavona, 6am, 11:30am and 3pm.

Viajes Bananeros (709 8005) Via La Geest, 7am and 11am.

Buy tickets on the boat or at any of the information centers around Tortuguero. Once you arrive in La Pavona or La Geest, a bus will pick you up and take you to Cariari (buses are timed to the boats, so you will not wait long). If you are traveling to San José, you are better off taking a 6am boat because bus connections are better earlier in the day.

hsmithcr

It will certainly be tricky to do it in one day by bus. Check this out for more information and schedules but I do think you will have to go to San Jose unless you can find something from San Carlos which is also called Ciudad Quesada. www.thebusschedule.com

hipvirgochick

Tricky maybe and a long day definitely!

If you catch bus in Cariari at 11:30 you're looking at 7 1/2 hours on the bus to Monteverde via San Jose.

daichovo

I found a 2 day tour package that includes transport to and from Tortuguero and San Jose, Arenal, or Puerto Viejo for $185 (no single supplement, yay! You do have to pay for night turtle watching and park fee, but pretty much every place requires this). Though it doesn't go to Monteverde, it does go to Arenal, and you can do taxi boat taxi from there.

This is how I'm going to go I think- spend a day or two in Arenal and then same in Monteverde, then easy $5 bus ride back to San Jose. Maybe worth it to spend some time in Arenal?

I like budget too but unfortunately I am on limited time this time around. When you weigh out all the costs for Tort it ends up being similar anyway. Just my 2 cents.

RAC

I'd just leave Monteverde off this trip and concentrate on enjoying the other locations. Using the bus really creates the incentive to minimize the traveling you do internally, since you lose so much time to travel.

Kinkazote

It is possible that routes have changed in the approximately four years since the question was asked. If the original poster made it back, perhaps she could report on her experiences. Maybe she's still there trying to change buses.