Buses?
 

We arrive in San Jose at 12:15pm. Has anyone taken the bus from San Jose to Arenal? Is it possible to make it from the time we arrive? Any help would be great. Or should we stay the night in San Jose and leave the next day.

12:15 is early enough that I would just head to Arenal that day. Are you interested in Interbus? I would just check their schedule online and see what's available. The drive is not bad at all in that area.

Arenal.net has a shuttle from the airport/alajuela area at 3 pm. Cost is $70 for 2 people. 4 hr trip time.

Interbus has a shuttle at 3pm that only takes 2 1/2 hrs and is the same price. You catch it across the street at the Hampton Inn (Rio Segundo).

Thank you both so much.

Your initial question was about the bus. If you mean the public bus, you will arrive too late to take the last direct bus. However, you can piece together a trip by taking one of the frequent buses to Ciudad Quesada and then another bus from there to La Fortuna. And yes I have taken the bus from San Jose to Fortuna - direct and also back (via Ciudad Q)
See link below for CR bus schedules.
http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/pa...ioBuses_en.pdf
However this would mean getting from SJO airport into town. That would require a taxi or the local bus which stops right in front of the airport. And once there, you would have to take a cab to your hotel...

However, for your first trip, you are possibly best off doing Interbus or similar service which others have suggested.
http://www.interbusonline.com

raquel