The road to the jungle and the Pacific. This is a very popular route, so knowing which bus to take will save you hours of unnecessary stops.
⚠️ CRITICAL: Ask for “DIRECTO”
When buying your ticket, strictly ask for Directo. The “Colectivo” service stops at every town and can take over 5 hours. The direct bus uses the highway (Costanera) and is much faster.
1 Leg 1: San José Departure
Go to Terminal Tracopa in Plaza Víquez. It is south of the city center. Buy your ticket at the windows (they accept credit cards).
Open Terminal in Google Maps App
2 Leg 2: Arrival & The Beach
The bus will first stop at the Quepos Terminal. If your hotel is in the town of Quepos, get off here. If your hotel is near the park or the beach, stay on the bus!
💎 Insider Logistics
The bus continues for another 15 minutes uphill after Quepos. It stops at several points along the main road before reaching the final stop at the beach (near the National Park entrance).
3 The “Official” Scam
💡 Survival Tip from the Mae
“Mae, listen: Near the National Park, you’ll see guys in neon vests trying to wave the bus down or stop taxis. They look official, but they are NOT. They want to sell you fake tours or expensive parking. Ignore them and go straight to the official park booth. And watch your snacks… the monkeys there are faster than Ninjas!”