Bus from San Jose to Manuel Antonio

Traveling from San Jose to Manuel Antonio National Park is an excellent option if you want to visit one of the most visited natural jewels of Costa Rica without spending too much. Here we explain you step by step how to do it in public transportation.

📍 Where to take the bus in San José to Manuel Antonio National Park?

Buses to Manuel Antonio depart from Tracopa Terminal, located in the district of San Sebastian, San Jose. It is a recognized terminal and easy to locate using applications such as Waze or Google Maps.

Address:
Tracopa Terminal, Calle 5, Avenida 20, San Sebastián, San José.
📞 Phone: +506 2221-4214

⏰ San José - Quepos - Manuel Antonio bus schedules

The company Tracopa offers several daily departures. Some routes go directly to Manuel Antonio and others to Quepos, which is only 15 minutes away from the park.

All buses, whether direct or collective, make a 15 minute stop in Orotina to go to the bathroom and buy some food and another stop in Parrita just to drop off parcels.

Direct buses to Manuel Antonio:

• 6:00 a.m.

• 9:00 a.m.

• 12:00 p.m.

• 6:00 p.m. (subject to change, check Tracopa website https://www.tracopacr.com/Rutas_Horarios)

🕘 Trip duration:

Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on traffic.

💵 Approximate cost:

Enter ₡3,000 and ₡4,000 colones  which would be about $7 u $8 per person.

📌 What if I only get to Quepos?

If the bus you take goes to Quepos, no problem. From the Quepos terminal you can take a local bus to Manuel Antonio, which runs every 20-30 minutes and costs less than ₡500 colones.

🎯 Recommendations:

• Bring cash to buy the ticket.

• Reach at least 30 minutes before of the departure time.

• If you go in high season (December to April or July), buy your ticket in advance.

• The bus has room for large suitcases and usually makes a stop for lunch.

🏞️ Why visit Manuel Antonio?

This national park is famous for its white sand beaches, jungle trails and abundant wildlife such as monkeys, sloths and raccoons. It is ideal for hiking, photography, and relaxing in nature.

✅ Quick summary:

Traveling by bus is comfortable, economical and an authentic way to discover Costa Rica, if you have any questions or doubts, do not hesitate to leave a comment.