Thanks for the response!

Try the Direct Bus to Santa Teresa, costs $12, stows your bags safely in the luggage compartment under the bus, you take the same bus all the way from San Jose to Santa Teresa.

It leaves from the Atlantic Bus Station also known as the San Carlos Station at 6 AM and 2 PM.

the direct bus is actually around $15 now :)

Wow! It went up again!! I was on it in Nov. and I think it was $12, maybe 13 , but certainly not $15!!! It is still less than a shuttle and more comfortable and secure than the public bus.

How long does it trip take from San Jose to Santa Teresa using the bus?

Approx. 6 hrs.

2 hrs. to get to the ferry, 2 hrs by the time you get on the ferry and then get off and board the bus on the other side, 2 hrs. to Santa Teresa from the ferry dock with a short stop in Cobano.

If you catch the 14:00 from San Jose, you get into Santa Teresa around 20:00.

Thanks! Do you know if there is a direct bus from Santa Teresa/surrounding area to La Fortuna?

And how long that would take? THANKS

There is no direct bus to the Arenal area from Santa Teresa.

Shuttle companies in the Santa Teresa area usually have schedules to run that route. (this would take about 6-10 hrs depending on which route they take). Check Tropical Tours web site, Interbus, and Montezuma Expeditions for shuttle prices and schedules.

To drive the route north, across the Friendship bridge, to Tilaran, around Lake Arenal and into La Fortuna will take about 6 hrs. more or less depending on if you make any stops or not.

If you were to take a direct bus, you would have to take the same bus line you take from San Jose, get off the bus at the airport and catch a cab or regular bus into downtown Alajuela and then get on the direct bus to La Fortuna/Arenal from there. This would likely take about a day (10-12 hrs)