Coach / Bus Tours & Trips in Costa Rica
Ready for a Costa Rica bus adventure? Check out bustling San Jose, enjoy the Tortuguero canals and nature trails, drive through Puerto Viejo, or visit stunning Tamarindo beach. Don’t forget Arenal’s volcanic hot springs. Costa Rica beats other Central American countries for organized tourism, while still having that wild element.
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- Choose from 18 Costa Rica tours
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Cheryl • traveled in February
The whole trip was great. We wanted to experience the real Costa Rica and we did. We experienced the Caribbean side, rainforest, cloud forest , culture and wildlife of the country. Our travel director, well-being guide and bus driver were all great and made the whole trip a wonderful experience.
Costa Rica Nature Adventure (End Liberia) - L
Lyudmilla • traveled in June
I would be very happy with my Costa Rican experience— it’s a beautiful country. I saw amazing places, my guide and driver were excellent, the only problem were some accommodation. In particular Tabulia Tree hotel was terrible in so many ways: grounds, breakfast, noise. Overall, I enjoyed my time there. Thank you Tourradar and CATour
Costa Rica at its Best Package - M
Marnie • traveled in January
I could not thank tourrader particularly Karla enough for helping me rearrange (NUMEROUS times) for this trip. Tourrader were so helpful in booking ad hoc excursions even the night before so I could tailor this trip to perfectly suit me!! Costa Rica was such a special country and from start to finish Karla was amazing and very attentive in helping me tailor this trip. 7 STAR SERVICE from her!
Essential Costa Rica with extension to Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio Beach & San Jose City
10 best Coach / Bus Costa Rica tour packages
Compiled by
SteffCosta Rica travel expert at TourRadar
- Essential Costa Rica with extension to Guanacaste, Tamarindo Beach & San José City
- Costa Rica Nature Adventure (End Liberia)
- From the Atlantic to the Pacific, Self-Drive
- Viva Costa Rica (Classic)
- Costa Rica at its Best Package
- Upgraded - Costa Rica Wildlife
- Essential Costa Rica with extension to Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio Beach & San Jose City
- Tortuguero Adventure Trip (14 days)
- Costa Rica Nature Adventure (Guanacaste Beach, End Liberia)
- Wildlife Pure from the Caribbean to the Pacific (with swimming extension)
Essential Costa Rica with extension to Guanacaste, Tamarindo Beach & San José City
11 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everywhere we stayed was wonderful and transportation was always on time. The included activities were great.”
Stephanie, traveled in February
Duration 13 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Playa Tamarindo Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $3,758
10% Off- NZ$3,382You save $376
Costa Rica Nature Adventure (End Liberia)
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We wanted to experience the real Costa Rica and we did. We experienced the Caribbean side, rainforest, cloud forest, culture and wildlife of the country.”
Cheryl, traveled in January
Luxury Wi-Fi equipped coaches transport guests from San Jose's Sheraton through Braulio Carrillo National Park to Tortuguero's waterways. The route continues to Arenal Volcano's thermal springs and Monteverde's cloud forests before reaching Liberia.
Duration 8 days Destinations San Jose, Braulio Carillo National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Sarapiquí, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Liberia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Trafalgar From $5,195
15% Off- NZ$4,416You save $779
A shared bus connects San Jose through Costa Rica's varied landscapes. The route features a breakfast stop in Guápiles, boat transfer to Tortuguero, and convenient transfers between Sleep Inn Hotel and Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Duration 11 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Arenal Volcano National Park, Playa Tamarindo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $3,278
10% Off- NZ$2,950You save $328
Modern coaches traverse Costa Rica's diverse landscapes, from San Jose to Arenal Volcano's thermal waters, Playa Tamarindo's surf spots, and Monteverde's misty forests. The route includes stops at Manuel Antonio National Park's pristine beaches.
Duration 9 days Destinations San Jose, Sarapiquí, Arenal, Playa Tamarindo, Monteverde, Jaco Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Contiki From
10% Off- NZ$2,805
Costa Rica at its Best Package
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Everything is perfect from pick up on time, hotel or resort and activities.”
Thanh, traveled in March
Scenic routes by modern coach link San Jose through Braulio Carrillo Park to Tortuguero, continuing to Arenal Volcano and Monteverde. A boat transfer crosses Arenal Lake before a 3-hour drive to Manuel Antonio, with airport transfers included.
Duration 11 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Central American Tours From
10% Off- NZ$3,809
Comfortable coaches roll from San Jose's valley through banana plantations to Tortuguero's waterways. The route circles Lake Arenal to Monteverde's cloud forests, then descends to Pacific coastal roads, stopping at Rio Tarcoles for crocodile viewing en route to Dominical.
Duration 14 days Destinations San Jose, Santa Ana, Turrialba, Tortuguero, Arenal, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Nicoya, Carara, DominicalSee all destinations Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Explore! From
10% Off- NZ$8,680
Essential Costa Rica with extension to Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio Beach & San Jose City
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Costa Rica was such a special country and from start to finish Karla was amazing and very attentive.”
Marnie, traveled in December
Air-conditioned transport links Costa Rica's varied landscapes. The route connects San Jose to Tortuguero (135km), Arenal (210km), Monteverde via lake crossing, Manuel Antonio (185km), and returns to San Jose, including hotel pickups and lodge stays.
Duration 13 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio National Park Age Range Ages 10+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator Destination Services Costa Rica From $4,415
10% Off- NZ$3,973You save $441
Air-conditioned vehicles provide comfort from San Jose to Tortuguero's waterways. The 190km route reaches Arenal Volcano, crosses the Panamericana to Nicoya Peninsula, and returns via ferry from Puntarenas, covering 1,000km total.
Duration 14 days Destinations San Jose, Braulio Carillo National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Tortuga Island Age Range Ages 18+ Operated in Only: German Operator Chamaeleon From
10% Off- NZ$10,707Incl: Return flight Frankfurt
Luxury coaches equipped with Wi-Fi link San Jose to Liberia via Tortuguero's waterways, Arenal's thermal springs, and Monteverde's cloud forests. The transport system provides access to remote locations like Laguna Lodge and Tamarindo Beach.
Duration 10 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park, Monteverde, Liberia, Guanacaste National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Trafalgar From $5,210
15% Off- NZ$4,429+$1,515 upfront costsYou save $782
Modern coaches connect San Jose's urban center to Tortuguero's waterways. The 1,665 km journey includes scenic drives through Braulio Carrillo National Park and over the 3,500m Cordillera de Talamanca.
Duration 15 days Destinations San Jose, Tortuguero, Cahuita, Turrialba, Manuel Antonio National Park, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park, Playa Tamarindo Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator DERTOUR From
15% Off- NZ$5,035
What our customers ask about Coach / Bus Tours & Trips in Costa Rica
How many different destinations are typically covered on a Costa Rica coach tour?
Costa Rica coach tours generally cover 4-5 key destinations during 7-14 day trips. Travelers spend time at natural landmarks like Arenal Volcano Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manuel Antonio National Park. A standard 9-day itinerary allocates 2 nights in different locations including San Jose Tortuguero Arenal and Manuel Antonio. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "The tour was a perfect sampler of Costa Rica's varied geography from the Caribbean coast to cloud forests to volcanos and the Pacific coast."
What is the typical daily schedule like on a Costa Rica coach tour?
Days begin at 7-8am with breakfast at hotels such as Studio Hotel in San Jose. The schedule includes guided activities and drives between destinations with breaks every 2 hours. Tours spend 2-3 hours at key locations like Arenal Volcano National Park or Manuel Antonio. Local restaurants host 1-hour lunch breaks. Afternoon programs feature nature walks or wildlife observations before arriving at accommodations like La Foresta Nature Resort by 5pm. A TourRadar traveler noted: "The trip was very well organized and seamless with transportation to all locations. Great variety of activities and climates."
What type of accommodations are provided on coach tours through Costa Rica?
Accommodations range from comfortable mid-range to upscale properties including Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero National Park Hotel Arenal Paraiso and El Establo Mountain Hotel in Monteverde. Properties commonly offer pools restaurants and views of the surrounding landscape. Casa Turire in Turrialba represents the standard with its 4-star rating and location among coffee plantations. According to a TourRadar reviewer: "The lodges were beautifully located each offering unique experiences from beachfront views to rainforest immersion."
How much time is typically spent traveling between destinations on Costa Rica bus tours?
Bus travel times range from 2-5 hours between major stops. The longest routes include Tamarindo to San Jose at 270km (5 hours) and Turrialba to Manuel Antonio at 250km (4-5 hours). Rest stops occur at viewpoints like Los Quetzales National Park and local dining spots. One TourRadar traveler commented: "The touring minibus was air-conditioned and perfect for navigating both main highways and scenic mountain roads while offering great views of the countryside."
What's the optimal season for taking a coach tour in Costa Rica?
December through April marks the dry season offering reliable weather for outdoor activities and better road access. The green season from May to November presents opportunities for smaller crowds and verdant scenery especially in Monteverde Cloud Forest. Tortuguero's turtle nesting occurs from July to October. A TourRadar traveler reported: "We went in March and had perfect weather for exploring though some afternoon showers in Monteverde added to the cloud forest atmosphere."
How much free time do I have to explore independently on a coach tour in Costa Rica?
Tours provide 2-3 hours of independent exploration daily typically during late afternoons and evenings. Destinations like Tamarindo Beach and La Fortuna offer free afternoons for relaxation shopping or optional activities. Some itineraries include full free days particularly in Manuel Antonio for beach and town exploration. One TourRadar traveler stated: "This trip was relaxing because while everything was organized we still had plenty of time to explore on our own. The balance between activities and free time was perfect."