MonteTours Blog

Getting From Monteverde to Tamarindo

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel from Monteverde to Tamarindo every year. And you might be planning on going this route, but you’re probably not sure whether or not you should rent a car, hire a private transportation service, or use the Costa Rican public transportation system to make it, right?

Don’t worry. I got you. Many people have come to me with this question, and I’ve helped them find the best ways to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo in the most appropriate way. People have different backgrounds and needs. Thus, what may work for some might not work for others.

Therefore, this article will discuss the main ways to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo, from using public buses to hiring a private transportation service. Let’s dive in and find out which option is best for you.

Disclaimer: I’m not too fond of ads on educational pages like this one because it ruins the reader experience. Therefore, I keep my website ad-free. However, I still need a way to make a living. Thus, this article contains affiliate links to book transportation, from which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. After reading this post, if you decide to book a tour, please consider using the links on this post so that I can continue sharing unbiased, helpful information with your support. 

The Best Ways To Get From Monteverde To Tamarindo

1. Public Transportation

2. Group Shuttles

3. Private Car Service

4. Driving (Car Rental)

Let’s dive right in:

There are four ways to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo. You can use public transportation, go on a group shuttle, hire a private transportation service, rent a car, and drive. Generally, the first two options are more affordable, but the latter is more convenient.

Public transportation is the cheapest way to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo, while driving is the fastest way to travel. On the other hand, getting a private transportation service is the easiest option, while going on a group shuttle gives you the best balance of price and comfort.  

Keep scrolling to find out how each option ranks against each other based on its pros and cons, and learn a few tips and recommendations to help you make the best out of your trip from Monteverde to Tamarindo. 

Let’s start by comparing the different ways to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo by how affordable each option is:

Notes:

• The above rates do not include the 13% IVA tax.
• These prices assume there is a minimum of two travelers.
• Renting a car consists of the base rate, insurance, and fuel.
• Prices can fluctuate throughout the year based on the market conditions and demand.

The above prices are estimations to give you an idea.

Keep reading more detailed information on each service and how they work.

How To Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo by Bus

The cheapest way to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo is to use the public transportation system, but it isn’t easy. You will need to depart from Monteverde pretty early, and it will take you about 12 hours in total to get to Tamarindo. 

In addition to this long travel time, you will need to take two or three buses (depending on the route you choose, which I will explain soon), and doing this can be a challenge if you don’t speak fluent Spanish. That’s why I only recommend it if you are traveling on a tight budget. And if this is your case, stick around as I explain how to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo using public transportation. Let’s go over this process step by step; 

First, you must purchase your tickets one or two days before departure. You can try to buy the tickets online via the Transmonteverde website, but remember that this site does not always provide real-time availability of tickets. I have also noticed that sometimes the site doesn’t work, so you may have to visit the office and buy them in person. 

You must purchase the tickets to Route 625 Monteverde – Puntarenas through Las Juntas. Make sure to choose Monteverde as the departing city and La Irma as the destination city. You will notice two departing times, 4:20 am and 3 pm. You will want to choose the early option. I know it’s very early, but the entire trip can take up to 12 hours, so I recommend you select the 4:20 am departure.

Then, you will want to arrive at least 5 minutes before the departure time on the departure day to check-in. The bus will leave at 4:20 am with or without you. Here is the link to the Bus Terminal in Monteverde. 

As you get on the bus, I recommend telling the driver that you need to get off at La Irma to let him know he needs to stop there when the time comes. La Irma is a small town alongside the Interamerican highway (a.k.a. Route 1). You will also want to ask a local or the driver to let you know once you reach La Irma so you don’t miss getting off there. But if you miss that stop, you can still get off at the next bus stop in Arizona, the next small town alongside Route 1.

The bus will get to La Irma at around 6:00 am. As you get off the bus, you will ask the driver to point you to the Tamarindo bus stop. It’s pretty close to where the Monteverde bus will drop you off, but you want to ask to be sure you get to the right place. The bus driver will not speak English, but you can say, “Bus a Tamarindo por favor.” He will get that you are heading there and point you to the bus stop.

Bus Route from Monteverde to La Irma

Once you are at the bus stop, you will need to wait a few hours for the Tamarindo bus to arrive. The bus leaves San Jose at 8 am and will pass by La Irma at around 11 am, which is why I mentioned earlier that getting from Monteverde to Tamarindo by bus takes a long time. 

The next step is a bit tricky. You need to pay attention and look for the buses labeled “Tamarindo,” which will be coming from your left (i.e., from San Jose). And you will need to wave with your hand as they approach to make them stop. As I explain in my article “How to Get from San Jose to Monteverde,” bus drivers in Costa Rica don’t make stops unless someone needs them to stop. 

Waving your hand as a bus is getting close signals the driver that you need them to stop. Many buses pass by this bus stop, which is the main route connecting San Jose to the country’s Northern side. So, as it gets close to 11 am, you need to pay close attention, look for the “Tamarindo” sign and wave your hand to make the bus stop. If you miss that bus, the next one leaves San Jose at 10:45 am and will pass by La Irma at around 2 pm. 

Once the Tamarindo bus stops, you will need to pay directly to the driver 5,000 colones (about $9) cash, and it will take about 2 hours for you to get to Tamarindo. 

Warning: You can’t buy the Tamarindo tickets online, which means you may have to travel standing during that ride if no seats are available, which is usually the case on Fridays and Saturdays when more people travel from San Jose to Tamarindo. Hence, I mentioned earlier that public transportation from Monteverde to Tamarindo can be a pain. 

Bus Route from La Irma to Tamarindo

After a pretty long day, you will finally arrive in Tamarindo at around 4 pm. So, in conclusion, public transportation can be an affordable option to travel from Monteverde to Tamarindo for low-budget trips, backpackers, and solo travelers. But it’s not an easy task and will take a whole day of traveling. 

Let’s explore other options to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo;

What’s The Fastest Way to Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo?

Now that we know how long it takes to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo using public transportation, let’s talk about how to make this trip much faster. 

Driving is the fastest way to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo, which will take between 3 and 4 hours. A more precise estimate will depend on the traffic conditions and your experience driving around the country. On average, tourists take 4 hours to drive from Monteverde to Tamarindo.

Unlike all the other ways to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo, driving is the fastest way, as shown in the below comparison table. 

Fastest Ways to Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo

*Going on a Private Transfer will be faster than Driving if you’re not used to driving in Costa Rica.

Cons of Driving from Monteverde to Tamarindo

Driving from Monteverde to Tamarindo has a couple of caveats you should consider before you decide on renting a car to make this trip. 

There Are No Car Rentals Based in Monteverde

The main problem with driving from Monteverde to Tamarindo is no car rental agencies based in Monteverde. So, if you plan to arrive at Monteverde using public transportation and then drive from Monteverde to Tamarindo, that will not be an option. 

There are car rental agencies in other touristy destinations nearby like Arenal, but that will not be helpful if you are in Monteverde because it can take up to three hours to get to Arenal, even though it’s less than 20 miles away.

Keep the above in mind when planning your trip to Monteverde. If you decide that you want to drive a vehicle from Monteverde to your next destination, you will need to have come to Monteverde by car in the first place. And in that case, I recommend using the Rental Car Comparison Tool. You can find the best car rental deals in one place. Choose the city or airport where you plan to pick up a rental car, and the tool will instantly show you the best deals across the major rental car companies in Costa Rica. 

If you are already in Monteverde and don’t have a car, go ahead and skip the rest of this section, as it will not apply to you.

Driving is Not Always the Fastest Way to Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo

As mentioned above, driving from Monteverde to Tamarindo takes between 3 and 4 hours. However, these averages are more realistic and applicable to those used to driving in Costa Rica. They do not necessarily apply to foreigners. 

The Google Maps average time from Monteverde to Tamarindo uses real-time traffic speed to calculate the estimated travel time. However, most tourists drive at a significantly slower pace than locals. You will experience this if you decide to rent a car for your trip to Costa Rica. More likely than not, you will drive more slowly than Costa Ricans, and that’s because you will probably want to enjoy the incredible scenery, while the average local will be rushing to get home from work. 

As a general rule, I recommend adding 30 to 60 minutes to the estimated driving time the GPS device/app gives you. I also recommend using Waze, the most popular GPS traffic system in Costa Rica. I drive approximately 50,000 kilometers per year (about 31,000 miles), and in my experience, Waze tends to be more accurate than Google Maps. The only drawback is that you need internet data to use Waze, so you will want to buy a chip with internet data if you want to use it.

Driving is Not the Easiest Way to Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo

Driving from Monteverde to Tamarindo is simple, but it’s not always easy. There are crazy local drivers, unpredictable and harsh weather conditions, and narrow roads in bad shape. 

As mentioned above, Costa Ricans drive significantly faster than foreigners. In addition to this, since we know the roads, as locals, we can make risky moves that might scare someone who has never driven in our country. 

For example, on highway 1, one of the main routes from Monteverde to Tamarindo, you might see someone going at full speed, passing multiple vehicles on a relatively narrow road at once.

If you live in Costa Rica and have been through that route thousands of times, you will not see anything particularly wrong with this. But if you come from a developed country where the roads are much broader, and there are usually multiple lines on all the highways, you might see such a move as imprudent. 

On the other hand, you have the unpredictable weather conditions of Costa Rica. You might be driving with a clear sky when suddenly a cloud forms ahead, pouring rain all over the place. Driving under changing weather conditions might not be such a big problem during the summertime from December through April, but it can get extremely challenging during the rainy season. 

In Costa Rica, the rainy season is not so bad from May through August. However, it can get scary sometimes during September and October, especially if you stumble upon a storm while driving. These are the top 2 rainy months and the top months for accidents on the road. 

The rain also causes a lot of damage to the roads, which worsens during the rainy season. Many potholes come to life during this time of the year, and it takes a couple of months for the government to repair the cracks. 

A tourist’s main problem with potholes is that they can make a vehicle’s tire explode. Exploding tires do not usually cause many accidents in Costa Rica. However, they can easily create a trip very stressful for a tourist, who will need to phone in the car rental to get another vehicle and then file the insurance paperwork. It’s not dramatic, but it can ruin a few hours of your dream vacation time. 

What’s The Easiest Way to Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo?

We have already explored how complicated it is to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo using public transportation. We also covered how driving can be problematic, so what’s the easiest way to make this trip? 

Hiring a Private Transportation Service, or a “Private Shuttle,” as locals call it, is the easiest way to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo. With a private shuttle, you can arrange a specific time and place, and a transportation company will pick you up there and take you to your lodge in Tamarindo. 

With this private door-to-door service, you don’t need to worry about carrying your luggage or catching a bus in the middle of the public road, compromising your safety and belongings. 

You also don’t need to worry about driving in a foreign country with roads that might differ significantly from the streets you’re used to riding back home. 

Instead, you arrange the pickup time and place. Then, a local professional driver will pick you up with a modern vehicle to take you from your departure place in Monteverde to your destination in Tamarindo. 

The only disadvantage of hiring this type of transportation service is the price. Going on a private transfer is the most expensive way to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo. It’s the most comfortable, convenient, and straightforward option but also pricey. 

Depending on the pickup and dropoff places, a private transfer will usually cost $255 for 1 to 6 passengers. The pickup time can also influence your pricing. For example, if you want to travel at night, the prices might get $20+ higher for this service. 

Prices for private transfers are also subject to increase as demand rises, especially during the busiest days, so I recommend booking ahead of time. 

However, there is a couple of scenarios where hiring a private transfer will not be the most expensive option to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo.

For example, if your party is four passengers or more, hiring a Private Transportation Service will be more economical than using a group shuttle, which I will explain in the next section. 

Group shuttles charge a per-person price, while private transfers charge a per-trip fee. Using a shared shuttle will cost $67 per adult, so the total for four adults would be $268. In contrast, the same trip with a private shuttle might cost you around $255. 

So, in this scenario, it’s not only more comfortable and convenient to hire a private transfer, but it’s also more economically efficient. You can use this link to see availability and prices in real-time if this is your case.  

Using a Group Shuttle to Get from Monteverde to Tamarindo

Getting a group shuttle from Monteverde to Tamarindo is an excellent choice for solo travelers and couples. A group shuttle is a daily shared transportation service from Monteverde to Tamarindo. A modern Van with A / C will pick you up at your lodge in Monteverde and take you to Tamarindo.

Generally, taking a group shuttle, or a “shared shuttle,” as the locals call it, is the most recommended door-to-door way to get from Monteverde to Tamarindo for most travelers. Group shuttles are convenient and provide the best balance, saving time and money for travelers in most cases.

On a group shuttle, you share the shuttle service with fellow travelers and the cost, which is usually the best option for solo travelers and couples. Using this option to get to Tamarindo will be far more convenient than riding the public bus and significantly less expensive than hiring a private transfer. 

Using a group shuttle is also more manageable and less stressful than renting a car and driving. The price can change depending on the seasonality and demand, but it’s usually around $67 per person per way. 

Here’s the end of this article. Thank you for reading this far, and feel free to share this info with fellow travelers as you deem appropriate. Happy travels and ¡Pura Vida, amigos!

Related Articles: 

• The Best Times To Visit Monteverde
• Getting Around in Monteverde
• Going From Manuel Antonio to Monteverde
• Going From San Jose to Monteverde
• Going From Monteverde to San Jose

About the Author

Daniel Lalinde

I am the founder of MonteTours Costa Rica. I live in Monteverde and love nature, adventure, and Mountain Biking. My partner and I love spending time outdoors and dining in Monteverde. We have more than 30 years of combined experience in the area, and there is no park, coffee shop, or restaurant we haven’t tried at least once!

We love helping visitors and connecting them with the different tours and activities to have a memorable experience in Monteverde.

If you need help planning things to do in the area, send us a message, and we will happily assist you!