Traveling by public bus is a cheap way to get around Costa Rica, but you do need to research and read about taking the public bus as the infrastructure here is not as good as Europe or North America, although it is super cheap.
If you need to get take the bus from Tamarindo to San Jose to catch your flight from San Jose International Airport or another reason, this post will help you figure out your travel day.
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Bus Company For the Bus from Tamarindo to San Jose
The bus company that operates this route is called Tig Guanacaste (Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste).
This bus makes one stop along the way for a bathroom and food break, about halfway. There is no bathroom on the bus. The bus has air conditioning.
Tamarindo Bus to San Jose Schedule
There are two different buses from Tamarindo to San Jose. One goes through Liberia, the other goes through Puente de la Amistad. The fastest bus is the one through Puente de la Amistad.
The bus from Tamarindo to San Jose via Liberia leaves at 330 AM and 7 AM everyday. This route takes around 5.5 hours with one stop included for a bathroom/food break around halfway. The break is about 15 minutes.
The bus from Tamarindo to San Jose via Puente de la Amistad leaves at 530 AM and 3 PM everyday. This route takes around 4.5 hours
Do note that there is generally a lot of traffic on these long routes, so the bus can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on traffic and the day of the week. Holidays and long weekends generally take longer due to lots of traffic.
Bus from Tamarindo to San Jose Ticket Price
Bus fare: 6895 colones per passenger and 5170 colones per senior (~$13 USD and ~$10 USD). This price is for both routes. Prices are an estimate and are subject to change.
How to Buy Bus Tickets
You can buy your bus ticket online on their direct website (https://tiguanacaste.com/) or in person at the office. If you buy them in person, we highly recommend to buy them the day before because the bus from Tamarindo to San Jose is a very popular route, especially during holidays and long weekends. Both routes can fill up quickly.
If you buy your tickets in person, you can pay at the bus ticket window in cash or card. If you pay in cash, you should pay in local currency. Read more about handling money in Costa Rica here.
If you buy your ticket online, you can choose your seats.
Location of the Bus Station in Tamarindo
The main TIG Guanacaste bus station is in downtown inside the plaza by the skatepark. On Google Maps, it is called “TAMARINDO Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste.”
The Bus
This bus has air conditioning, reclining chairs and overhead storage space. Safety note: do not leave any bags under your seat or overhead if you absolutely don’t need to. It is safer to have your backpack or purse in your lap the whole time to avoid theft.
If you have luggage, the driver will put it in the space below and give you a ticket. KEEP THIS TICKET. He’ll also ask you where you are getting dropped off which you can tell him the San Jose Airport or your hotel or wherever you are going. When you get off, make sure the driver knows you have luggage so he can take it out for you and you will need to show him your luggage ticket.
Safety tips: Don’t ever leave your belongings alone, don’t ask anyone to watch them for you. Always have them with you at all times. Wait and watch the bus driver put your luggage in the compartment underneath, keep your ticket. When you exit the bus, be alert and aware of your surroundings. Keep your backpack/hand belongings close to you at all times.
If You Are Going to the San Jose International Airport
This bus will only stop at the airport if you tell the driver. If you do not tell the driver you need to get dropped off at the airport, he will not stop there as it’s not a normal stop on the route. Tell him, Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría in Spanish or just San Jose Aeropuerto, they should get the gist. Lots of tourists take this bus route to get to the airport.
Remember to tell the driver if you have any luggage so he will get it out for you right away when you get off the bus. From where he drops you off in front of the airport, you will need to walk a little bit up to departures, up the ramp as he’ll drop you off on the main road. It’s very close, just a couple minutes up the airport road.
Other Ways to get to San Jose from Tamarindo
In case you want to explore your options, there are a few other ways to get from Tamarindo to San Jose.
Shuttle: You can take shuttles. There are shared and private options. A shared shuttle is ~$60 USD per adult with Interbus and around $350 USD total for a private shuttle for 1-5 people.
Drive: You can rent a car and drive from Tamarindo to San Jose. On average in high season, a one day rental of an automatic sedan can go around $80 USD a day. Get our Costa Rica car rental discount here!
Fly: Tamarindo has its own local airport and there are multiple daily flights from Tamarindo to San Jose. You will land at the domestic terminal which is right next to the international terminal, walking distance. These flights are not cheap though, they can range from $150+ depending on the season. Check Sansa Air for flights. Read more about flying from Tamarindo to San Jose here.
The Bus From San Jose to Tamarindo
If you need to take the bus from San Jose to Tamarindo, it will be with TIG Guanacaste too. You can buy the tickets online on the same website which we highly recommend to do.
If you are coming from a flight landing at San Jose International Airport, you will need to taxi or Uber to the TIG bus terminal to get the bus to Tamarindo. This drive takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. On Google Maps, the terminal is called “TIG Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste.”
The bus from San Jose to Tamarindo via Liberia leaves at 1130 AM and 4 PM.
The bus from San Jose to Tamarindo via Puente de la Amistad leaves at 830 AM and 330 PM.
Other Bus Posts
We have a few other bus posts you can check out below.
Bus from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park
Taking the bus from San Jose to Jaco
Bus from San Jose to Playas del Coco
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Ian says
Hi, which is the TIG bus station in San Jose? Coca Cola, Terminal 7-10 or Tralapa? Thanks for your help!
Sammi says
TIG is it’s own Terminal, it’s called TIG Transporte Inteligente de Guanacaste near the Children’s National Hospital
Shanayne Atkins says
Hey! If we land in San Jose at 11pm and want to get to Tamarindo ASAP – is our only option to stay 1 night in San Jose and catch the earliest bus the next day to Tamarindo?
Are there overnight buses?
We are limited on time and trying to make the most of our trip!
Sammi says
You have to stay the night, there are no overnight buses.
Pablo says
Is TIG bus the best way to get from
SJO to Tamarindo by if I don’t get a flight or shared shuttle? Where is the TIG bus station in San Jose? Address? Does it stop at SJO?
Sammi says
You can take the TIG public bus, it’s cheap and great if you’re on a budget. Private shuttle is another option, it’s much more expensive but the driver will wait for you and pick you up directly from the airport, you have the shuttle to yourself and it’s more comfortable.
Kristyn says
For TIG bus location, it is currently located in the Tamarindo Plaza, next to Costa Juice.
It currently runs 3 buses daily to San Jose— 3:30am, 5:30am, and 3pm. TIG does not open until 9am, so I highly recommend purchasing the tickets the day before or online
Bus will pick up at the front of the plaza.
Mark says
Does anyone know where the Tamarindo TIG bus stop is? There is a lot of information out there about the old bus services, but all that TIG says about the stop is that it is in
Terminal Tamarindo, Calle Cardinal.
I do not see it on google maps.
Sammi says
It is right where Gold Coast Bonanza is (thats on google Maps
Kristyn says
As of my visit today, it is now in the Tamarindo Plaza, next to Costa Juice.
natasha says
Hi there
That is the best option if you have surfboards? can you take a bus from San Jose to Tamarindo?
Sammi says
If you have longboards or several surf boards, I’d book a private transportation service so you have all the room and you can be sure your surfboards are safe. You can take it on the bus but the driver just throws it in there and packs all the luggage in there really quick so they don’t really take much care or pay too much attention.
Mark S Colligan says
Hello-
Can I buy a return ticket at the same time? For example – if I am in San Jose and I buy a ticket to Tamarindo, can I also buy the return ticket from Tam to San Jose leaving four days later?
Is it possible to buy all my tickets ahead to travel around the country if I start in San Jose?
I plan to go from San Jose to Monteverde; from Monteverde to Tamarindo, and then from Tamarindo to San Jose with about 3 days at each place.
Thanks.
Sammi says
I believe you can’t, you will have to purchase your return ticket from the station in Tamarindo but you can purchase it the day before if I remember correctly.
For most of the long cross country routes, you can go to the office the day before to purchase your ticket.
Sally says
My flight out of San José leaves at 4:25pm. I should be able to catch the Emprasa Alfaro in Tamarindo at 5:30am and it will drop me off at the airport, correct? Buy tickets anytime the day before at the bus station in Tamarindo?
Sammi says
I’d buy tickets the day before because Tamarindo – San Jose is a busy route and they will drop you off at the airport, you should tell the driver when you get on.
Kim says
Is the road Tamarindo to San Jose bumpy like the mountain roads?
Sammi says
No, it goes on a highway most of the time!
Traveling Cook says
It reminds me of my trip to Costa Rica, great memories. Very good post