How To Get From San Jose to Rivas Best Way – You can go by bus, shared shuttle and private transfer.
What Is The Distance From San Jose to Rivas?
The distance from San Jose to Rivas is 322 kilometers. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and day trips
The travel time by car from San Jose to Rivas is around 6-7 hours. You will have to cross the border but it’s a really fast and easy process. Read here how to get from Rivas to San Jose the reverse way.
What Is The Best Way From San Jose to Rivas?
The best way from San Jose to Rivas is by bus for $29 USD you can book online. The bus travel time from San Jose to Rivas will be around 7 hours and 30 minutes with the waiting time included.
Read here how to get from San Jose to San Juan del Sur, San Jose to Granada, San Jose to Leon, Liberia to San Juan del Sur, La Fortuna to San Juan del Sur, Monteverde to San Juan del Sur and Tamarindo to San Juan del Sur
What Is The Cheapest Way From San Jose to Rivas?
The cheapest way from San Jose to Rivas is by local buses for $17 USD. The bus travel time from San Jose to Rivas will be around 10 hours with the transfers and the waiting time included. Read here Best City Tours in San Jose
How Much Is The Crossing Border Taxes Between Costa Rica And Nicaragua For Foreigners?
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $9 USD when leaving Costa Rica and $14 USD when entering Nicaragua.
Read here best sim card in Nicaragua, best breakfast in Nicaragua and best Costa Rica Sim card for tourist
WHERE TO STAY IN RIVAS
The average price of a dorm bed in Nicaragua is around $20 USD depending on the season can be more or less of that price. If you’re going for a mid-budget accommodation for $30-50 USD and if you prefer luxury accommodation starting from $70 USD.
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BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
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HOW TO GET FROM SAN JOSE TO RIVAS
BUS FROM SAN JOSE TO RIVAS (BEST WAY)
The Bus from San Jose to Rivas is the best way for travelers you can book online. There is one daily direct bus going from San Jose Costa Rica to Rivas in Nicaragua.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM SAN JOSE TO RIVAS
The bus from San Jose to Rivas schedule is leaving at 6 am from San Jose 7-10 Bus Terminal (check here the exact location in Google Maps) and gets to Rivas at 1 30 pm at Rivas Bus Terminal (check the exact location in Google Maps)
The bus fare from San Jose to Rivas is $29 USD you can book online. The travel time by bus from San Jose to Rivas Nicaragua is around 7-8 hours.
Once in Rivas, you can take a local bus from Rivas to Managua, Rivas to Ometepe Island or from Rivas San Juan del Sur for $2 USD and 45 minutes of travel time.
PUBLIC BUS FROM SAN JOSE TO RIVAS (CHEAPEST WAY)
The cheapest way from San Jose to Rivas is by local bus. There are no direct public buses going from San Jose to Rivas only shared vans or shuttle buses for tourists (you can book online).
You will have to take a few buses. First a bus from San Jose to Liberia. From Liberia to Penas Blancas and cross the border. Once you cross the border a bus goes to Rivas.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM SAN JOSE TO LIBERIA
The bus schedule from San Jose to Liberia is running every 1-2 hours starting from 6 am to 8 pm leaving from San Jose city center at Pulmitan De Liberia Bus Terminal located in La Merced just 5 minutes walking distance from the local market. The buses from San Jose to Liberia airport are going to Playas De Coco as the final destination.
The bus fare from San Jose to Liberia is around $10 USD. The travel time from San Jose to Liberia is around 4-5 hours. Check here to check schedule and route!
Once in Liberia, you will have to get the bus from Liberia to Penas Blancas. The bus from Liberia to Penas Blancas will take 1 hour and 30 minutes. The bus fare from Liberia to Penas Blancas is around $4-5 USD.
You will have to do the border crossing and get a bus from the border to Rivas for around 1 hour of travel time and the bus fare from the border in Penas Blancas to Rivas is around $2 USD.
The total bus fare from San Jose to Rivas is around $17 USD. The total travel time from San Jose to Rivas by local buses is around 9-10 hours with the transfers and waiting time. You will have to leave San Jose at 6 am to get to around 4 pm to Rivas.
CAR RENTAL IN SAN JOSE
There are many options for renting a car in San Jose. But for this time with a border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car and I would choose a shared van or a bus if you are on a budget. Or a private transfer if you wish for more comfort.
BEST WAY FROM SAN JOSE TO RIVAS NICA EXPRESO BUS VS PUBLIC BUSES
The best way from San Jose to Rivas is by local buses for $17 USD if you go on a tight budget and it will take around 10 hours or even longer depending on the transfer and waiting time.
The best way from San Jose to Rivas is by bus for $29 USD you can book online and it will take around 7 hours and 30 minutes.
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $9 USD when leaving Costa Rica and $14 USD when entering to Nicaragua.
Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.