How To Get From San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna Best Way – You can go by van, bus, taxi and private transfer.
What Is The Distance From San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna?
The distance from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is 252 kilometers. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and day trips
The travel time by car from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is around 6 hours. You will have to cross the border but it’s a really fast and easy process.
Read here how to get from La Fortuna to San Juan del Sur the reverse way and La Fortuna Waterfall Hike, Hiking Arenal Volcano and ATV tours in La Fortuna
What Is The Best Way From San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna?
The best way from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is by shared van for $68 USD you can book online. The shared van travel time from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna will be around 6 hours with the waiting time included.
Read here how to get from San Juan del Sur to San Jose, San Juan del Sur to Liberia, San Juan del Sur to Monteverde and San Juan del Sur to Tamarindo
What Is The Cheapest Way From San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna?
The cheapest way from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is by local buses for $20 USD. The bus travel time from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna will be around 12-13 hours with the transfers and the waiting time included.
How Much Is The Crossing Border Taxes Between Nicaragua And Costa Rica For Foreigners?
The Crossing Border Taxes between Nicaragua and Costa Rica for foreigners is $4 USD when leaving Nicaragua and when entering to Costa Rica you don’t have to pay taxes but you will have to show proof a flight out ticket or bus ticket within 90 days for leaving Costa Rica.
Read here Costa Rica eSim and best Costa Rica Sim card for tourist
WHERE TO STAY IN LA FORTUNA
There are dormitory rooms where you can rent the bed for as low as $20 USD a night if you want the cheapest option in La Fortuna. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.
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HOW TO GET FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO LA FORTUNA
BUS/SHARED VAN FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO LA FORTUNA (BEST WAY)
The best way from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is by bus or shared van for $68 USD you can book online. You will have to cross the border but everything will be easy just follow the instructions from the driver to put the stamps and pay the taxes leaving Costa Rica and entering Nicaragua.
VAN SCHEDULE FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO LA FORTUNA
The bus schedule from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is leaving at 6 am and gets to San Juan del Sur at noon. The van fare from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is around $68 USD you can book online. The travel time from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is around 6 hours.
BUS FROM SAN JUAN DEL SUR TO LA FORTUNA (CHEAPEST)
The cheapest way from La Fortuna to San Juan del Sur is by local bus. There are no direct buses going from La Fortuna to San Juan del Sur only shared vans or shuttle buses for tourists. (you can book online).
First you will have to take the bus from San Juan del Sur to Rivas (you will get the bus at San Juan del Sur city center). The bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur will take less than 1 hour. From Rivas you will have to get a bus to the border in Penas Blancas.
The bus fare for the two buses will be around $5 USD ($2.5 USD for each bus) and they are running every 20-30 minutes.
Once in Penas Blancas you will have to get a bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia. And a few buses from Liberia to La Fortuna. From Liberia to Cañas a bus from Cañas to Tilaran. Once in Tilaran a bus from Tilaran to La Fortuna
Bus From Penas Blancas to Liberia
Once you cross the border. You will have to get the bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia. The bus from Penas Blancas to Liberia will take 1 hour and 30 minutes. The bus fare from Penas Blancas to Liberia is around $4-5 USD.
BUSES FROM LIBERIA TO LA FORTUNA
You will have to take a total of 3 buses from Liberia to La Fortuna. First ride the bus from Liberia to Cañas will take around 1 hour and the bus fare from Liberia to Cañas will be around $3 USD.
From Cañas to Tilaran will be another 1-hour ride and the bus fare from Cañas to Tilaran will be around $1 USD. Once in Tilaran, the bus ride from Tilaran to Monteverde will take 2 hours. The bus fare from Tilaran to Monteverde is around $4 USD.
The total travel time from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna by local buses is around 12-13 hours with the transfers and waiting time. The total bus fare from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is around $20 USD.
CAR RENTAL IN LA FORTUNA
There are many options for renting a car in La Fortuna. 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 JUAN DEL SUR TO LA FORTUNA LOCAL BUSES VS SHARED VAN
The cheapest way from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is by local buses for $20 USD if you go on a budget. The bus travel time from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna will be around 12-13 hours with the transfers and the waiting time included.
The best way from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna is by bus and shared van for $68 USD you can book online for a total of 6 hours of travel time and they will drop you at the hostel area in San Juan del Sur.
The Crossing Border Taxes between Costa Rica and Nicaragua for foreigners is $4 USD when leaving Nicaragua and when entering to Costa Rica you don’t have to pay taxes but you will have to show proof flight out ticket or bus ticket within 90 days for leaving Costa Rica.
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 to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.