Once you're here what's the best way to get around?

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Biking is one of the most popular ways to get around here

Biking is one of the most popular ways to get around here.

Overview of local transport options

There are a number of options for getting around in the Puerto Viejo area:

•  The area between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo is quite compact and mostly flat so bicycle rental is an excellent option.

•  Buses run frequently between Limon and Puerto Viejo and on to inland destinations such as Hone Creek, Bri Bri and Sixaola. Somewhat less frequently is the bus service between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo which is helpful for reaching Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. View schedules.

•  Driving is easy enough and the road is now paved all the way between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo and Cahuita and Puerto Viejo but there's lots of pedestrian and bicycle traffic so take it slowly. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is not required. And if you want a car just for a day or two or to take onward from Puerto Viejo car and golf cart rentals are available in the Puerto Viejo area. View local driving and car rental info.

•  Taxis and tuk tuks are available. View taxi info.

mepe to manzanillo

Local Bus Routes

As well as the express bus from San José to Puerto Viejo, the local bus company Transportes MEPE also operates local buses on the Caribbean Coast.

The main routes of interest for visitors are the route which operates between Limon and Manzanillo via Puerto Viejo and towns along the beach road and the routes from Limon to Puerto Viejo and from Limon to Sixaola (the Panama border).

road puerto viejo

Limon - Cahuita - Hone Creek - Puerto Viejo - Cocles - Playa Chiquita - Punta Uva - Manzanillo

The Limon-Puerto Viejo bus is an economical way to get to the various beaches in the area as it stops at many places along the road including Cahuita, Hone Creek, Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo. However, it is not particularly frequent. The Monday to Saturday schedule is:

Limon→Cahuita¹Puerto ViejoManzanillo
6:307:157:408:00
8:309:159:4010:00
10:3011:1511:4012:00
12:3013:1513:4014:00
14:3015:1515:4016:00
15:3016:1516:4017:00
16:3017:1517:4018:00
17:3018:1518:4019:00
Manzanillo→Puerto ViejoCahuita¹Limon
5:005:205:456:30
8:008:208:459:30
9:309:5010:1511:00
10:3010:5011:1512:00
12:3012:5013:1514:00
15:3015:5016:1517:00
16:3016:5017:1518:00
17:3017:5018:1519:00

The Sunday schedule is:

Limon→Cahuita¹Puerto ViejoManzanillo
7:007:458:108:30
8:309:159:4010:00
10:3011:1511:4012:00
11:3012:1512:4013:00
12:3013:1513:4014:00
13:3014:1514:4015:00
15:3016:1516:4017:00
17:3018:1518:4019:00
Manzanillo→Puerto ViejoCahuita¹Limon
06:306:507:158:00
8:008:208:459:30
10:0010:2010:4511:30
13:3013:5014:1515:00
15:0015:2015:4516:30
16:0016:2016:4517:30
17:0017:2017:4518:30
18:0018:2018:4519:30

Or see here for a printable schedule.

There are additional buses that travel from Limon to Sixaola via Puerto Viejo but do not continue to Cocles, Punta Uva or Manzanillo. Check the schedule below for those.

The highway south to Sixaola is lined with banana plantations and worker housing

The highway south to Sixaola is lined with banana plantations and worker housing. Photo by Costa Rica Dog Lover.

Limon - Cahuita - Hone Creek - Puerto Viejo - Bribri - Sixaola

The bus company MEPE operates regular service from Limón to Sixaola (at the border with Panama), most of which also stop in Puerto Viejo (those that don't will get you only as close as Hone Creek so look for the note "entra a Puerto Viejo" in the table below).

Prices are economical. For example, Puerto Viejo to Cahuita or Bribri is 1000₡, Puerto Viejo to Limón is 2270₡, Puerto Viejo to Sixaola is 2200₡ (all prices as of Aug 2023).

These services are useful for traveling between Puerto Viejo and Cahuita, to Limón and to Sixaola. Sixaola is the border town with Panama so that's of interest if you're traveling onto Bocas del Toro or other locations in Panama. See our Travel to Bocas del Toro page for full details on travel to Panama and Bocas del Toro via Sixaola.

Getting around by bicycle is a popular option in Puerto Viejo: The roads are generally flat and most things are within easy cycling distance

Photo 1 of 3. Click to view slideshow.
Getting around by bicycle is a popular option in Puerto Viejo: The roads are generally flat and most things are within easy cycling distance. Photo by Globetrotter Girls

Bike Rental

Many hotels rent bicycles. If your hotel doesn't have bike rentals available, there are tons of options in downtown Puerto Viejo and in other communities—you'll see them everywhere. There are a few specific places mentioned on the services page which may offer more options than most. Note that almost all the bikes have no gears and pedal brakes. Make sure you always lock your bike. Prices are very reasonable, generally $5-10 per day for basic bikes. Ask if roadside service is included in the case of a breakdown. You can also book a bike rental online here.

A few places in town also rent scooters although they are significantly more expensive.

The road between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo is mostly flat so it is well suited for cycling. That said, there are potholes and there can be a fair amount of traffic on it so exercise caution especially on the busiest sections from Puerto Viejo north to Playa Negra and from Puerto Viejo south to Cocles. On the more remote sections of the road, especially between Punta Uva and Manzanillo there are occasional reports of robberies so keep your rides to the daytime, don't go alone and/or ask around if there have been any problems lately.

There are both official red taxis in Puerto Viejo but also many informal taxis

There are both official red taxis in Puerto Viejo but also many informal taxis. Ask a local hotel or restaurant to call one for you.

Taxis and Tuk Tuks

Our taxi page has lots of information and tips for taking taxis in Costa Rica.

Taxis and tuk tuks in Puerto Viejo generally operate based on predetermined rate for common routes based on distance and on time (some back roads are slow). If the taxi has a meter, you may request the driver use it. See our price list for common routes on the taxi page.

The once famously bad road from Hone Creek to Puerto Viejo was finally paved in 2010

The once famously bad road from Hone Creek to Puerto Viejo was finally paved in 2010. Photo by Dr. Francisco Arguedas Pimentel

Driving and Local Car Rental

Local Driving Conditions

The highway is paved and in good condition all the way from San Jose to Puerto Viejo. The final 5km section from the highway turn-off in Hone Creek to Puerto Viejo was paved in 2010 but there are lots of pedestrians and cyclists so please take your time. The road south of Puerto Viejo to Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Una and Manzanillo is also paved but again has lots of slower traffic so take care.

A 4WD vehicle is not necessary anywhere on this route unless you leave the main road for any distance. But there are few places to go off the road, the one local exception being Margarita Road between Punta Uva and Sixaola which a 4WD would definitely be recommended. But this road is not signed and it would be easy to get lost so it is not recommended unless you have a local along for navigation.

If you do get into an accident anywhere in Costa Rica, the procedure is to not move your vehicle - even if it is blocking the road! - until police have been able to inspect the scene and make a report.

Note that there is no gas station in Puerto Viejo, but there now is a gas station in Hone Creek, 5km before Puerto Viejo. There is no gas station in Cahuita.

You will be sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife so please drive with care

You will be sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife so please drive with care. Photo by Nikolay Titov

Car Rental

If you're considering renting a car and driving to Puerto Viejo, all the major international car rental companies operate at or nearby San José International Airport as well as in downtown San José. Keep in mind that rates quoted online generally do not include any sort of insurance (which is sometimes even more than the rental rate) and that the car rental companies will definitely require proof of coverage elsewhere before agreeing to let you waive any insurance coverage they will sell you.

Please also keep in mind that only two car rental companies currently have offices in the South Caribbean area. Adobe and Alamo/National are both in Puerto Viejo center. So if you want to pick up or return your car in Puerto Viejo those are your only choices.

Electric or gas golf carts and scooters are also available for rent locally.

The driving to Puerto Viejo page has full information on getting here if you are driving from San José or elsewhere in Costa Rica.

long distance bus

Looking for other transport options?

If you're looking for information on how to get TO Puerto Viejo, check our Getting Here: Transport Options to Puerto Viejo page. Or go directly to our pages for San Jose - Puerto Viejo bus schedules, San Jose or Arenal shuttle schedules, travel to Bocas del Toro or travel to Tortuguero.

Additional comments from our visitors about Local Transportation in the Puerto Viejo Area

Write a comment/review

What are people saying about us?

Pete

Hello! I notice your bus schedule for Limon to Manzanillo states a separate schedule for Sunday only. On the MEPE website it says that schedule is for Saturday AND Sunday.

https://www.mepecr.com/HorarioL_M.html

Can you clear this up?

Thanks,
Pete

March 22, 2024

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

Hi Pete, MEPE unfortunately does not update their website often. I've double checked with them on the schedule between Limón and Manzanillo and the schedule is the same Monday to Saturday and a bit different Sunday as is published above and see this schedule they sent. But I've made some small corrections to the intermediate stop times so good you asked!

March 25, 2024

What are people saying about us?

Emilie

Bonjour, connaissez vous l'emplacement exact de l'arrêt de Puerto Viejo en direction de Manzanillo ?

March 11, 2024

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

All the buses come to the main bus stop in town located here

March 12, 2024

What are people saying about us?

Scott

Thank you for all the information. Do you know if the Puerto Viejo - Manzanillo bus schedule is still the same as of 2024? Thanks!

January 29, 2024

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

Hi Scott, glad you found the info useful! Yes, I haven't heard of any changes on the Manzanillo to PV schedule, it changes very infrequently. MEPE is not always the best with letting the community know though so if you do happen to see a new schedule update posted on their window, do let us know!

January 29, 2024

What are people saying about us?

Cata

Hello, do the buses run normally for the end of the year?

I will be there on 31 and 01. I want to move between Cahuita - Puerto Viejo, is it possible to find buses?

Also, does anyone know if the parks in Cahuita and Manzanillo are open to the public on those days?

Thanks in advance,

August 18, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

Buses run 365 days a year. There are some days with reduced service such as Christmas Day but I think Jan 1 will be normal. The bus company Mepe will post any updates in December.

August 18, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Jill Rubin

Hi,

Is there any place in town that rent bikes for a families (my kids have 24" bikes)? We are thinking of coming for a week and it would be nice to get around by bike some of the time. Thanks! Jill

May 19, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

Yes, several places in town rent kids bikes. Check the bike rental options on the services page.

May 19, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Christine Salama

Is it easy to find a bus or taxi from Purto Viejo to the jaguar reserve?

April 06, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

Local bus schedule is above, doesn't room too often but it is easy. The Jaguar reserve is only a couple hundred meters off the main road that the bus runs on. Taxi or tuktuk very easy.

April 06, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Marina

Does anybody know, if the local buses also run on new year (January 1st) between Puerto Viejo and Cahuita?

November 07, 2021

What are people saying about us?

Cata

Hello, did you go for that appointment?

If so, did you see public transportation work?

August 18, 2023

What are people saying about us?

Iguana Surfer

Thank you this is very helpful! I love renting bikes here and riding around once you are here. I have only rented cars to get here from San Jose & Tamarindo. Best way to go if you can!

April 13, 2021

What are people saying about us?

Jack Jacobsen

Hi, can you tell me where the bus stop is in Cocles to catch the bus to manzanillo? I can't seem to find that info anywhere. If that info is online, feel free to just point me to the correct information. Thanks!

March 14, 2020

What are people saying about us?

Shelby

Hi, how much is the bus fare to get from Cahuita to Manzanillo?

February 26, 2020

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

I don't have the exact number but it will be very affordable, under 2,000 colones I would guess...I wouldn't worry too much the bus drivers are very reliable and have change. Just make sure you have colones.

February 26, 2020

What are people saying about us?

Sarah Melissa Siegesleitner

Hey, I want to go from Puerto Viejo to Tortuguero, but not by public bus or by shuttle. Is this possible?
I can't find anything. Some locals told me it's possible from Puerto Limón,but I can't find a anything on the internet.

February 23, 2020

What are people saying about us?

Puerto Viejo Satellite

I'm not sure how you want to travel to Tortuguero -- you said you don't want to travel by public bus or by shuttle so how were you hoping to get there? You can drive yourself to the boat launches, that's pretty much the only other way. In any case, there's a very detailed guide to travel between Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero on our travel to Tortuguero page. That shows you all the possible options.

February 25, 2020

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