getting to samara - travel by bus

Bus schedules and information

San Jose to Sámara  |  Sámara to San Jose

San Jose to Nicoya  |  Nicoya to San Jose

Nicoya to Sámara  |  Sámara to Nicoya

Coming to Samara from other parts of Costa Rica ...

Please note that bus schedules are subject to change. Kindly call either the San Jose or Sámara phone numbers for the current schedule times.

Name of company offering San Jose / Samara daily bus service
Empresa Alfaro Ltda. - email: more info
Telephone: +506 2222-2666, 2223-2160, 2222-2970

Sámara Agency
Telephone:  +506 2656-0261

Departure Times for Buses between San Jose and Samara and San Jose and other locations in the Province of Guanacaste

 San José to Sámara

• Bus departs San Jose at 12:00 pm  and 6:30 pm ~ Daily
• Arrives in Sámara in about 5 hours

The Bus from San Jose to Sámara leaves from the Alfaro bus station in San Jose, 150 meters northwest from the Coca Cola station- close to downtown San Jose.

Tracopa Alfaro Bus Lines - San Jose office
Street Address: Avenida 5, Calle 14 y 16,  San José
Telephone: +506 2221-4214, 2223-2160, 2222-2970
Fax: +506 2255-2981
email: more info

The cost of the one way ticket is about Colones 3,740. (about US$ 7.) per person and the trip takes about 5 hours. We advise you to buy tickets one day in advance, if possible.

Sámara to San Jose

• Monday ~ Saturday ~ Direct Bus departs Sámara at 4:30 am and 8:30 am
• Arrives in San Jose at about 9:30 am and at about 1:45 pm
• Sundays ~ Direct Bus departs Sámara at 1:00 pm
• Arrives in San Jose at 6:00 pm

San José to Nicoya

Buses run more often between San Jose and Nicoya. Nicoya is 37 km. from Samara and is on the road to San Jose. It is also the centre of bus transportation in Guanacaste.

• Buses depart San Jose daily at:
  6:00 am, 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:30 md, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm,
  4:00 pm, and 5:00 pm and 6:30
• The San Jose to Nicoya journey is about 5 and a half hours.

Nicoya to San José

• Buses depart Nicoya daily at:
  4:30 am, 5:00 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 12:30 md, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm,
  and 5:20 pm
• The Nicoya to San Jose journey is about 5 and a half hours.

Nicoya to Sámara

Bus service between Nicoya and Sámara is offered by:

Impresa Rojas
Telephone:  +506 2685-5032

One way fare between Nicoya and Samara is Colones 800 (about US$1.50).

• Buses depart Nicoya daily at:
  6:00 am, 7:45, 10:00 am (to Carrillo), 12:00 pm (to Carrillo), 3:00 pm (to Carrillo),
  4:20 pm and 5:00 pm

Samara to Nicoya

• Buses depart Sámara daily at:
  5:30 am, 6:00 am (from Carrillo), 7:00 am, 8:45, 11:15 am (from Carrillo),
  1:15 pm (from Carrillo),  4:30 pm and 5:30 (from Carrillo)

Bus Agency Phone Numbers

Coming to Samara from other parts of Costa Rica

Here are some local bus agency phone numbers.