Advice on Costa Rican/ Panamanian itinerary?

March 28, 2018 1:02 PM

I want to get from the Northwest to the Southeastern part of Costa Rica. I think I want to do half by bus, half by plane, since I don't have enough time to do the whole thing by bus. Which half will by more interesting by bus?

Going a weeklong event in the northwestern part of Costa Rica which I understand is very ex-pat-y and touristy (Nosara). After that I have 5.5 days to see some of the rest of the country.

I decided I’d really like to spend a few of those days in Bocas Del Toro.

I could fly straight there, but I also want to see some of the country by road. I’m not a good or confident driver, I’m not interested in renting a car.

So: do I take a bus from the northwest to San Jose, see that countryside and then fly to Bocas del toro?

Or do I fly to San Jose, then take a bus/ferry to Bocas Del Toro?

My main priority is: seeing countryside that is different than what I’ve seen in Nosara, seeing less touristy parts of the country.

Aside from driving I’m not a particularly nervous traveler. I’ve lived in big cities, I’ve traveled alone. I speak basic Spanish.

Budget is not a huge factor, but I prefer to avoid “luxury” experiences or ones where I only come into contact with other tourists and people who serve tourists.

On the other hand, I only have 5.5 days and 4 nights.

I’m happy to spend 6-7 hours on a bus for one of the days if I’m looking out the window and seeing the countryside go by. I’m less interested in spending 6-7 hours on a bus if I’m looking out and just seeing… I don’t know, concrete walls.

I kind of think it might be more interesting to do San Jose to Bocas del Toro by bus and ferry, but maybe not if crossing the border is going to take 7 hours longer by land than it would by plane.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

posted by mrmurbles to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

Best answer: This is an interesting question. Either bus plan has you passing through less touristed and more agricultural areas. Both have their scenic portions. Both have their heavy commerical and light industrial portions. Both will allow you a passing view of smaller, less touristed towns. I can't speak to the border crossing issue. I think you'll get more of a different feel by doing San Jose to Bocas by bus, but perhaps the border issue makes it more tedious of a journey. Hope that helps!
posted by stowaway at 2:03 PM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I think you'll get more of a different feel by doing San Jose to Bocas by bus,

That's kind of what I was thinking -- appreciate the confirmation and the overview of what I'm likely to see.

I've read that the Caribbean side has a somewhat different culture and feel than the Pacific side, so that's the part I'll bus through, and just accept that I may spend awhile in border crossing. Thanks!
posted by mrmurbles at 4:22 PM on March 28, 2018

The Caribbean side definitely has that different feel, but you will also experience that difference in Bocas del Toro. I am very fond of Guanacaste Province (where Nosara is located) -- I love me some dry tropical forest!! -- but it is also very different ecologically from the rest of Costa Rica. But since you'll be in the Nosara area for a week I imagine you'll appreciate seeing something different and easing into the Bocas del Toro portion of your trip.
posted by stowaway at 4:46 PM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

You could fly into Liberia. That’s only 2-3 hours to the Nosara area - much less travel time than from Juan Santamaria/Alajuela.

From Nosara, it’s a long haul to the SE Caribbean coast, especially by bus. Perhaps the quickest route is to fly from Liberia to Golfito and take a bus to David (Panama), then to Boquete and on to Bocas del Toro.

The second quickest route would be rent a car (in Liberia at the airport - I recommend Eurocar) and strike out. You would have to leave the car in Puerto Viejo or Cahuita (a bit sketchy as the crime level in higher in the area). Then (at least 2 years ago when I was last there), you could catch a “water taxi” to Bocas del Toro.

In the 70s, you could take a train (Ferrocarril al Pacifico) from Puntarenas to SJ, the the Ferrocarril al Atlantico to Puerto Limon. Unfortunately, that doesn’t run anymore - too bad, it was cool. A bus from Nosara to San Jose (actually two buses, depending on the route) would be a 12+ hour trip. Then a bus to Puerto Limon, and finally another to, say Cahuita. There you could catch the “water taxi” to Bocas. That could take you 3 days, depending on luck in making connections.

Then you have to get back to either Panama City, SJ, or Liberia to fly home. What a haul. I agree with stowaway, stay in Gunacaste. If you want some recs for the area, let me know. Save Bocas for another trip or budget another week.
posted by sudogeek at 5:28 PM on March 28, 2018