Tourist Bus Companies in Limón
Touring Costa Rica by bus is an easy and affordable option for singles, couples, families and groups of all sizes. If you’re traveling to the Limon province, you’ll find it is less congested than other regions, which makes transportation here a little easier. Public and private buses are available to get you to popular sites such as Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero National Park.
No National Public Bus System
Public bus systems are good for short trips and intra-city travel, but they are crowded, especially on weekends and during the holidays. They are a major source of transportation for locals, who use public buses to travel throughout the country. There is no national or central bus system in Costa Rica, but you can get around fine using public buses.
Tourist Bus Companies
Many visitors choose to use a tourist bus company, which is only a little more expensive than a public bus. They are safer, roomier and offer a more comfortable ride, as well as air conditioning. Typically, tour buses also travel on a fixed itinerary. Another plus? Your luggage is safe. If you’re on a tight budget or with a group, tourist buses offer affordable and easy transportation.
San Jose is Costa Rica’s main transportation hub, and there are plenty of bus companies that operate out of the city. Tourist buses typically feature licensed drivers and bilingual guides who speak both Spanish and English. You’ll stop at picturesque towns and villages, which gives you a true feel for life here, and if you’re traveling with a large group, you can customize your itinerary.
Afro-Caribbean Ancestry and Culture
Limon stretches along the country’s Caribbean Coast and offers a different atmosphere than other regions due to its Afro-Caribbean ancestry. Here, residents celebrate Carnival the Limon way, which includes singing, dancing and calypso music. Limon truly is a multi-cultural region, with the majority of residents sharing Afro-Caribbean roots.
Take a Bus to Tortuguero National Park
Perhaps the most popular site in Limon is Tortuguero National Park, known as an important turtle nesting site that draws visitors from all around the world. The park covers 22 miles of beach, from River Tortuguero south to Parisimina. Sea turtles who nest here include the leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead. But it is the endangered green sea turtle that spurred the preservation of this land, which protects the species from extinction.
The park also serves as a wildlife sanctuary for a variety of animals, including birds, mammals and reptiles. Among 170 species of reptiles and amphibians, you’ll find crocodiles and caimans, iguanas, frogs and basilisk lizards. There are 60 mammal species here, including monkeys, endangered jaguars, tapirs and ocelots. Like other regions of Costa Rica, Tortuguero National Park is a haven for birds. You can find herons, green macaws, toucans, kites, jacanas, kingfishers and many more bird species here. Public transportation is limited here due to the swampy terrain.
Map of Limón
Stop at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
If exotic beaches are your thing, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca should be one of your stops; it offers golden sands, clear blue waters and some awesome surfing spots. This beach town is quickly gaining in popularity among surfers worldwide, who are drawn to ride its famed Salsa Brava waves.
Formerly a small fishing village, Puerto Viejo today is a busy coastal town and hotspot for young locals and tourists who enjoy the mix of dance halls, bars and restaurants. Affordable accommodations are another feature. The highway from Manzanillo to Limon is the only paved road in Puerto Viejo, which makes travel by bus ideal.
