For many, traveling by local bus can be an adventure in itself. Costa Rica offers 2 options for the "bus traveler". If your on a tighter budget, and you have more time than money, you will want to take the local bus routes (as opposed to private options, see Lynch Travel) to arrive to Matapalo and Jungle House.
In order to achieve this, one must arrive to a bus terminal, known only as the "La Coca-Cola". Here you will find buses which are directed towards the Pacific Central Coast of Costa Rica, areas which include, Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio, Matapalo, Dominical, and Uvita.
Since Manuel Antonio is considered the highest visited tourist hub of Central America, there are numerous buses which are direct, or non-stop, to Quepos, Manuel Antonio. The direct buses leave promptly at 6am, 12md, and 5pm. These are comfortable and efficient rides which are the preferred choice for inexpensive travel by bus.
There is also another bus line which, though not direct, dedicates itself to destinations further south than Quepos, Manuel Antonio. This bus line is known as the "bus para Uvita" and can be located, not inside the terminal, but on the corner, next to a small convenience store. This bus leaves twice daily, one at 6am and the second at 3pm promptly. All bus rides to the Quepos, Manuel Antonio area will costs roughly $5.00
If your destination is Matapalo, our suggestion is to ride the direct bus line to Quepos from San Jose.(more comfortable) If you want to acheive this with a guaranteed seat on the 6am bus, you'll need to go by the bus station a day earlier to buy your seat as in the morning the seats are all sold out.
Once you arrive in Quepos, unless your on a real tight budget, grab a $20 cab ride to Matapalo, and tell the driver your going to Jungle House on the beach. If you need to watch your budget, then simply take the next "local" bus which leaves from the Quepos station promptly at 1:30pm. There is also a bus which leaves Quepos for Matapalo at 5:30pm.
If you take either of these buses, make sure you call us at Jungle House 787-5005, so we can be there to meet you with our van and bring you to the beach. It's a heck of a walk.
If you do take the 6am or 3pm "Uvita bus", they will switch you in Quepos to another bus automatically, which will then continue down the southern route arriving in Matapalo an hour later.
Now if you have more money than time, and your not renting a car, well fly, you can check out all information pertinent to this option by clicking onto to "Lynch Travel" where they also offer a private bus service from San Jose to the Qupoes, Manuel Antonio area for $25
