San José to San Juan del Sur by Road: Tica Bus, Shuttle, Private

San José, Costa Rica, to San Juan del Sur is about 325 km and 5 hours of driving, plus the Peñas Blancas border. As of November 3, 2026, Tica Bus charges US$33 to Managua, shared shuttles start at US$44, and the Monkeys Travels & Tours private transfer runs from US$65 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$130 solo, in 5 to 7 hours.

The cheapest ticket is not always the shortest day. International buses run to Managua, which is past San Juan del Sur, and the public route needs three or four vehicles. Below are the options with the real door-to-door time.

The route in numbers

• San José to San Juan del Sur by car: 325.4 km and about 5 hours of driving, border not counted (Rome2rio).
• The border at Peñas Blancas: fees, the advance immigration form and what you cannot bring are in our Peñas Blancas border crossing guide. We do not repeat them here because they change.
• Managua to San Juan del Sur: 129 km and about 2 hours 20 minutes by car (Daytrip). This matters if your bus ends in Managua.

Comparison table, as of November 3, 2026

Option	Price	Door-to-door time to San Juan del Sur	Pros	Cons
Tica Bus to Managua, then back south	US$33 online	about 10 hours to Managua, plus about 2 hours 20 minutes back south	Fixed schedule, large luggage allowance	Ends in Managua, early departures
Central Line or Transporte del Sol to Managua	from US$33 and US$35	similar to Tica Bus	Other departure times	Same Managua problem
Bus to Peñas Blancas, border on foot, local buses	₡7.430 to the border, then US$1 or C$37 to Rivas and C$40 to San Juan del Sur	most of a day	Lowest cash cost	Three buses, border paperwork on your own
Shared shuttle (Bookaway listings)	US$44 to US$107	Interbus averages 8 hours 30 minutes	Hotel pickup, one booking	Shared van, morning departures only
Monkeys private transfer	from US$65 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$130 solo	5 to 7 hours	Private, door to door to any destination in Nicaragua	Price per person depends on group size

Third-party prices change. Check each company's page before you travel.

Tica Bus, step by step

Tica Bus publishes its schedule and fares on its own site. From Costa Rica to Nicaragua, all through Peñas Blancas, the one-way fare is US$33, and the company states that the published fares are for online purchase only.

Leaves San José	Arrives	Days
00:30	11:00	every day
03:00	13:30	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
06:00	16:00	every day
07:30	17:00	every day

1. Buy online and check the requirements page. Tica Bus reminds passengers that migration rules depend on nationality. Its page also lists items Nicaragua does not allow in, which our border guide covers in detail.
2. Be at the station an hour early. The San José station is on Paseo Colón, 200 m north and 100 m west of Torre Mercedes, open 24 hours. Tica Bus asks passengers to arrive one hour before departure for baggage check. Each passenger may carry two 15 kg suitcases and one carry-on.
3. Cross Peñas Blancas. The bus crosses at Peñas Blancas and every passenger goes through both immigration posts, so keep your passport and cash in small bills at hand.
4. Arrive in Managua. The only Nicaraguan station Tica Bus lists is in Managua, Barrio Bolonia. If you are headed to Rivas or San Juan del Sur, ask the company when you buy whether you can get off earlier, or plan the 2 hours 20 minutes back south.

CheckMyBus, with data found in October 2026, also lists Central Line from US$33 with a 4:30 departure and Transporte del Sol from US$35 at 1:00, both to Managua.

The public route through Peñas Blancas

The national bus from San José to Peñas Blancas is run by Transportes Deldú. Since August 20, 2026 the regular fare is ₡7.430 and the senior fare ₡5.570, after an increase approved by ARESEP and published in La Gaceta, according to CRHoy.

At the border you walk between the two posts. On the Nicaraguan side, Destinationless Travel reported the bus to Rivas at US$1 or 37 córdobas, about an hour, and the bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur at 40 córdobas, about an hour (April 2025). It is the cheapest route in cash and the longest in hours. Start early so you are not looking for the last bus in Rivas after dark.

Shared shuttles

Bookaway lists shuttles from San José to San Juan del Sur from US$44 to US$107, with departures between 07:00 and 08:15. Interbus averages US$108 and 8 hours 30 minutes; Easy Ride averages US$93. A shuttle saves you the bus changes, but you share the van and the border queue with other passengers. Ask the operator whether the same van continues past the border.

Monkeys private transfer from San José

Our San José to Nicaragua transfer picks you up at your San José hotel or at Tobías Bolaños airport and drives you to any point in Nicaragua: San Juan del Sur, Rivas, the San Jorge pier for Ometepe, Granada or Managua. It is listed at 5 to 7 hours, in a private vehicle, only your group. The driver crosses Peñas Blancas with you and accompanies the paperwork.

Travelers	Per person	Total for the group
1	US$130	US$130
2 to 3	US$90	US$180 to US$270
4 to 6	US$65	US$260 to US$390
7 to 10	US$55	US$385 to US$550
11 to 15	US$45	US$495 to US$675
16 or more	Quote	Quote

Border fees are paid in cash at the windows and are not included, nor are meals, tips or travel insurance. If you fly into Liberia instead, the shorter Liberia Airport to Nicaragua transfer takes 3 to 4 hours, from US$45 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$80 solo. Compare it with buses and shuttles in Liberia to Nicaragua: options and prices.

Which option fits

• Solo, light luggage, in no hurry: Deldú to Peñas Blancas and local buses, starting early.
• Solo or a couple going to Managua or León: Tica Bus at US$33.
• Solo or a couple going to San Juan del Sur: a shuttle from US$44, or Tica Bus if you can get off before Managua.
• Three or more people, or going to Ometepe or Granada: our private transfer, from US$65 each in groups of 4 to 6.
• Planning a longer trip: see the 5-day Nicaragua itinerary from Costa Rica, or check whether a Nicaragua day trip from Guanacaste makes sense.

Official advice applies to road travel near the border. The U.S. Department of State rates Nicaragua Level 3, "Reconsider Travel" (May 14, 2026), and Canada advises a high degree of caution (updated November 2, 2026). Our guide to the travel advisories explains both.

What Monkeys does

Monkeys Travels & Tours is a private tour operator based in Rivas, founded in 2018 by Everth Palma, who was born and raised in Rivas.

• Private transfer, only your group, never mixed with other travelers.
• Pickup at San José hotels or Tobías Bolaños airport; drop-off anywhere in Nicaragua.
• Stops along the way when you ask.
• Price and inclusions confirmed in writing. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
• WhatsApp +505 8506 1173, every day from 7:00 to 20:00, replies in under 1 hour. Send the date, number of people, pickup hotel and destination.