Getting To and From Pavones Surf Town on a Budget

Costa Rica     Destinations, Getting To and Fro
With a little effort, you can get from SJO to Pavones for $18 and ride the longest left in the world! From flying, to hiring a private driver, to chicken buses, here's how to navigate the (somewhat limited) transportation options to Pavones.
Getting To Pavones from San Jose  |   Leaving Pavones
Lowest Cost Transportation from SJO
$1
bus then walk to Tracopa
$13
6:30 am bus to Golfito
$4
3pm bus to Povones
 
6pm arrival

The small surf town of Pavones is in the far far south of Costa Rica. It is so remote that up until 2018, you had to drive through a river to get there! But just because it has a bridge now, doesn't mean it's an easy place to get to. With a little effort, and not too much money, you can get to the spot made famous for its 2-3 minute rides. With its unique break, they say you can ride a wave for over a mile!

Getting To Pavones from San Jose, you have to allow a little time. You are going down to the furthest end of the country after all. From San Jose, you can rent a car and drive (approx. 8 hours), or you can get to the southern town of Golfito via Sansa Airlines or Tracopa bus (8 hours) and take the twice-daily public bus (2 hours) from there. You might need an overnight in San Jose or Golfito before you can hit the waves.

This is post written if you are starting from SJO. If you are elsewhere, the tips below are still valid! Just figure out the nearest place to catch a Tracopa bus and you're all set.

Be sure to read Public Transportaion in the Zancudo / Pavones Area for an overview on the public transportation.

Non-Budget Transportation Options
Option 1
$130
Sansa Airlines SJO to Golfito
$70
taxi to Pavones

Option 2
$??
Rent car near airport + fuel
door to door SJO to Pavones

Option 3
$300
Private driver to Pavones

Fly Sansa Airlines

Sansa conveniently leaves from the terminal right next to SJO to Golfito, then you can rent a car, take a taxi, or hop the public bus from there.

You are limited on your luggage weight though(!) (30 lbs/14 kgs + 10 lbs/4.5 Kg + personal item, then $1.50/lb) and they won't transport surfboards longer than 6'10”,so have a look at the ticket restrictions before you decide if this is for you. Even if you are willing to pay for your extra luggage, they don't always have room for it.

If you want to fly, you can always send your surfboard down on the bus. Go to the Tracopa bus terminal in San Jose city, and send your board to Golfito. But in my opinion, you may as well take the bus down with your board. But it's an option nonetheless.

There are plenty of taxis outside the airport ($70) or you can take the public bus ($3 + surfboard fee at 10:15am and 3:15pm) for the 2 hour jaunt to your destination.
If you are flying on the cramped tiny plane on a clear day, the 50 minute flight is gorgeous. You can even see Bahia Ballena (the whale tale - a much better view than on the ground). I personally prefer the inland (left) side of the plane on the way down there.

Beware of booking the afternoon flight during rainy season as you risk the flight getting cancelled due to weather.

Door to Door Service

For door to door service with as much luggage or surfboards as you can stuff in the vehicle, you can either

rent a car and drive down yourself

(approximately 8 hours with some mildly amusing things to see along the way - see Interesting Stops Along the Coast Highway in Costa Rica), or

hire a driver

(see driver recommendations) for around $300. You get to stop and grocery shop along the way, too, which is a great bonus.
If you are renting a car, make sure you are aware of the proof-of-insurance requirements to save yourself a lot of money on your car rental.

Tracopa Bus then Public or Private Transportation

In short, there are 3 steps to get to your little slice of surf paradise.

1) get from SJO to the Tracopa bus terminal in San Jose city
2) take Tracopa bus to Golifto (via Rio Claro if necessary) or Paso Canoas
3) take either a taxi or public bus from there to Pavones
 
Sounds pretty simple, right? Not. Given the timing of it all, it's hard to do it all in one day because, unless you take the 6:30am bus out of San Jose, you won't get into Golfito in time to get the last bus to Pavones.
Recommended Low-Cost Transportation
Option 1
$1 - $20
SJO Uber, taxi, or bus/walk to Tracopa
$13
bus to Golfito
₡3,000
3pm bus to Pavones

Option 2
$1 - $20
SJO Uber, taxi, or bus/walk to Tracopa
$13
bus to Paso Canoas
shop - get supplies
$60
taxi to Pavones

Getting There in One Day

I haven't done this route, but it should work. You can only do this if you overnight in San Jose, so I suppose it's not really getting there in one day. Take the 6:30 am Tracopa bus from San Jose to Golfito. You arrive at around 1:30 pm with plenty of time to catch the 3 pm to Pavones.

Step 1) SJO Airport to the Tracopa Terminal

The first thing to do is to get out of the airport and get on a bus going south. You can try bargaining down to $20 with the taxis at the airport, or walk out to the street and call an Uber (around $11-$15). You can get to the Tracopa bus terminal for only $1 by taking a pubic bus from in front of the airport, then walking (or taking an Uber) to the bus terminal. See Getting to Your Bus from the San Jose Airport in Costa Rica for details.
There is free WiFi at the airport, but you will probably want signal out at the street to know when your Uber arrives.
Technology is here! You can now book your Tracopa tickets ahead of time on the Passer app - woohoo!
Last minute blurry shot out the bus window, but that's the Tracopa bus terminal in San Jose as seen from the outside. Go in those tall blue gates.
Last minute blurry shot out the bus window, but that's the Tracopa bus terminal in San Jose as seen from the outside. Go in those tall blue gates.
Tracopa station in San Jose. The buses are all bright pink or green.
Tracopa station in San Jose. The buses are all bright pink or green.
It's recommenced to take the Costenera (coastal) route rather than the Cerro de la Muerte (mountain) route which is winding, slower, and less direct (many stops). The literal translations are "waterfront" and "death hill". Choose wisely. LOL

Check the Tracopa site for the current schedules.

Getting the Bus Out of Pavones

Just stand along the road along their route and flag the bus down when it goes by. Try to be on the road a little early since they don't have a very strict schedule. It all depends on road conditions and how many times they stop to pick people up. For instance, if you are in Pavones near the supermarket (Super Rio Claro) and want to catch the early bus to get to the border, be on the road by 5:45 even though you might be waiting until 6:00.

Steps 2 & 3) By Way of Paso Canoas

You can opt to take a bus to Paso Canoas, the bustling border town where you can get a little shopping in before you leave civilization for a while. You might have the option to take a direct express bus, too, which saves time and many stops along the way down.

It's, um, a little seedier than Golfito if you need to spend the night. But there are hotels near the main intersection, and also quite a few just a $.50 taxi from there. Thy may even pick you up where the bus drops you if you ask them.

From Paso Canoas, a taxi (many of them are on the same intersection where the Tracopa bus drops you off) costs around $60 all the way to Pavones. It's possible to take the local bus, but it's a bit more confusing. You'd take a colectivo taxi (from the same intersection) to Comte (AKA Conte), where you'll catch the bus coming through from Goflito (see below).

Step 2) Bus to Golfito

The Tracopa buses from San Jose to Golfito leave super early in the morning (6:30 am) and then not again until 3:30 pm. However, there are other options than the San Jose - Golfito bus. The town of Rio Claro is only about 1/2 hour away from Golfito and there are buses going there from San Jose more regularly. The key times being 10:15 am, 11 am, 1:05 pm and 2 pm (₡7,660 $13). If you take the bus to Rio Claro, from there you only pay about $1 for a public bus (1/2 hour) to Golfito. Just ask someone when you get off the bus where to catch it. It's green and says GOLFITO in the window. You pay the driver when you get on.

If you want to do some shopping or spend the night, ask your bus driver to let you off at the muellecito (the small public pier). It's across the street from the Supermercado Pearson and next to Hotel Golfito that has an ATM. Otherwise you can ask them to drop you in front of the hospital (or where the bus leaves for Pavones) so you can just grab the bus from the start instead of flagging it down on its way by.
The drive down the coast from San Jose to the south is so green and beautiful the whole way!
The drive down the coast from San Jose to the south is so green and beautiful the whole way!
There are 2 stops. This one is only 10 minutes for a quick potty break and a snack.
There are 2 stops. This one is only 10 minutes for a quick potty break and a snack.

Need to Spend the Night in Golfito?

Hotel Tucan is just up the road from the dock past the little park.
Hotel Tucan is just up the road from the dock past the little park.
If you arrive in Golfito too late for the last bus to Pavones or the rain is too heavy to make the trip, there are some reasonable hotels to stay the night. The Hotel el Tucan is just past the supermarket on the inland side of the street. The woman who runs it will treat you like family. We paid ₡15,000 ($25) for a double with aircon. The Hotel Golfito is okay too but a little more expensive at ₡18,000 ($30), or further up the road (stay on the bus longer) choose the Casa Roland resort with a pool. Budget eats at the supermarket (grab a cold beer - ₡1,300 for a large), Buenos Dias, Chicken Bros, and the various local sodas around the area. Fancier meals are at the Marina Bahia Golfito (AKA new marina), Black Point Ocean Grill, or mid-range-enjoy-a-beer-on-the-water at Banana Bay.
Pouring rain, we got out on the side of the highway to wait for the correct bus going back the way we had just come from.
Pouring rain, we got out on the side of the highway to wait for the correct bus going back the way we had just come from.
When I took the bus to Rio Claro, I made sure to ask the driver if that's where I get the bus to Golfito in case there was more than one Rio Claro stop; I wanted the correct one. He said to stay on. "The other side" he said. Well soon we were no longer in town! When I re-questioned him about it, he let us off on the side of the highway where the Golfito bus eventually came by on it's way back through Rio Claro where we had just come from and on to Golfito. No biggie, we got there. So just get off in Rio Claro.

Step 3) Bus to Pavones

There are theoretically 2 public buses per day (approx $4 + surfboard fee) to Pavones leaving Golfito by the mullecito just after 10 am and 3 pm. They actually leave at those times from the Golfito hospital (get on there if you want to secure a seat). Definitely ask around though because sometimes the 10 am bus is cancelled in the off season or due to poor road conditions. The afternoon bus arrives in Pavones at 6 pm so you might want to have a flashlight handy if you have to walk any distance once you get off. Yes, it's that small of a town.

Transportes Barrantes shows (most of) the current bus schedules around the area. Check their home page too for special schedules and see Public Transportation in the Zancudo / Pavones Area for an overview.
There are private taxis that will take you but all rides are very expensive at $70 USD one way.
The muellecito / public dock in Golfito.
The muellecito / public dock in Golfito.
Your bus might get delayed on the way by some cows. LOL
Your bus might get delayed on the way by some cows. LOL

Leaving Pavones

You basically take the same route in reverse, and it can be done in one day - woohoo! There's a once-daily early bus coming from Punta Banco (departing there at 5:30am). That's pretty much your one choice other than Bella Luz (see below).

Just like when you come south, make sure it's the Costanera (coastal route) and not the Cerro de la Muerte (mountain route)!

At around 11:30 am, the bus makes a 20 minute stop just before Uvita for lunch. The restaurant has clean (free) bathrooms and reasonably priced cafeteria style food. But being the budget traveler I am, I packed my own lunch. ;)

Early Bus from Punta Banco to Golfito

The one-daily public bus gets you into Golfito around 9:30am. You can either wait around for the next Tracopa heading north to San Jose (around 1:30pm), or take a 20 minute $1 public bus into Rio Claro where you have a few more options. Heading to Rio Claro on the public bus, ask your driver to let you off at Tracopa.

Early Bus from Punta Banco to Paso Conoas

Fancy a quick stop by the border? Get off the bus in Comte and take a colectivo shared taxi to Paso Canoas (40 min) for ₡2,500. There are a lot of Tracopa buses leaving from there and you can spend some time shopping in Panama.

For your colectivo, the taxis (cars waiting where the bus stops) will be more than willing to take you in a private taxi (for something like $30 USD!) so make sure you specify colectivo. Hopefully there is at least one other person from your bus who wants the same so you’ll share the ride with them (I don’t think the taxi will go if there’s only one person) and your driver will try to pick up additional people along the way.

In Paso Canoas, the taxi drops you off on the corner at the border for Panama. Off to the left and across the street is the ticket office for the Tracopa bus line. The buses actually leave from just a bit further down that road (same side of the street) where the immigration offices are. Other than a couple of buses heading South to David in Panama and a few to San Isidro from Rio Claro, all buses go to San Jose but there are many stops in between where you can get off if you don't want to go all the way to the city.

Tracopa from Bella Luz

Or if you want to leave super super early and get on your way, the 4am Tracopa bus out of Paso Canoas actually originates in a town called Bella Luz at 3am. It's closer to Pavones but there are no public buses that go there at that hour so you'd have to find a ride or take a taxi for $30.
*** Buses sell out **** Mainly the popular routes. I was told that it’s best to buy a ticket for the 3am bus out of Bella Luz the day before and from my experience the same is true for the 8:30 am out of Paso Canoas. The 8:30 was full but the 9 was almost empty. Yes, this causes a problem all the way around. I just went for it and ended up on a more expensive and less convenient bus.

You can now book your Tracopa tickets ahead of time on the Passer app.
This is about where the taxi drops you off in Paso Canoas. Panama is to the right (seen here) and the bus ticket window is to the left.
This is about where the taxi drops you off in Paso Canoas. Panama is to the right (seen here) and the bus ticket window is to the left.
Here's where to buy your bus ticket in Paso Canoas. There's an ATM right next door that will give you either US dollars or colones.
Here's where to buy your bus ticket in Paso Canoas. There's an ATM right next door that will give you either US dollars or colones.
About 100 yards from the Panama border is where the Tracopa buses stop. They don't hang out there, they just pull up when it's time to go.
About 100 yards from the Panama border is where the Tracopa buses stop. They don't hang out there, they just pull up when it's time to go.
Departure location for Tracopa from Paso Canoas
Departure location for Tracopa from Paso Canoas

San Jose / Airport

In San Jose, just like when you came, walk to the public bus terminal and take a public bus, or Uber/taxi from Tracopa to the airport. Boom.

Important Links

Getting to Your Bus from the San Jose Airport in Costa Rica
Public Transportation in the Zancudo / Pavones Area
Sansa Airlines
Tracopa bus
Passer app
Transportes Barrantes

Private Car Hires

Luis (+506 8396-0243) - based in San Jose, can drive you down to Pavones
Walter (+506 8847-6026) - based in San Jose, can drive you down to Pavones
Sonny (+1 441-705-5555) - based in Zancudo, can pick you up in San Jose, Rio Claro, Golfito, etc. (call ahead to make sure he's available and willing to go to Pavones)

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