Public transport in Costa Rica is actually pretty great. From my experience, it runs surprisingly on time, it’s dirt cheap, and reasonably comfortable. The only real downside for a Central European is the lack of AC on most local buses—but I survived, even with a mild heatstroke carrying over from my scooter adventures the day before.

Samara to Tamarindo

ℹ︎
  • Route: Samara → Nicoya → Santa Cruz → Tamarindo
  • Total time: ~3–4 hours
  • Total cost: ~4,000 CRC ($4)
  • Pro tip: Don't rely on timetables—just ask the locals, they’re super helpful!

I left Samara at 8 in the morning. The bus was right on schedule, and the ticket was around 1,600 CRC. I transferred at the Nicoya terminal. A quick heads-up if you're doing this route: don't trust Google Maps blindly. When you turn towards the terminal, the street doesn't look like a bus station at all—it’s completely hidden among the surrounding buildings. I quickly learned this is pretty standard in Costa Rica. The next leg of the trip cost me 800 CRC.

Then came the final stretch: Santa Cruz to Tamarindo. The driver dropped me off on a blistering hot main street, though I later realized I could have just gone to the town center and caught my next bus there. What really blew me away, though, was how incredibly helpful the locals were. Seeing me melting at the bus stop, random people immediately came over to help and pointed me to the right bus. It showed up about 20 minutes later. Honestly, don’t even bother looking for timetables here.

This last ride was a bit rougher—basically an old yellow school bus with zero AC. Still, absolutely worth it. It’s all part of the real experience.

Finally, I made it to Tamarindo. Honestly, don't believe the aggressive marketing from private shuttle companies. Sure, getting picked up and dropped off right at your accommodation is super comfortable, but the local buses get the job done. My entire trip cost me barely 4,000 CRC (about $4). I got off...