How to get there

There are several ways to reach Congo Bongo:

Heli Transport to Congo Bongo

HELI TRANSPORT TO CONGO-BONGO

Enjoy this amazing experience flying over the jungle and Caribbean beaches. Spend less time than other transport ways and cherish every second more that you have in the great scenarios that we have to offer. We have three companies giving the service. You can find more about them here.

Taxi to Congo Bongo

TAXI TO CONGO-BONGO

If your schedule doesn't work out with the shared ride van services schedules or just like your privacy , you might consider hiring a van or bus with driver for a private transfer to Congo-Bongo with air-conditioned and comfortable.
The company we use is very reliable and will pick you up right at the International Airport of San Jose and bring you straight to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo no stops for other passengers, no waiting for the scheduled time.

Getting to CONGO-BONGO on the river?

Getting to CONGO-BONGO on the river?

Another option is to book a rafting trip on the Rio Pacuare, Rio Sarapiqui or Rio Reventazon. This is a whole day trip and they will pick you up in your hotel in San Jose or Arenal and drop you off in Congo-Bongo .

To return your trip to San Jose or Arenal it is also posible to have this service . So it's kind of like getting your transportation for free!

Buses from San Jose to Puerto Viejo and Congo-Bongo Manzanillo

Buses from San Jose to Puerto Viejo and Congo-Bongo Manzanillo

Buses for Puerto Viejo and Congo-Bongo Manzanillo leave from the Caribe Sur Bus Terminal located on Calle Central about 8 blocks North of the Parque Central.

There is one bus a day going at 12.00 am (see the schedule below) to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo. The cost is about $ 10 and it will take about 5 hours (ask a driver after Puerto Viejo to stop by Congo-Bongo Manzanilo).

There are two towns called Puerto Viejo that you can catch a bus to from this terminal. You want Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (also known as Puerto Viejo de Limon).

The bus company that goes there is Transportes Mepe and their ticket office is at the end of the terminal. Ticket price is about $8 US for this approximately 41/2 hour trip and the bus makes one 20 minute stop in Limon for you to use the bathrooms and get something to eat or drink. When you reach Puerto Viejo you have to take a taxi to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo the cost is about $ 10.

From San Jose
Cahuita
Puerto Viejo
Bribri
Sixaola
06:00
09:45
10:15
10:45
12:15
10:00
13:45
14:15
14:45
16:15
14:00
17:45
18:15
18:45
20:15
16:00
19:45
20:15
20:45
22:15
From Sixaola
Bribri
Puerto Viejo
Cahuita
San José
06:00
06:30
----
07:00
11:00
08:00
08:30
09:00
09:30
13:30
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
15:30
15:00
15:30
16:00
16:30
20:30
From San José
Cahuita
Puerto Viejo
Manzanillo
12:00
16:00
16:30
17:00
From Manzanillo
Puerto Viejo
Cahuita
San José
07:00
07:30
08:00
12:00

Transportes Mepe Phone Numbers:

San José :(506) 2257-8129 Limón : (506) 2758-1572 Puerto Viejo : (506) 2750-0023

Tourist shuttles to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo

Tourist shuttles to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo:

There is a good and safe shuttle transport available in an air-conditioned van or mini-bus from San Jose to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo by several companies. We have chosen a variety of companies to provide this service to give you the most options for schedules.

Interbus and Grayline each make one daily trip from San Jose to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo and there are two Interbus trips daily back to San Jose. They will pick you up at your San José hotel or at an off-airport location and let you off directly at Congo-Bongo Manzanillo .

You must book these services in advance; some shuttles only run if there are enough people booked and they do often sell out at peak times. To book: Interbus AND Graylinecostarica

Shuttle schedules

From San Jose to Manzanillo
San Jose Cahuita Puerto Viejo Manzanillo Notes
07:50am 11:50am 12:25pm 12:55pm 1
08:00am 12:15pm 01:15pm --- 2
10:30am 02:30pm 03:00pm 03:20pm 3
Notes: 1. Operated by Interbus. 2. Operated by Panaline. 3. Operated by Grayline

From Manzanillo to San Jose
Manzanillo Puerto Viejo Cahuita San Jose Notes
06:15am 06:50am 07:20am 11:20am 1
--- 11:00am 12:md 04:00pm 2
01:30pm 02:30pm 03:15pm 06:20pm 1
Notes: 1. Operated by Interbus. 2. Operated by Panaline.
Car rental

If you're considering renting a car and driving to Congo-Bongo, all the major international car rental companies operate at or nearby San José International Airport as well as in downtown San José.

Keep in mind that rates quoted online generally do not include any sort of insurance (which is sometimes even more than the rental rate) and that the car rental companies will definitely require proof of coverage elsewhere before agreeing to let you wave any insurance coverage they will sell you.

Please also keep in mind that only one car rental company, the Costa Rican company Poas, currently has offices in the South Caribbean area so if you want to pick up or return your car in Puerto Viejo (they have an office in Home Creek but will deliver cars to Congo-Bongo), that is your only choice

Driving to Congo Bongo

Driving to Congo-Bongo Manzanillo from San Jose is really easy (except for road conditions at times).

From the airport you drive for about 8 km in direction to San jose. On your right hand the Hospital Mexico will appear.After the Hospital Mexico, you must take the exit La Uruca. On the rotonda, the third exit. Turn right at the traffic lights, then you’ll have the cookies factory (you'll smell it!) Pozuelo on your left hand. Follow San José, keep the middle lane as much as possible.

After the garage Mercedes/Jeep/Chrysler you will see a Shell gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit Guapiles-Limon. Follow the road (nr. 32) direction Puerto Limón or ask a taxi driver to show you the road if you are in San Jose and pay him some money .

You will first go through the mountains and will be very high up. It is likely that you will encounter fog (clouds) and rain. Please drive with your lights on. Half of the local drivers do not. The drive through the mountains is beautiful. You will see many nice views and real rain forest jungle. After the mountains the road to Puerto Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter city centre you will see a sign (at the Texaco Station) where you turn right to go to Puerto Viejo. If you need gas, this is a good place to get it. There are no “legal” gas stations in Puerto Viejo. From that sign you just follow the coast all the way down

After about 1 hour of driving, you will come to the little town called Home Creek. At that point the main paved road continues on to the Panama border at Sixaola and a gravel road heads about 5 km into Puerto Viejo. Just before Puerto Viejo you will find Playa Negra. To get to the communities of Cocles. Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo, drive through Puerto Viejo and continue following the beach road. Congo-Bongo is 10 km after Puerto Viejo on the beach side you will see the sign there .

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2:00pm in afternoon, you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines. Rain can be bad and there are potholes and people walking/cycling that you can not see very well.